Loria on state of the franchise: 'A Marlin isn't a flounder. We've got to get it going'

Miami Marlins CEO Jeffrey Loria doesn't believe naming his general manager, Dan Jennings, his new manager is odd at all.

In fact, he genuinely believes it makes perfect sense.

"We're supposed to be the Fish. The Marlins. We shouldn't be the Flounders," Loria told USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "A Marlin isn't a flounder. We've got to get it going."

Loria joins the sea of the Marlins front office staffers who believe with blind faith that Jennings is the man for the job, instead of a well-seasoned candidate from outside the organization.

The Marlins announced Monday that Jennings would succeed Mike Redmond as the club's manager, bringing along advance scout Mike Goff to be his bench coach.

A move like this hasn't been made in recent memory - if ever - which is why Loria is under so much scrutiny, while the organization is taking heat for agreeing with him.

Even Jennings' mother is skeptical, which he made evident in his press conference.

But at the end of the day, it's Loria's team, and he'll be damned if anyone other than Jennings is capable of leading the clubhouse.

"People like to say this is controversial, different, outside the box,'' Loria said. "I can't think of anyone better suited for this job than him. There was a tremendous lack of energy and fire in that clubhouse and dugout. We needed to bring some life in there.

"We needed more accountability, more energy, more fire, more communication and Dan fills all of those roles.''

Loria insists this isn't a move out of spite, nor did he expect the league to be so taken aback.

Although the club will be under a microscope for the remainder of the season, it'll be Jennings leading the way regardless of the outcome. At the conclusion of the 2015 campaign, the front office will re-evaluate his role.

For now, Loria said Jennings will still have a big say in terms of GM duties, though vice president Mike Berger will serve as the GM. Either way, Loria wants to win and he thinks this is the formula to do so - experience or not.

"We made great commitments to this team, so you know the talent is very high. Dan is very imaginative, very creative, with a high baseball IQ.

"This is going to be fun to watch.''

No matter which way the current goes, he couldn't be more right about that.