'According to witnesses near the Marlins dugout, Loria began barking at plate umpire Larry Vanover after a few close calls went against reliever Taylor Tankersley. Girardi, witnesses said, asked Loria to stop addressing the ump.
'It's unclear exactly what happened next.
'One version had Loria leaning over the dugout wall and reprimanding Girardi in the strongest of terms. Another eyewitness who was out of earshot said Loria definitely leaned into the dugout but "didn't look like he was upset."
'Loria soon left his field-level box, ostensibly to cool off in the owner's suite. But as soon as the game ended, he marched into the Marlins clubhouse and, according to one witness, "threw everybody out."
'That meant coaches, stadium personnel and basically everyone besides the players and Girardi, who had a lengthy and amiable on-field chat with Vanover during the seventh inning stretch.' (SunSentinel)
'Since at least July, there has been tension between Girardi and Loria over strategy and philosophy, sources within the organization said Monday.
'"There has been some friction between them, but you'd never know it on the outside because Joe has done an unbelievable job," one source said.
'There also has been tension between some of Girardi's coaches and the front office, a source said. Loria, asked Monday if there was friction between him and Girardi, said: "I have nothing to say about anything. I don't want to create something that doesn't exist. There's nothing to talk about."...
'During afternoon games at Dolphin Stadium, Loria usually sits in his private, air-conditioned suite. But during the top of the seventh inning Sunday, Loria showed up in his field seats next to the Marlins' dugout.
'One source said Loria yelled at home-plate umpire Larry Vanover after two borderline pitches by Marlins reliever Taylor Tankersley were called balls, contributing to a bases-loaded walk. Girardi - who was ejected from Saturday's game for arguing balls and strikes - turned to Loria and asked him to stop, according to the source.
'When the side was retired, several people saw Loria leaning into the dugout. What Loria said, if anything, is uncertain. Loria on Monday was reluctant to talk about the incident.
'"It's whatever you guys want to make of it," he said. "Don't blow it up into something it isn't. There's nothing to discuss at all."
'After Sunday's loss, which concluded a three-game sweep by the Dodgers, the Marlins' clubhouse was closed for nearly 90 minutes - unusual because Major League Baseball rules require media access within 15 minutes of the last out.
'In the first minutes after the game, Girardi met in his office with Loria, team President David Samson and General Manager Larry Beinfest and had what two people described as a heated discussion. That was followed by a team meeting during which Girardi addressed his players, urging them to regain their focus - they still are contending for a National League wild-card berth - and play well on the nine-game road trip that starts tonight in Washington.
'During the team meeting, Marlins employees outside the clubhouse could be seen preparing the Dolphin Stadium interview room for a news conference. But none was held. Samson said Monday he was unaware that team employees had been preparing the interview room for a news conference. He also denied a rift between the front office and Girardi or his staff.
'"I wouldn't even merit it with a response," Samson said. "There was a team meeting yesterday. Everything is fine."
'Asked if management was satisfied with Girardi, Samson said, "I have never said otherwise."' (PalmBeachPost)
'"I think it was just Jeffrey said something to the umpires, he and Joe said something [to each other] and pretty much that was it," one source said, downplaying the incident.
'But another source said it was more serious than that.
'"It was like a back-and-forth, `You talking to me?' type of deal," the second source said. "It was, `Yeah, I'm talking to you,' and it went from there."
'The Marlins' clubhouse was closed to the media for 84 minutes after Sunday's game, during which Girardi ran a lengthy team meeting. Just before that, Loria and Girardi met privately for several minutes in the manager's office, a source said.
'"I know they spoke. That's all I know," the source said. "They went in Joe's office and both came out smiling. Everything was good."'(SunSentinel)
MORE: Linda Robertson pleads for sanity. (MiamiHerald)
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