Girardi has been offered the job
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 29, 2007 
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Just made a few calls and can confirm that Joe Girardi has been offered the position of manager with the Yankees.
It is expected that he will get a three-year deal worth $4.5 million. An announcement could come in New York tomorrow.
Where this leaves Don Mattingly is uncertain. Perhaps he will work for the Dodgers if Joe Torre is named the manager in Los Angeles.
Kill me now.
Congratulations, Joe Girardi!
Thanks for confirming the news, Pete.
I look forward to a renewed Yankees team in 2008.
I”ll be setting my dvr to tape it!!
Welcome home Joe G. — to manage the New York Marlins!
While they messed up with the way they handled the Torre thing, I give credit to the new yankee brass for the hiring of Girardi over Mattingly and for telling A-rod to take his chocke act out of the Bronx
I feel bad for Donnie, and will always miss Joe, but I like this. Girardi is a smart manager, and maybe his personality is what we need.
I can see LA for Donnie. After all, his son is in the Dodger organization.
Bah, count me as one who’s not impressed. I still don’t understand how one year as a manager makes someone a “great” baseball mind.
At least Mattingly had that Yankee icon thing going for him. But whatever, if the Yanks fail they can pin all the blame on Girardi in two or three years and then be rid of him.
what uniform number will he wear? 25 or 45?
First good news for me in a while. Looking forward.
I’ve been meaning to start a Yankee blog for a while now. However, I have never had anything move me enough to push me into actually doing it. A-Rod’s decision to opt out finally did that for me. I hope some of you can visit, leave comments/ suggestions. The site can accessed either by clicking on my name above, or going to thetopoftheheap.blogspot.com. Thanks, looking forward to hearing some of your ideas and thoughts.
http://minors.baseball-referen.....?pid=32103
25 is Jasons, 45 is someone I can’t recall his name, he opened for us this year.
WOW. I’m starting to sense a bad trend here: Joe doesn’t get re-hired, A-Rod opts out…Girardi–not Mattingly–gets offered the Manager job. Jeez Louise! Good bye Mo and Jorge? Please say it ain’t so! I picked the wrong day to quit biting my nails!!!
So pete, you’ve been saying all along that A-Rod would be back and Mattingly would be manager.
You’re 0 for 2.
Wow preston sure isn’t like his father. Can’t hit and can’t field.
Donny’s my favorite player of all time and ever since he retired I’ve been outspoken about it being a dream of mine for him to become manager. Then it all falls into place and he doesnt get the job. I think Girardi is a good choice and that he’ll be a very good manager but I dont like spitting in Donny’s face. If Torre goes to LA I hope Mattingly follows and gets more experience and IF we need to hire another manager in the next couple years I hope Donny is one of the candidates.
oh snap
Yankees are headed fpr LAST PLACE.
The Bronx Zoo is back! At least I don’t have to listen to Mattingly Pfumpher through press conferences explaining their losses for the next 2 years. I won’t be watching anyway – I get a big part of my life back.
Steinbrenner should sell the TEAM
I’m a bit sad for Donnie also but I think this was the right choice
Girardi is a TRUE LOSER!
Andrew Marchant was just told Mattingly is leaving the Yankees if Girardi accepts the job.
ADIO DONNIE
WOW u guys are big front runners……
Good for Girardi – he’s a smart guy and will bring a fresh look to the team – without A-Rod as a burden to deal with I think the other guys will be on board with no problems. It was important if, as stated, Torre didn’t have the energy anymore, that the new manager be somebody who has some cajones. I loved Joe Torre but the time has to come for everything to change and this will be a good thing for the Yankees in 2008.
I don’t get these Mattingly to LA comments. I mean since when are he and Torre the best of friends. And why would Donnie go all the way to LA to be a bench coach again. Its not like Torre would go to the dodgers and then groom Mattingly, he’d be there to win.
The only possible reason I ever see Donnie going to LA is because his son is there, but otherwise I just don’t see it happening.
Sounds/feels a lot like when Boston let a bunch of its idoiots go: Trot Nixon, Millar, Damon. Clean up the house. Re-arm with young guys. Find serviceable 1st and 3rd baseman, and a right-handed bat to hit cleanup. Remember, we did fine with Bernie batting fourth for years – not exactly the second coming of GHR.
Trade Jeter to the Dodgers
Girardi is a TRUE LOSER!
No more than you.
who the f*** is this bob michaels character?
Anyone else find it amusing that if Torre goes to the Dodgers that once again Scott Proctor will never have a day off?
Bob Michaels is a giant TOOL.
“Bah, count me as one who’s not impressed. I still don’t understand how one year as a manager makes someone a “greatâ€? baseball mind.
At least Mattingly had that Yankee icon thing going for him. But whatever, if the Yanks fail they can pin all the blame on Girardi in two or three years and then be rid of him.”
I still don’t see how being a former great Yankee player makes someone qualified to be a manager either.
But this I know. Girardi was the hottest managerial candidate out there for every team. So apparently other baseball around baseball were “impressed” my friend. Mattingly was only up for the Yankees job because he is Mattingly.
So “bah” to you dude.
This is great news. I’m really happy to hear it. Welcome home Joe G.! Ohhh I’m excited….the dawning of a new era. He is gonna do a GREAT job!!!
I do feel sad for Donnie too though. Even though Girardi was my choice from the beginning, I love Donnie with every fiber of my being, and always will. I know he wanted this and I know he could have done a very good job. I really hope this is not the end of his coaching relationship with the Yankees.
Why is anyone down about the Yanks?
We’re finally getting a manager who can stay awake for a whole game and we got rid of the biggest fraud player in the history of the game.
I say it’s a good day for Yankee fans. Unless of course you are happy with the way this team has been muddling along the past 5 years.
Again I’ll ask the question. How many World Series teams has A-Rod been on since he became a major leagurer? We won without him, we lost with him. We’ll win again without him and it will be that much sweeter.
Rivera and Posada will opt out.
With all due respect to Joe Torre, Girardi is an upgrade, in my opinion. Torre was never viewed as a good in game manager….his real skill was “keeping everyone happy in the clubhouse”, right? well 2 things…1….the big-ego guys (see A-Rod) were not getting it done (see 2004 – 2007) and 2….now one of them is gone….clubhouse managment seems less of an issue so why keep Torre if he was a bad in game manager?
the more important issue in my mind is grooming the young guys (Joba, Ian, Phil)….with Joe Torre’s preference for veterans, that may or may not have happened.
Girardi is the right manager for this team at this time.
Bob Michaels needs to get a life.
Pettitte will not return.Yanks will finish behind TAMPA BAY.
Bob Michaels,
You have said a lot of profound statements the last couple of posts!
Are the Yankees really going to be in last place?
This is at least consistent with the idea that the Steinbrenners wanted change (This is not to say that change was needed). To bring back Donnie (as much as I love him) would be more of the same without the experience. The Steinbrenners forced this to happen when they didn’t make a deal with Torre.
Amen Bob, AAAAMEN. I couldn’t agree more. Today is the dawn of a new day and it’s a great day to be a Yankee fan!!! Good things are happening, this team is moving in the right direction….life is grand!
Who said that Girardi is a great baseball mind?
It was just clear that if you took the Donnie-Baseball-love out of the equation, Girardi was a far better choice for the job.
Good luck, Joe… looks like an eventful season (and off-season) ahead.
The Yankees are no longer ruled by Giants of the Game. The Little Dwarfs are now in charge.
Plus, that WS win by Boston will just be a blip on the radar now with all the Yankee news getting out there. No one will even remember that god awful WS in a day or 2.
oh, when I said “amen Bob,” I meant the sane single-monikered Bob, not the Negative Nancy gloom and doom Bob Michaels. Just to clarify.
I’m cool with Joe G. He seems smart enough to have learned from his experience with Loria and Beinfest.
OK, honeymoon’s over. Let’s go, Joe!
I agree that saying Mattingly will go to the Dodgers is bogus.
A) Dodger fans don’t care about Mattingly.
B) When did Torre and Donnie become BFF?
C) Preston Mattingly hit .210 with no power in low A ball this year. He might be out of the Dodgers system in a couple of years. He is not even a prospect now.
the Yankees are doing the right thing it’s time to rebuild
Bob Michaels is a true BoSux fan. His team just won a world series and here he is on a Yankees Blog, posting BS. No matter WHAT Happens….BoSux are always the Yankees B*itch….even when THEY win the Championship….TOO FUNNY !…..LOL !
The whole “icon thing” is why you don’t hire him as manager.
How many “icons” made it as manager?
Girardi is the right choice at the right time. The Yankee fans who hate the team will get over it when he wins.
Bob Michaels loves his mommy.
Boy I hope Donny sticks around..
Even as just a Spring Trainer coach or something..
Hes to good of a guy to just toss aside.. He means a lot to this organization…
Bob Michaels’ mommy does not love him back.
Mattingly was a great leader while the Perez brothers slept on the bench during the games and Mel Hall was ripping doorknobs off the manager’s office door. Who would want to re-visit that era?
The Yankees fan base soared during the Pax Torre – and yet the self-destructive hubris of Levine and the Steinbrenner’s will cost real dollars in their pockets. Do they even know their fans?
The female fans will be the first to leave because they are turned off by the callousness of the decision making here. It may be a private team, but we certainly don’t need to support decisions we disagree with.
I am thrilled. I am also way over A-Rod and his narcissistic act.
If we re-sign Jorge, Mo and get Pettitte to come back, KEEP THE YOUNG PITCHING and get one or two more big bats, we can go all the way in 08 and for many years to come.
Ok. Now, sign Mo and Po, talk Andy into coming back, bring Pena and Bowa back, and get working on relief pitchers and a 3B/clean-up hitter or a 3B and a separate clean-up hitter (let Bobby go and sign a power bat in RF, or some right handed power at 1B, etc..).
I think Girardi will be good as long as guys respect him and there’s no friction with the Vets, including Pena and Bowa.
Marc. I say it with a great deal of Sadness. Big George is nearing the END, so are his beloved Yankees. His son`s never had an interest and CASHMAN is not a good judge of Baseball talent.The FAT LADY HAS SUNG, the Yankee era is over.
Go check out the espn poll. Should Alex have opted out NY, NJ, Conn all said no the rest of the country said yes. LOL
Funny thing to, Girardi signs wtih Flordia, and then loses some of his best players via trades. Now he’s about to sign with the yankees and he could lose Arod, Mo and Posada. Funny how history kind of repeats itself. But the team he has now is still way better than that Florida team. I think Girardi is better off with a hungry team then managing prima donnas. This is now a good fit for Girardi. Keep chugging joe just like you did in Game 6!
How funny would it be if Torre and ARod both ended up with the Dodgers and said “Oh ****, not YOU again!!!”
Hire Mazzone
Make Bowa the Bench coach
Rehire Pena for 1B coach
Hire Elliand as Bull Pen coach.
DFA Giambi (he’s a total loss anyway- clogging up the bench)
Resign Pettite Posada and Rivera
Trade for Chris Duncan (1B- 26 years old with power)
Hire Dave Duncan (to coach hitting and be with his boys Shelly and Chris)
Find a way to get Santana
Pick up Abreu’s option
Sign Adam Dunn.
That’s just week one.
Here is another poll
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....nt_id=3231
Love what I am reading….great stuff.
But, it is not a bad thing that Mattingly was not chosen. Girardi will be a great manager and the Yankees will continue to win and excel in the post season. This is a good thing.
By the way, if you are listening to 1050 AM Michael “Don’t pick on Arod” Kay is coming on to profess his displeasure with Arod not notifying him first that their breakup was inevitable…
Chris -
Many in baseball also think Dusty Baker is a great manager.
Case closed.
So let me get this straight: Girardi was a bench coach for one year and a manager for another? But somehow that makes him the best managerial talent in the game? Why? Cause he was a catcher? But yet, he couldn’t get the best from Jorge? Or cause he overachieved with a young team in a weak division? But yet, all the young pitchers came out of that year with arm trouble?
Wouldn’t that be the kicker if Joe Girardi ends up with the “brutalizes pitchers” meme?
Whatever. If the Yankees don’t get some bats at 1B and 3B, it won’t matter much who the manager is.
A return to era of the Late sixties, the end of a great Baseball Dynasty. The Franchise must be sold or the Yankees will turn into another New York Mets.
Bob Michaels
October 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Marc. I say it with a great deal of Sadness. Big George is nearing the END, so are his beloved Yankees. His son`s never had an interest and CASHMAN is not a good judge of Baseball talent.The FAT LADY HAS SUNG, the Yankee era is over.
Really?????
Suppose Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Wang, Cano, Cabrera are all anomilies…
What about your beloved Sux….JD Drew, Clement, Dice K, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo over Edgar… Seems like Theo is not quire the genius that you might think.
So is Alex’s apartment up for sale already? You think he will show his mug in NY again?
Wow, I am totally losing my mind today…
Joe G can kiss my ( )( ) never liked him. He doesn’t belong managing players that played the game much better then he did when he was on their team. Yankess big wigs are destroying this team. Unreal.
I don’t care that the general consensus is that you all like Joe, another horrible biz move by steins.
I am sad about Arod, but I can’t say I blame him with the shenanigans of the NEW Stein’s!!!!
donnie baseball is not coming back per Buster Olney.
Well, this was like a win win situation. whoever they picked was going to be the right choice.
Only problem is that if this was cashman wanting girardi over mattingly, and something happens next year, cashman might be out. We will see.
I think if he would have hired Mattingly, he might have a little more room to wiggle.
It’s too bad – my brother knows Donnie Baseball really well, and by all accounts, i think he would’ve done a great job with the team.
“So let me get this straight: Girardi was a bench coach for one year and a manager for another? But somehow that makes him the best managerial talent in the game? Why? Cause he was a catcher? But yet, he couldn’t get the best from Jorge? Or cause he overachieved with a young team in a weak division? But yet, all the young pitchers came out of that year with arm trouble?”
Couldn’t get the best out of Posada? What are you referring to? And for the pitchers with arm troubles, Sanchez has had a history of arm troubles, which is why Boston wasn’t afraid to include him in the trade. Johnson is another story, but really can you tell me any manager who has never had a young arm go south on him. You can’t really put that on a major unless it happens a lot with proof to back it up. Young pitchers tend to have arm trouble.
Rob -
How can you speak for female fans? Your statement is very sexist.
Doug
What good does designating Giambi do us? Why in the world would tha Yankees want to pay him $20 million to play somewhere else?
Hey Rob!
No one said Girardi was the “best managerial talent in the game” but he was certainly the best choice here. Many of your references just don’t make sense — and Girardi did not do anything to harm the young arms on the Marlins… but that has been discussed here in the past so do some searching and learn
C
Just remember that A-rod has been labeled “The Cooler” by former teammates because he cools off any team he goes too. Look at how the 2001 Mariners and 2004 Rangers improved. Yankees will be ok, don’t worry.
By the way, why ever would the Yankee coaches return to serve Joe Girardi? Nah, Bowa, Guidry, and Pena are gone.
Eiland and Long are the hitting and pitching coaches.
And Girardi probably goes back to his playing days to fill 1st and 3B. Maybe if we’re lucky, the Yanks can convincec him to bring in a more experienced hand for the bench coach job – Whitey Herzog, any one? Or Zimmer (he was Girardi’s manager)?
I hate to say it but I think we need to use 2008 as a prep year for the next era. Give the kids good coaching and let em pitch. Let posada and Mo go. Resign Andy and Abreu (one year deals for solid players are a bargain with out real risk).
We could luck into the playoffs but we have to get more experienced in spots then use the 2008 free agent market as it will be much stronger than this years and we will have tons of salary flexibility the next two post seasons.
Fraud just said that with the offer that the yanks were giving him he wouldnt have been able to feed his family. What a loser. I think the real reason he opted out is because he was affraid the first tongue lashing he was going to recieve from Girardi was going to make him cry to his mommy(i mean wife). Out with the sensative, in with the thick skinned hard nosed players.
* Boras said he and Rodriguez are open to negotiating with the Yankees once the composition of their team is more resolved.
What a JOKE!! He had another 10 days to decide!! Boras should save those minutes up to try and dupe another team to giving him a 10 year contract. Don’t bother calling the Yankees.
Pete, please advise…
I went into my bosses office and told hime I want a 5 year extension, otherwise I am opting out. He told me not to forget to pick up his dry cleaning on the way back from lunch.
What should I do?
i feel bad for donnie, but giradi was the right man for the job all along.
Girardi is the perfect man for a rebuilding team with young pitching and not much else. What did his Marlins win 78 games? I expect about the same for the 2008 Yankees. All bets are off for 2009.
Someone explain to me how it took Girardi leaving for Jorge to have his best season’s behind the plate with Pena coaching him? If he couldn’t mentor another catcher, what good is he?
And all I know is that the Marlins pitching across the board was worse and hurt this year after he ran them into the ground (look at innings total and percent increases, Chuck). Sure, the Yankees might have him on a short leash, with Eiland aboard to do further monitoring. But that doesn’t change the fact that his one year of managing was at the expense of his young arms.
What does this say about Boras as an agent? How does an agency recommend doing what he did last night? That showed total disrespect for the game and trashed Arod’s image.
By blindly listening to Boras, Arod just positioned himself as a total money grubbing bastard. Don’t you think any decent agent would be aware of his client’s image.
S.o.S.27 can you link the comment. I’d like to read how he can survive on 28 million a year. YOu know it doens’t go as far as it used to.
lol @ the glaring falsehood that female fans will be the first to leave because of the Girardi hiring. This female fan, and every other one that I know, was pulling for Girardi all along. He has a terrific mind for the game – is that supposed to alienate us or something? Personally I love it and can’t wait to see his in-game management at work.
Also, this is neither here nor there. But…if you think female fans are gonna leave because the Yanks hired Girardi….um, have you LOOKED at Joe Girardi lately? Oh yeah he is gonna drive me right out the door!
haha.
(That is just an added bonus on top of what I think he will bring to the team tactics and energy wise of course – don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea here!)
First of all, I believe the “heir apparant” order went this way:
1) Randolph
2) Girardi
3) Mattingly
the first two left when opportunities opened up. Girardi became available again. no one’s spitting on Don Mattingly here. i feel bad for my all-time favorite player, but Girardi was being groomed for the job before he was.
Second, hasn’t Posada given Girardi credit for what he did for him countless times? If anything, this makes me feel great about BOTH of them returning.
Sportscenter’s having a Yankee Special at 1:30 EST. The Red Sox just won the world series and it’s all Yankees, all the time? Priceless.
$6M for 3 years? That’s almost an insult. I hope that it’s very incentive-laden. How’s Joe to support his young family?
Also hope there’s no opt-out clause. I can’t bear anymore drama.
Michael Kay on the Mike Tirico show now.
jk
October 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Pete, please advise…
I went into my bosses office and told hime I want a 5 year extension, otherwise I am opting out. He told me not to forget to pick up his dry cleaning on the way back from lunch.
What should I do
Freakin classic!!!!
drop the dry cleaning in the mud, blame it on Arod’s movers running into, ask for a 3 yr extension because you were able to salvage 2 of the 3 suits.
BBB
YEP!! He is one fine looking man!! And he is smart to boot!!
Steven A Smith doesn’t have a show anymore?
We Miss…”Don’t you think any decent agent would be aware of his client’s image.”
Boras is well aware of ARods image he just doesn’t give a rat’s butt. He only cares about himself and being bigger than the game. That guy ought to be put on “double secret” probation by the league for conduct detrimental.
BBB-
I was pulling for Joe Girardi all along as well!
I don’t know *who* those female fans are.
Everyone I know loves him.
Wouldn’t have been able to feed his family??? What the hell does he feed them?
BBB –
Amen to that!
This is great news. I like this move. I think its the smart move to do vs the sentimental one (Mattingly). I’m opptimistic. A smart, young, hungry manager, the removal of the selfish cancer named ARod. It’ll be interesting to see how they construct the 2008 team now.
Jennifer
Steven A is on from 2:00 to 4:00. He’s national now.
sportscenter just said all the fans wanted don mattingly?
He uses solid gold plates, and silverwear and tosses them after every use.
Kim really? That is news to me. Everyone that I’ve spoken to wanted Joe G.
Joe is dead! Long live Joe!
Let the dealing begin.
Next year we win.
The future is looking friendly so long as we keep the young arms.
Mike R. How the hell did he get a national show? I guess all one has to do is yell and scream and only know basketball and they get a national show. What a joke espn is.
Jennifer,
To add to that, you can see him and Speewell in the unemployment line the first of the month.
Offcoarse you cant feed your family with 25 mil,living in an expensive city like New York and needed a hooker (i mean personal trainer) on road trips. Takes its toll. Blame it on inflation. Tough to be him.
Olney, who was a beat writer for the Yanks at the time, just said that the one guy that might be harder to sign now is Jorge.
Hmmm – can’t wait for the Jose Molina behind the plate.
Kim…that is because they use the same polling group that Fox News uses….oh and the great insight of Michael Kay.
pepper–
what are you talking about that quote makes no sense whatsoever
Based on my own non-scientific study I would say that most fans would not have been upset with any of the three candidates, but preferences were pretty evenly divided between Donnie and Joe G.
whats the worst place to be in america today> Between Scott Boras and a microphone. this man is a media whore
Mike Lowell in 08? anyone anyone??
Pepper & Salt Brooks, Been a Yankee Fan much longer then you . Your not wet behind the Years yet, unless you just dove into a pool of —-!.
Anyone see that young RH 1st baseman Conor Jackson may be available via a trade from AZ? Might be a good solution to balance the lineup and stay young…moving Cano to third then and picking up a cheap 2nd baseman would complete the infield.
Congrats Joe Girardi!
Mike Lowell is not nor should be an option in 2008 especially w/ him demanding 4 yrs. at 12 – 14 million per. He’s not that good people, plus why lose a draft pick to Boston ?
Gayle
October 29th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
pepper—
what are you talking about that quote makes no sense whatsoever
The reference that espn is reporting that Yankee fans wanted Mattingly over Girardi…
The fact that this is completely false when you make a 100% inclusive statement like that.
If you do not watch Fox News and their countless mis-statements, it may not make sense. But their polls always seemingly differ from any other poll out there.
Hey Doug
“Hire Mazzone
Make Bowa the Bench coach
Rehire Pena for 1B coach
Hire Elliand as Bull Pen coach.
DFA Giambi (he’s a total loss anyway- clogging up the bench)
Resign Pettite Posada and Rivera
Trade for Chris Duncan (1B- 26 years old with power)
Hire Dave Duncan (to coach hitting and be with his boys Shelly and Chris)
Find a way to get Santana
Pick up Abreu’s option
Sign Adam Dunn.
That’s just week one.
”
Let’s go easy on the lefties. We are lacking big time from the right side now. Do you really want to see Okajima shutting us down in the 7th and 8th innings for the next 3 years?
Trade for Adrian Beltre. Had a good offensive year and has a good glove. Added bonus hes 28 or at least thats what his birth certifacate says.
“Mike Lowell in 08? anyone anyone??”
Not interested. The home/away split this year makes me nervous and I don’t want to be on the hook for what could be a steep decline phase.
Matsui with Beltre?
oh god I just realized I’m going to hear Screamin’ A. Stiff’s supposive baseball IQ and Mike Missenelli’s Yankee hate on ESPN
anyone listening to Mike & Maddog?
Francesca says there was a “crazy rumor” in the press room last nite, unrelated to AMerc and the managerial position, but he doesn’t want to talk about it cuz it wasn’t confirmed. Tease.
What do you think ?
Another “Mitchell investigation” brewing to the surface?
C’mon Leo Mazzone and Dave Eiland!!!
i love joe go yanees go in 2008 great move
I know there’s a whole lot of shaking going on (literally) in California,but this is a massive shake up, bedlam for the Yankees.Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a wild ride. Stay tuned!
I hate when people say “trade for this guy or trade for this guy but also keep all our young pitchers and develop them”
you think other teams will just trade good players that they have just to help us out? they will ask for our young pitchers and you cant have the best of both worlds. other teams dont just sit down and do whatever is best for the yankees, some of you need to get that out of your heads.
Jamie
You are spot on. I have to laugh when people throw out ideas like “Trade Alan Horne and Jeff Marquez for Miguel Cabrera”.
How about give them Giambi,who has one year left and we take over Beltre’s contract. They get to dump their third baseman and we dump our dh.
Hey marc, you have my name.
The 2nd happiest day of my life.
(the first being when Torre officially wasn’t coming back.)
Ok, a bit of hyperbole, but it’s true: not even living in Boston can ruin my spirits today. I don’t even care about Rodriguez being gone.
I love that we’ve got Hank Steinbrenner kickin’ butt, hating the Red Sox, and bringing back that competitive owner’s fire that’s been lacking from George for a long time. And I love that we’re getting a smart, fiery manager – who also appears to be disgusted with the Sox.
Young pitching dynasty about to break out. Girardi and Eiland steering things. A team that looks to get even younger and cheaper.
I’m feeling good about next year.
Now let’s sit back and watch Brian work his mojo and see if he can sign Miguel Cabrera or Santana without giving up any pitching…
I know this is for Girardi comments, but here’s my 2008 gameplan.
Catcher – Resign Molina. Offer Posada 3 yrs. $40M. If he says no, see ya, and sign a guy like Barrett to split time with Molina.
First Base – Keep Mientkiewicz, have him split time with Duncan.
Second Base – is of course Cano
SS – Jeter
Third Base – Former Yankee (for about 20 minutes), Mike Lamb. He and Betemit platoon, even though Betemit is a good left-handed hitter, and Lamb is only a lefty.
Left – Matsui
Center – Melky
Right – Keep Abreu
DH – Damon/Giambi
Starters – Wang, Hughes, Joba, Kennedy and Pettitte
Bullpen – Ohlendorf, J.B. Cox, Humberto Sanchez, Igawa, Rivera (admittedly this need work, but don’t bring back Vizcaino).
Bench – Lamb, Betemit, Giambi, Damon, Duncan
Not bad, I think 92 wins
“A-Rod went 4-for-15 (.267) with one RBI against in the Yankees’ first-round playoff loss to Cleveland and is in an 8-for-59 (.136) postseason funk dating to 2004. Even worse has been his postseason hitting in the clutch. He is hitless in his past 18 playoff at-bats with runners in scoring position.”
The Yankees don’t rebuild. We reload.
Girardi is the first step in the line. This team will be tougher and play smarter than we’ve seen in a few years. Torre did an amazing job letting the players just play. What’s been lacking is the added advantage teams like Anaheim had when it was apparent their manager was out managing ours. I don’t think that will happen again. It may not be rocket science, managing a team, but you need someone who at the very least is willing to bench struggling players and go with matchups.
Francona just won another WS realizing Ellsbury was better to ride than the struggling vet in Crisp. He went with Kielty when Torre would have left him on the bench like he did with Shelley in game on of the ALDS and instead put blind faith in Matsui who was shot.
I look forward to having a manager who defines loyalty to his team as putting them into the best position to win rather than keeping in the guys who got him there. Torre’s approach changed over the course of his managing career. When he first came in, he was willing to sit struggling stars, but somewhere along the way his loyalty to their ego’s hurt the team.
If Matsui can’t crack the ball out of the infield next season, I have no doubt that Girardi will bench him for someone giving him quality at bats.
This is a good day. I’m happy for Girardi. When he was playing here he lived in Westchester near me and I ran into him a few times and he was a very nice man who was more than willing to indulge a fan who wanted a few minutes.
I’m excited about seeing what Cash is going to do with the team now. The payroll is getting more flexible (especially after next season) and the focus is on pitching, defense and hard play. That’s what picking Girardi says to me.
Picking Mattingly would have said to me “let’s keep the veterans happy”.
Jamie, I always respond w/ why the hell would we trade our prospects especially right now.
If Santana,Kazmir & Cabrera hit FA then fine other than that we should not even bother. And Mike Lowell I don’t care what anybody saids he would be a horrendous replacement and it would end up the Yankees having to give up a draft pick to Boston. He’s not worth that.
After this year of lousy pitching,having a former catcher at the helm,with a new pitch coach,youg guns in the rotation makes me feel warm all over. Ian,Joba, and Phil will only get better with the right coach.I hope cano moves to third base too.
Thanks Pepper i didnt understand what he was referring to. If he citing a poll as a reason that he opted out and shows that the Yanks dont know what you are doing perhaps he should look at what Yankee fans think about Arod before he starts using polls as his reasoning.
Joe Girardi is clearly the right man for the job at the right time. He will not be out-managed which was a fear I had with the possible choice of Mattingly.
Don’t see how “Rob” can be speaking for fans when he’s not truly a fan himself:
Rob
October 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
The Bronx Zoo is back! At least I don’t have to listen to Mattingly Pfumpher through press conferences explaining their losses for the next 2 years. I won’t be watching anyway – I get a big part of my life back.
The Yankees organization has been very successful for a long time. How about showing a little faith that they know what they’re doing? Will it work out? Maybe, maybe not, but I for one am looking forward to finding out — and supporting the team either way.
Another option is to get Crede from chicago. They already have Fields at that position and he would come cheap(after his back problems). We might be able to catch lightning in a bottle. Plus hes a right handed bat.
Bob Michael is your MUPPET OF THE DAY!!!
Manager- Girardi
Bench Coach- Bowa
1st Base Coach- Paul O’Neal
3rd Base Coach- Pena
Pitching Coach- Eiland
Hitting Coach- Long
Dr. Acula, maybe it’s that rumor that Boras had something in the works with the Red Sox already in regards to A Rod going there.
Lets hope that in either 08 or 09 we won’t be discussing this crap and will actually be talking about a title. This is quite a punch to the gut right now – hopefully the young pitching develops and we add a bullpen arm and one more bat. Where those 2 things will come from i’m not sure. But thankfully the Giambino (as the fool sterling calls him) and Mussina will be gone after 2008. We are talking about a substantially reduced payroll within 12 months.
With some young players maybe we can add the veterans to put us over the top – sounds like the redsox – well for the moment they’ve passed us. I see a rebound coming soon.
Mehdi -
that’s interesting.
stop low balling TONY PENA !@!!
he belongs on the Bench Coach role not 3B, not 1B, Tony Pena should be the bench coach stop low balling him !!
One main reason the yankees won’t go after Lowell, besides the fact that Boston is keeping him:
No way in hell the yankees give up their first round draft pick to Boston.
That Bronx Zoo comment wasn’t made by this Rob. I’m only harping on Girardi today (no female comments from me either).
Sox won’t be making a move for A rod, at least not according to Theo. True story…. My friend (a red sox fan) was at the game last night and stayed at the same hotel as the team. He happened to get in an elevator late night with Theo and asked him if they were going after A rod. Theo’s tipsy response: “F*ck AROD!”, which according to my friend was said with tremendous emphasis on the first word.
I agree, Pena also would compliment Girardi with his firy attitude as well. I like that in the interview he made it clear that he could win a World Series with this team. Sounds like a very confident person. With all the young latin guys on this team, he would be able to lay into them and instruct them in spanish rather than Girardi. His success with younger guys in K.C. shouldnt be ignored.
I also can’t help thinking that Cashman made a decision that’s mostly to help him keep his job.
Look at his way: If Girardi flounders, he’s an easy fall guy. Mattingly however had a greater likelihood of outlasting Cashman.
G. Love – loved your post. Coulda come right outta my head.
Why would the Yankees move Cano to third base? He is *excellent* at second. Cano would become a slightly above-average offensive third baseman, instead of the best 2B-man in the game (behind Utley).
Hank Steinbrenner already went on record saying he and Cashman wanted the same guy and that if it didn’t work out, it wouldn’t mean Cash’s job because he (Girardi) is who Hank wanted too….
I agree, Cano should stay at 2nd. He’s developing gold glove quality there, why make him switch unless we feel like he’d be even better at 3B.
If we can get a power bat/clean-up hitter somewhere else in the lineup (RF, 1B), 3B could be more of a Robin Ventura or Scott Brosious type at 3rd.
Also, don’t forget that with Girardi will probably come a different approach with the offense and more of the things Torre sometimes but not all the time stressed, small ball and manufacturing runs. I’m expecting that to come from Girardi more as a primary strategy than secondary. Especially with A-Rod gone.
“What good does designating Giambi do us? Why in the world would tha Yankees want to pay him $20 million to play somewhere else?”
He takes up a roster spot. I’d rather see either a rookie getting some experience or finding a decent right handed bat off the bench. Giambi has no upside. He is finished.
to the person who said I was loading up on lefties.
Good point. But I still haven’t named a 3B yet.
1B Chris Duncan (L)
2B Cano (L)
SS Jeter (R)
3B ?? (R)
RF Abreau (L)
CF Malky (S)
LF Matsui/Damon (L)
C Posada (S)
DH Matsui/Damon (L) Shelly Duncan (R)
Not that bad. Facing a Lefty we can still go 5-4
WTF since when are we bringing Chris Duncan here ? he’s staying in STL, I’d rather go w/ Tabata, Calzado or Jackson anyway
Nice, I always wanted Girardi, even before anyone said anything about Joe Torre losing his job.
I hope he is the right choice!
The “female” comment is based on sports audience data not sexism. People watch sports they play. In the era of Title IX there is a growing market for professional women’s sports leagues which had not existed previously.
If you look at the coverage of the Olympics it is nothing but a series of human interest vignettes to compel viewers to watch sports that no one plays or follows in the real world ie. curling, water polo etc.
I think female baseball fans care about Jorge’s son, Andy Phillip’s mother, Joe Torre’s cancer – human issues that make their achievements more compelling. It’s not black and white – but I think the ownership’s treatment of Torre will turn the women off quicker than the men – because most male fans have played the game at some level and will always have a deeper relationship with the sport. Is that sexist? If so – then women are sexist for having to wait until Rebecca Lobo to discover that basketball existed. This is reality – and the Yankees will suffer for their ego-driven decisons and I predict that the women will be the first casualties. I’m turned off by the team right now and I’ve played the sport since I was 6 years old. But who will remember when I’m right? Just throw the ugly terms around.
Very sweet. I think Girardi has the potential to become a great manager. I think he will be better at taking advantage of all those times we consisntly stranded plethoras of baserunners. I believe he will not allow players to become complacent & light some fires when needed.
Very bright & baseball knowledgeable. No less than Don Zimmer, whom I really respect, was responsible for steering the Yankees to Girardi when they were looking for a catcher
because of his knowledge & fire & take charge attitude.
Now if the Yankees will use a bunch of that A-Rod $ to obtain bullpen guys who can actually throw a strike & get people out & not make us cringe when entering the game we will be in great shape next year.
Great move.
ARod leaving…. Ewing Theory?
We shouldnt give up on Giambi. The guy put up a higher OPS than ARod last year. Hes the one guy we have with 30HR power. Why would the Yankees pay $20Million to release him? They have to try to keep him healthy and the regular DH for at least April and May and hope to make for up for some of ARod’s production because we have Betemit at 3rd next year. Mark it down.