Girardi better the second time around
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 05, 2009 
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I asked Joe Girardi if he felt better prepared for this season than he did at this time last year.
“Yes you do, because you know what it’s like to sit in that chair,” he said. “You know all the different things you have to address and handle and you know the personality of the players a lot better than you did the year before and what they’re capable of doing and what they need and what they won’t need. Just a year of understanding what the job entails.”
In terms of other things, Girardi said he liked having the second lefty in the bullpen. Phil Coke could be used to get one batter or for up to 40 pitches. “We could use him any time,” he said.
Jorge Posada on how much he was looking forward to Opening Day: “A lot. A lot. It’s been a long time. I haven’t played in a while. … You have to put in the time when you’re hurt and do everything right. It’s a lot of work. Just to be out there again will be fun. I’m eager to see how the team looks and how we play.”
Derek Jeter on the rotation: “On paper we have some pretty good starters. We have guys that are capable of dominating people. You know, it’s a challenge facing any one of them, one through five. For us, that’s a good thing. In order to win you need pitchers who can shut teams down and we have that.”
Greater on paper?
The Yankees pitching or Mrs. Matsui
We should go 8-1 7-2 on this road trip. LETS GO YANKEES!!!
Look for Joey G. to have a great year.
If Phil Coke strikes out the side, will John Sterling say, “coke is it?”
WOW ESPN HATES THE YANKEES WITH A PASSION
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....xpertpicks
Why do they hate the Yankees? I saw at least 4 predictions of the Yankees going to the series and 3 predictions that they’ll win the series.
Also multiple writers picked Teixeira to win the MVP award.
i really hope this team sticks it to everybody who doubts them.mostly the espn idiots
they were picked 4 times the red sucks 6
i was particularly surprised to see hof’er peter gammons pick the red sox as world series winners.
there’s a turnup for the books!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
yahoo predictions were pretty bad too
peter G’S choice was a real shock.HE HAS FULLY BECOME A JOKE.
Here’s a coincidence for you. Look at the sponsored links (advertising) on the ESPN website page with these predictions (this is a cut and paste):
Sponsored Links
RedSox Fan Earns $300/day
After I got laid off, I was able to make $8k a month Online!
ChrisEarnsCashOnline.com
Boston Red Sox Tickets
Boston Red Sox Tickets. Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB.com
http://www.StubHub.com
Jason Varitek’s IQ is 129
Think you’re smarter? Try to beat his score here.
http://www.MajorLeagueIQ.com
Hank was onto something about ESPN’s bias. Despite Hank being a blowhard and signing Arod to a ridiculous contract, he had his moments of wisdom and this was one of them.
I will be interested to hear Peter’s take on Girardi’s media relations improvements as the year wears on. No matter what my views on the subject are, I think it will be contain useful information.
Good post Peter. I have no idea what ESPN has to do with anything, I’m just glad I don’t have enough time on my hands to care. . .
In fairness to Girardi I think he’s accepted a lot of the mistakes he made last year and has made a sincere effort to do a better job this year. I think the familiarity he now has with the position will allow us all to see what he can do for real.
I’m not sure even Joe Torre could have done much more with a team that lost two key players in its lineup for most of the season, experimented with rushing two rookies (who weren’t ready) into the starting rotation to start the season, and then had Darrell Rasner and Sidney Ponson make nearly a quarter of the team’s starts.
It’s time to move forward and I think this team is going to be special this year. It certainly feels like Joe G is much better prepared for the job ahead of him, and the Yankees should be a better team because of that.
I was stunned to see P. Gammons pick Boston.
I guess hope springs eternal for every team, but regardless of what the media and other assorted experts think, this is a really good Yankees team that has a chance to be pretty special. It all starts with the pitching and the Yankees have a chance to win with every starter that takes the mound. Tex has fit like a glove – I think he’s going to have a huge year. The pen (no matter what anyone else says) is full of potential and it’s still headed by the greatest closer ever. I know every manager likes his team, but Joe really seems to think this team is special – there seems to be a tremendous optimism and confidence surrounding the Yankees. This division is going to be tough, but I’ll wager that there is some seriously high quality baseball to be played all-around. That’s exciting – for me, baseball is the perfect game, and I like to see it played well.
As to Joe, I know the media is probably waiting to see how he handles the first losing streak, but I think he’s going to be fine.
I’m happy for Jorge – I can’t imagine what it felt like for him to sit on the sidelines most of last year, not being able to contribute while his team struggled. I guess he felt helpless – not a good feeling. I’m glad he’s back – the team wasn’t whole without him.
Go Yanks! Can’t wait!
don’t get to caught up with the so called experts predictions.
almost all of them if not all of them pick the same teams & the same scenarios as last year because that is all they have to go on.
there is no possible way to predict antyhing.
who picked tampa to win the division in 08?
nobody on the planet.
Love the way Joey G. speaks of himself in the second person.