Family man
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Jan 08, 2010 
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Earlier this year, I wrote a piece on how Joe Girardi and Michael Kay have coped with the presence of Alzheimer’s in their family lives (Girardi’s dad, Jerry, has it; Kay’s mom, Rose, passed away in 2006 after suffering from it). Girardi was very gracious during the interview and we spent quite a while talking in his office at Yankee Stadium about the importance of family.
Despite an obviously-demanding schedule, Girardi does all he can to be around his wife and kids. He is one of the few managers to frequently open up the clubhouse for the daughters of players after games (usually only sons are allowed) and in his office, right next to the big wooden locker where he hangs his clothes, is another locker about half the size of a regular one. It’s for Girardi’s son, Dante, who will dutifully change into his own play clothes before running around on the Stadium field long after a game is over.
I mention this because I came across this story recently, and thought I’d pass it on. It’s a nice piece from The Daily Northwestern, the paper at Girardi’s alma mater, and it gives some more insight and background into the part of Girardi’s life that clearly defines him. For those fans who want to know more about what drives their manager, family is a good place to start.
I love Joe Girardi.
There. I said it. I can go about my day.
“kc just signed podsednik, now trade a pitcher (gaudin) to them for dejesus”
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tried to. MLB The Show wouldn’t let me make the trade.
does the game have a ‘fair trades’ option?
MTU:
yes. That scout for mexico is an ‘unsung hero’. Aceves has been a God-send. Love him. And Banuelos on the way etc
give him his pub and a raise !
William Buckner
January 8th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I love Joe Girardi.
There. I said it. I can go about my day.
____________________________________________________________
I second this. He’s a total cornball, but a really great person and manager.
William Buckner
January 8th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I love Joe Girardi.
*********************
I second this.
I’m still not completely sold on Girardi, but I like him a lot more than that Torre guy.
NYY626-you beat me, so I guess I’m third in line.
Girardi by all accounts is a really good guy. The Yanks have seemingly made a decision to bring in good guys which makes me happy and even more excited to cheer for them.
“I second this. He’s a total cornball, but a really great person and manager”
——————————————————–
apparently any man who comes across as nice, and has good values, is a cornball. I feel VERY sorry for the youth of today
“NYY626-you beat me, so I guess I’m third in line.
”
———————————————————-
me fourth.
will never forget the reported accident scene in the wee hours following the WS Championship. surreal
I think he is probably a good person, but he is a fake quality about him that i don’t like. he is a little smug when he doesn’t have a place for it…That being said he handles the bullpen better than Torre and he is not afraid to make defensive substitutions either
“I’m still not completely sold on Girardi, but I like him a lot more than that Torre guy.”
Shocking!;)
Go U Northwestern!
“I think he is probably a good person, but he is a fake quality about him that i don’t like”
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maybe one day, everyone will be a carbon copy of you. We can dream
“I think he is probably a good person, but he is a fake quality about him that i don’t like”
if I had to deal with media hounds picking apart my every sentence looking for something to critize every day, I might be a little “fake” in public as well..
Thanks for the article, Sam. A gentle reminder of what’s really important.
I love this part:
When he looks back on his career, Girardi does not remember what the pitch count was when he got a big hit or what runner he threw out to preserve his team’s lead. “The interesting things you remember when you’re done playing are the relationships,” he said, referencing former coaches and teammates Don Zimmer, Mike Harkey, Paul O’Neill, David Cone and Dante Bichette, who he named his son after. “I don’t remember games, I remember people.”
vinny-b (NJ and Granderson – thank you Cashman!)
January 8th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
“NYY626-you beat me, so I guess I’m third in line. ”
———————————————————-
me fourth.
will never forget the reported accident scene in the wee hours following the WS Championship. surreal
—–
He lives down here in So Fla and is very well liked. He showed up at my friends sons Bar Mitzva and lit one of the candles. Showed up in his Yankee jersey. Pretty cool.
http://bases.nbcsports.com/201.....s.html.php
Didn’t know if this was posted or not. Kevin Towers working for the Yankees as a consultant.
Vinny-
And
Pena, and
Jorge vasquez
vinny-b (NJ and Granderson – thank you Cashman!)
January 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am
“I second this. He’s a total cornball, but a really great person and manager”
——————————————————–
apparently any man who comes across as nice, and has good values, is a cornball. I feel VERY sorry for the youth of today
____________________________________________________________
I was saying that in a joking/loving way. We once had a discussion on here about how Joe has a really dorky/nerdy laugh ( which he does). I really love Joe, and I admire the fact that he is a nice guy and has values
Hi: Always liked Joe as a player and now as a manager. I appreciate that he manage from gut and instinct rather than just the stat book. It doesn’t always work, but I like the human touch. As a manager, he started off a little remote in his dealings with the players and the press, but he’s clearly loosened up. My son and I happen to be avid autograph collectors and we’ve seen Joe in action at shows, at Yankee Stadium and at spring training. He always puts the focus on kids. At spring training last year, he didn’t sign for any adults until all the kids who wanted an autograph got one. Only then did he sign a few balls for the adults. He didn’t actually sign the baseball I’d brought, but I couldn’t help respect that he focused on the kids around me before the 45-year-old guy.
On more than one occasion last year, A-Rod said the entire team has bought into Joe Girardi.
No reason to think otherwise in 2010.
m
January 8th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
“I don’t remember games, I remember people.”
******************
m, I loved that quote too. It seems like that’s the kind of attitude he wants his players to have too, which is great.
There has been much talk about the difference quality people have made in the Yankee clubhouse.
It could be said that change started in the managers office.
January 8th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for the article, Sam. A gentle reminder of what’s really important.
I love this part:
When he looks back on his career, Girardi does not remember what the pitch count was when he got a big hit or what runner he threw out to preserve his team’s lead. “The interesting things you remember when you’re done playing are the relationships,” he said, referencing former coaches and teammates Don Zimmer, Mike Harkey, Paul O’Neill, David Cone and Dante Bichette, who he named his son after. “I don’t remember games, I remember people.”
=======
I would rather my manager have better attention to detail so that maybe we don’t keep throwing Lowell fastballs when he struggles against curveballs away.
“Bottom of the 9th, up to the plate steps Lowell a first ball fastball hitter and what is Girardi doing…remembering that Lowell is a good guy who has a charituy of under privelaged kids…I guess he is thinking about what a good guy he is while he rounds the bases after his 2nd homer on a first pitch fastball.”
YankeeRay
January 8th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
He lives down here in So Fla and is very well liked. He showed up at my friends sons Bar Mitzva and lit one of the candles. Showed up in his Yankee jersey. Pretty cool.
****************
That’s so cool!! I’m very jealous-that you got to meet Girardi and also that you live in Florida.
Frank
Thanks for the link.
It looks as if FanGraphs is actually BostonGraphs or GammonsGraphs
The Yankees are not benching Granderson late in games against lefties unless he’s absolutely hopeless. Cashman isn’t an idiot – he made the trade knowing CG’s had problems against lefties because his virtues far outweigh this flaw. He didn’t trade Ajax and Kennedy for a platoon player. Granderson will get every opportunity to show that he can at least be decent/mediocre against lefties.
Guru,
You lost me. Sorry.
Girardi? Fake?
At times, measured, but fake?
Don’t see that at all.
All you had to do was see him break down about Murcer to see what a big heart and soul the man has. Fake people don’t have that quality, and everyone knows it like radar, no matter how they attempt to distract and dupe.
JoeG is as genuine as they come.
the article keeps crashing on me
can someome give me a 2 sentence synopsis.
Of all the things Girardi did this year, opening up the clubhouse to daughters was right at the top of the list. It must be wonderful to see the clubhouse full of kids, especially as the players don’t get a chance to see them as often as they’d like during the season. AJ’s kids are going to need a new wrestling partner now that Damon doesn’t appear as if he’s coming back, lol. I think the players really love Joe and I think that AJ spoke for all of them when he said (in his interview with Brandon Steiner) that he couldn’t possibly say what he had to say about Joe in just one quick sentence.
The difference between 2008 JG and 2009 JG UI think was night and day – with the interviews anyway. This year he was very comfortable.
He must be doing something right strategically since he just won a World Series.
Guess you aren’t much of a guru.
A few of the Yankees brought the WS trophy to the DR.
http://dominicansports.blogspo.....ident.html
“It looks as if FanGraphs is actually BostonGraphs or GammonsGraphs”
I’ve always thought of them as pretty much down the middle. They had similarly high praise for the Granderson deal (actully referred to it as “too good to be true” for the Yankees).
From what I can see, they really stick to their numbers (WAR, UZR, etc) in their analysis of players.
Betsy,
He is one of those people who gets it.
The man risked his life to help a stranger on the highway.
Whenever he discusses illness or those less fortunate, the sincerity is always there – he’s not just talking.
And including the girls shows he’s not impressed with stereotyped gender division, either.
It’s clear he and his wife are best friends.
Thanks Pat!
Is Cervelli there for Winter ball?
I was surprised Joe G did as well as he did here after I read the linked article and this reference to his wife, Kim.
“She’s been the wind beneath my wings, which was the song at our wedding,” Girardi said. Girardi added Kim “led me to the lord,” giving him a new type of strength, one that he relies on during the most trying episodes in his life.
Not every person who embraces a life of faith is a caricature, preaching hellfire and brimstone. Some of them are really wonderful people, even if they call fastballs instead of curves to Mike Lowell
I wish I was more like Girardi the man
Been a long time since I heard the name Dante Bichette. Good find on that article.
Was Cano’s dad there?
I’m Very Happy that Hal, Cash and Joe G are running the show.
murphydog,
I wish I was like Rivera. And I’d wish it if he was my newspaper boy.
JoeG is just good people.
“I think he is probably a good person, but he is a fake quality about him that i don’t like. he is a little smug when he doesn’t have a place for it”
Smug? Yeah, I buy that a little bit. Don’t think it’s fake though. I’ve thought that at times he’s had a bit of “the smartest guy in the room” about him, but not enough to bother me. Fact is, once Ohlendorf (sp?) was traded, he probably was the smartest guy in the room.
pat
January 8th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
A few of the Yankees brought the WS trophy to the DR.
http://dominicansports.blogspo…..ident.html
*********************
That’s cool. And seeing Cano and Cervelli in that picture totally made my day.
Moving story – we must find a cure for alzheimer’s
M, that’s interesting, and I think a lot of retired players feel the same way. Most of them don’t miss playing the games, but they miss the camaraderie. We’re lucky to have a wonderfully talented group of players who are also good and decent people – they are easy to root for and a heck of a lot of fun. These guys, as Cash calls them, are a “band of brothers” and I can’t think of a better way of putting it. They love each other and it’s pretty obvious.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
January 8th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
M, that’s interesting, and I think a lot of retired players feel the same way. Most of them don’t miss playing the games, but they miss the camaraderie. We’re lucky to have a wonderfully talented group of players who are also good and decent people – they are easy to root for and a heck of a lot of fun. These guys, as Cash calls them, are a “band of brothers” and I can’t think of a better way of putting it. They love each other and it’s pretty obvious.
This is why I cringe when people sugggest
Manny
Barry
Milton
Bedard
There is a new sherriff in town.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
January 8th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
The Yankees are not benching Granderson late in games against lefties unless he’s absolutely hopeless. Cashman isn’t an idiot – he made the trade knowing CG’s had problems against lefties because his virtues far outweigh this flaw. He didn’t trade Ajax and Kennedy for a platoon player. Granderson will get every opportunity to show that he can at least be decent/mediocre against lefties.
===========
I find this terribly naive. Of course he would make this trade just for a guy who is a stud against righties and is a good fielding CF’r or a great fielding LF’r.
Cashman is an idiot if he thinks that all of a sudden Granderson will become an average hitter against lefties.
There is NO question they will be pinch hitting for Granderson in big spots late in the game if they are behind and a lefty comes in…NO QUESTION. Girardi would be an idiot to let him bat unless some epiphany does happen
Bodh, he’s a good man and I think it’s sad that people have become so cynical that they don’t believe in good men anymore. Well, his players adore him because he cares about them as people, not just as players wearing uniforms who can easily be replaced by other warm bodies wearing the same uniforms.
My fake comment about Girardi has been the many lies he has told regarding players and what they need and don’t need. When they let Matsui go he talked about how he wanted a revolving DH to rest his players…what a crock…just don;t say anything if you are going to give us a line of BS
Speaking of clubhouse chemisty, etc.
I bet that whole clubhouse said the lord’s prayer after castillo dropped that popup.
I can’t even read the article. When I try to open it, it closes out this website…..
Guru,
Mo asked Girardi not to let it out that he was having shoulder issues. Cashman left Girardi out to dry by letting the media know without telling him. He was still under the impression that Mo’s condition was still being kept under wraps.
All general managers, and by extension, managers misdirect when it comes to personnel issues.
And to a certain degree I think he did want a revolving DH. But thank goodness they didn’t go there. Cover all the bases, and if someone goes down, then you can rotate the DH.
Try right clicking and select “open in new tab”
I find this terribly naive. Of course he would make this trade just for a guy who is a stud against righties and is a good fielding CF’r or a great fielding LF’r.
Cashman is an idiot if he thinks that all of a sudden Granderson will become an average hitter against lefties.
There is NO question they will be pinch hitting for Granderson in big spots late in the game if they are behind and a lefty comes in…NO QUESTION. Girardi would be an idiot to let him bat unless some epiphany does happen
———————————–
So basically you’re saying that CG has no room for improvement in his game and Kevin Long doesn’t do anything in his job?
And the Mike Lowell scenario you wrote is pretty ridiculous. A: He doesn’t call pitches from the dugout. B: The man won the World Series. What more do you want? There’s no such thing as the perfect manager because even if he makes every decision YOU think is the right one (which seems impossible, looking at your comments), they will be the wrong ones to someone else. But of course, THEY would be wrong…
Tell me, what manager out there doesn’t have a ‘fake’ quality in your mind?
Comments like yours are why some people really hate Yankees fans. Nothing is ever good enough for you.
I liked Torre and was a bit skeptical of Girardi at first. This year has convinced me he is the right guy for the job. Not (only) b/c of winning the WS, but b/c of what so many of his players have to say about him.
Guru Man
January 8th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
My fake comment about Girardi has been the many lies he has told regarding players and what they need and don’t need. When they let Matsui go he talked about how he wanted a revolving DH to rest his players…what a crock…just don;t say anything if you are going to give us a line of BS
====
toeing the team party line to a group of reporters (some of them, vultures) has nothing to do with being “fake.”
One reason I wanted to see JG become Yankee mgr is because of the success he had in Fla.
And now he’s had success in NY.
And I think he will keep having success.
All mgr’s make mistakes.
One of my only criticisms of him so far is that he seems to rely on the stat book a bit too much at times.
I hope he puts his baseball instinct to work as well as relying on the book.
I think he will.
JMTC
“Cashman is an idiot if he thinks that all of a sudden Granderson will become an average hitter against lefties.”
Why is this out of the realm of possibility? I think its very possible with different/better instruction and approach that he could become descent against lefties and I agree with Betsy that they will give him every opportunity to accomplish that.
Oops. Not to say that Joe is perfect. But then again, nobody is.
“There is NO question they will be pinch hitting for Granderson in big spots late in the game if they are behind and a lefty comes in…NO QUESTION. Girardi would be an idiot to let him bat unless some epiphany does happen”
If Granderson gets pinch hit for more than 5 times this year I will eat my hat. I suspect the actual number will be closer to zero than 5.
M, still not working. I’ll try a little later…..thanks, though!
I think it is a failure in logic to say that the Yankees won a world series therefore Joe Girardi is a good manager.
He has strengths and weaknesses but much like Joe Torre, his in-game managing skills are very lacking. He manages by the book way too often and in this case the book is mostly nonsense.
Blake-
Bold prediction:
Yankee fans are gonna wind up lovin Granderson !
Bodhi,
It was crazy how some of the beat reporters got really bent out of shape with Girardi that first year. You know who I’m talking about!
Off topic:
Has anyone heard from G. Franco lately ? Hope he is doing OK ?
I miss his posts.
Guru -
Fact of the matter is, he did indeed want a revolving DH and so did Cashman. Their initial plan was to fill the DH with Damon and rotate other guys there when Damon played LF. Unfortunately, Damon wanted too much money for this to happen and they moved on to Nick Johnson…
“Bold prediction:
Yankee fans are gonna wind up lovin Granderson !”
Agreed.
I am not always in harmony with JoeG’s in-game or personal decisions, but I think, on the whole, he’s a good manager.
The thing Betsy said about “good men” – I think JoeG has an integrity that is actually rare.
Even many “nice guys” will compromise their integrity if it gives them some leg up or if it puts them in some good light. I don’t think Joe does that sort of thing.
That’s rare. He actually reminds me, in this way, of my Dad. He does the right thing.
Have a good day, guys.
“As the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes continue, at least one outlet is reporting that the Blue Jays have made the left-hander a considerable offer. Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald reports that the Jays offered Chapman a $23MM deal (click here for the Miami-based paper’s original Spanish story and here for some Drunk Jays Fans analysis).”
I meant, of course, personnel decisions…
Blake-
he’s gonna have a blast (pun intended) with that short left field porch.
Should be even easier for him than for JD.
“My fake comment about Girardi has been the many lies he has told regarding players and what they need and don’t need. When they let Matsui go he talked about how he wanted a revolving DH to rest his players…what a crock…just don;t say anything if you are going to give us a line of BS”
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then i expect during the Persian Gulf War, you wanted Schwartzkopf and Powell to reveal all battle plans info live on CNN. Same concept
Blake-
Scrambled brains. You know what I meant.
MTU, if Granderson just improves to average against lefties then he could be a monster.
“I think it is a failure in logic to say that the Yankees won a world series therefore Joe Girardi is a good manager.”
Okay then, but by THIS line of logic, whether Joe Girardi is a good manager or not is mostly irrelevant.
I’ve got an idea – let’s debate whether it was a good idea for Girardi to let Molina be AJ’s personal catcher during the playoffs…
Joe G. is a good man and turning out to be a heck of a good manager. It ain’t easy to win a world series and he did it in his second year here. He brought this club together and they are playing well together. We may not agree with all his in game decisions but he made enough of the right ones to win. Disparaging him only shows how ridiculous you are.
Blake-
depending on your definition of “monster” I think he’s going to be a monster either way.
Maybe it’s just the optimist in me.
I would rather have a lesser mgr who players respect and want to play for than a brilliant mgr that doesn’t get the best out of his players.
MTU, I mean maybe the top CF in baseball.
Kate-
Fortunately, with JG I don’t think it’s an either/or. JMO
It was godsend that last year went so well. e.g., healthy production from ancient players, statistically large number of walkoff wins.
there are pretty of reasons to doubt that we could be as successful in 2010.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the team misses the playoffs all together.
Blake-
He’s gonna be an All Star again. I’ll go that far.
The road to in-season disappointment is paved with the off-season belief that a player will become something he has never been.
yes, I agree MTU, I didn’t mean to imply I thought JG was lesser of a mgr.
“The road to in-season disappointment is paved with the off-season belief that a player will become something he has never been”
I said if…I’m hoping, thats all.
I told you guys about Towers a couple of weeks ago. It will be interesting to see what kind of pitchers we target in trades, the draft and IFA with him aboard. He is a great evaluator of pitching.
Patrick January 8th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I think it is a failure in logic to say that the Yankees won a world series therefore Joe Girardi is a good manager.
He has strengths and weaknesses but much like Joe Torre, his in-game managing skills are very lacking. He manages by the book way too often and in this case the book is mostly nonsense.
—————————
Modern baseball is more about stats and matchups than ever. It’s the way the game is now. Look at all the new stats that people spew in here. OPS, OPS+, defensive ratings, WAR… Is it right? Who can say? But most managers use ‘the book’ in some form or fashion. Pitch counts, L/L matchups, defensive (over)shifting, you name it. I definitely did not agree with all of Joe’s decisions but some worked out and some didn’t. But the way he’s adjusted to working with the players and the media from year 1 to year 2 shows that he’s adjusting and adapting to the job. Tony Larussa basically had a .500 record in his first decade as a manager, and most regard him as the best manager in this generation. Give the man time to continue to adjust. I think he’s doing a great job so far.
“there are plenty of reasons to doubt the yankees can be as successful in 2010.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the team misses the playoffs all together”
————————————————
wow.
Joe G is a great guy and a good manager working at becoming a great manager…
The Yankees have made some great off season moves to get “younger and more athletic” as well as improving the starting rotation.
There is still some work to do with the outfield and we’ve been beating this subject to death. Yes, if we liston to Cash, the Yankees will add another RH hitting guy, but I think they may need more than 1 more.
The Melky/Gardy combo worked out great last year in part because they pushed each other so hard for playing time. Melky also had the ability to play all 3 OF positions vary well. Melky is going to be missed if this Hoffman kid can’t fill his roll. Hopefully the Yankees will bring in a couple of guys to add depth at AAA just incase someone gets hurt. I could see this Hoffman kid being this years Cody Ransom and not being able to hit…
Joe did one of the hardest things to do, change.
Year one, there was plenty of complaining about his style.
Year two, they were having playing pool on off days and Joe seemed more relaxed.
Did some of that have to do with guys like CC and Swish? Sure.
Still, they started off really slow and Joe could have turned the pressure up. Instead, he dialed it down.
As I said before, I love him and think he’s doing a great job.
“there are plenty of reasons to doubt the yankees can be as successful in 2010. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team misses the playoffs all together”
I would be surprised by that.
To the other Phil
“The Other Phil
January 8th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I find this terribly naive. Of course he would make this trade just for a guy who is a stud against righties and is a good fielding CF’r or a great fielding LF’r.
Cashman is an idiot if he thinks that all of a sudden Granderson will become an average hitter against lefties.
There is NO question they will be pinch hitting for Granderson in big spots late in the game if they are behind and a lefty comes in…NO QUESTION. Girardi would be an idiot to let him bat unless some epiphany does happen
———————————–
So basically you’re saying that CG has no room for improvement in his game and Kevin Long doesn’t do anything in his job?
And the Mike Lowell scenario you wrote is pretty ridiculous. A: He doesn’t call pitches from the dugout. B: The man won the World Series. What more do you want? There’s no such thing as the perfect manager because even if he makes every decision YOU think is the right one (which seems impossible, looking at your comments), they will be the wrong ones to someone else. But of course, THEY would be wrong…
Tell me, what manager out there doesn’t have a ‘fake’ quality in your mind?
Comments like yours are why some people really hate Yankees fans. Nothing is ever good enough for you.
======================
Wow, talk about extrapolating incorrect information…To the other Phil?
I am not saying that Granderson or anyone can’t improve their game, what I am saying is that thinking Kevin long is that much better than someone else is wishful thinking. I think he is a pretty good hitting coach, but it isn’t like guys have come to us and all of a sudden been studs who who were average or average who were weak? Hairston didn’t do better with us, Molina still couldn’t hit, Melky never improved, etc…Again, I am fine with Long, but this thought that Granderson who has sucked against lefties 6 years or so will all of a sudden be decent because of Long is wishful thinking (of course I hope it happens)
what did podsednick get from the royals?
“He is a great evaluator of pitching”
I keep hearing this an wonder. What are some examples of this? Trading for Hoffman and finding Peavy in the 15th round I guess would be two. Linebrink off the waiver wire had a nice career with them. Then again, he let Joakim Soria go to the Royals via Rule 5.
Never anything wrong with another pair of eyes, but I’m not sure I understand what makes him more or less hot or miss than anyone else so far as evaluating pitching goes.
Sam,
Thanks for linking to that article. I like Girardi.
I also think that not making the playoffs was a blessing in disguise for him. It made it okay for him to be more himself in 2009. A part of me believes that as a first year manager who had “served” under the previous manager as a player and a coach, with players still on the team that he had played with/coached, there was a tentativeness to his style. Betwixt and between the success that Torre had had. The reverential way Torre was treated by the press and fans, and perhaps some players as well. How do you go in and bing-bang-boom make your changes? I think he just had a tough transitional year.
But losing (If you can call winning 89 games losing in spite of some devastating injuries to the team), gave permission to come in the following year and do what he wanted. Losing put the period on the Torre era. To his credit, Girardi heard opportunity knocking and answered the door.
Of course, who knows? This is just my take on the situation.
To the other Phil,
Your comments about my Lowell “story” are simply way off base also. First the story was more tongue and cheek to show that it would be better if Girardi were more into remembering how guys hit specific pitches than just the players camaraderie (that was the concept). But, Girardi does call certain pitches at times and calls all pitch outs. he also goes out to the mound with a strategy on how to pitch to certain guys at times. Knowing what specific pitch was hit IS important.
as for Girardi, I wanted him to replace Torre and I think his X and O strategy is better than Torre’s, but I think Torre was better at managing the media and the guys for the most part. Overall, I think many people could drive this Ferrari and look pretty smart
And I love that he has extended the invitation to visit their dads in the clubhouse to the daughters!
*anD wonder
Simply put, Joe G. is a man of God.
He carries that with him wherever he goes.
I met him in a Boston hotel and walked with him and asked him questions which he cordially answered.
Nothing fake about him. No auras, as in the past.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the team misses the playoffs all together.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please elaborate.
They added a 4th starter, a bona fide CF and a high OBP DH.
Granted they lost Matsui, who you classify as ancient anyway.
They got younger which is what you want, right?
I don’t get it.
“there are plenty of reasons to doubt the yankees can be as successful in 2010. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team misses the playoffs all together”
Barring any major inquires, natural disasters, or acts of God, I would be shocked.
As of today, they are the best team on paper in the AL, probably by a large margin. Maybe even in MLB, though the Phillies remain tough.
Name the team in the AL that would keep them from a wild card, should they lose the division (which I don’t believe will happen)?
Has this site gone down or something?
“I’ve got an idea – let’s debate whether it was a good idea for Girardi to let Molina be AJ’s personal catcher during the playoffs…”
What do you mean??? Didn’t the Yankees win the World Series? Obviously is was a good idea. An even better idea is to have Gardner as a starting OF–they won the World Series with him and Cabrera last year–combine that with Cervelli as AJ’s new personal catcher and I smell a recipe for a repeat!
Guru Man
January 8th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
My fake comment about Girardi has been the many lies he has told regarding players and what they need and don’t need. When they let Matsui go he talked about how he wanted a revolving DH to rest his players…what a crock…just don;t say anything if you are going to give us a line of BS
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toeing the team party line to a group of reporters (some of them, vultures) has nothing to do with being “fake.”
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Obviously, Girardi’s comments were just a “cover up” because they went out and correctly signed NJ. That being said, I dislike the false comments they make. I have no issue with misleading other teams in trying to fill your roster correctly (part of the game), but those comments hit me the wrong way. Hard to explain but I took it as, how stupid do you think we are? That is the fake part of Girardi I don’t like. Just shut up rather than blatantly lie to us.
From a superficial perspective, there is something a little strange about Girardi. He sort of snivels when he laughs.
“Barring any major inquires, natural disasters, or acts of God, I would be shocked”
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or charter plane crash.
The effect of a manager on the game itself is always overstated. In the end, the players have to perform on the field. Perhaps the greatest impact a manager can have on the game itself is bullpen management, and the man came up golden with a lot of his decisions in the postseason with the pen. The manager’s main job is to be a manager of people, and that is something Joe G. does very well.
“Overall, I think many people could drive this Ferrari and look pretty smart”
This really sums it up.
“I’ve got an idea – let’s debate whether it was a good idea for Girardi to let Molina be AJ’s personal catcher during the playoffs”
Yes and No.
No in the sense that the Yankees played with a lesser lineup for Burnett’s starts and derived no evident benefit from it. Even with Molina behind the plate, he was hit or miss.
Yes in the sense that they now know this and likely won’t do it again.
K Long might help CG improve against lefties but reality is it won’t likely be enough to consider him a good lefty hitter. He would have to add 70 points to his left handed splits from last year to do that. Possible? Sure. Likely not!
“Overall, I think many people could drive this Ferrari and look pretty smart”
pretty rich, not neccessarily pretty smart.
Olney:
1. An industry source tells Juan Rodriguez that Aroldis Chapman is likely to sign with either the Angels or the Blue Jays for around $21 million.
“From a superficial perspective, there is something a little strange about Girardi. He sort of snivels when he laugh”
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lol.
i also noticed during the World Series when Girardi was walking off the field one of the other players had sneezed, and i didn’t hear Giardi say ‘bless you’. Maybe he did, but i didn’t hear it. What a fake b@stard
# Rich in NJ January 8th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
“Overall, I think many people could drive this Ferrari and look pretty smart”
This really sums it up.
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Joe Torre crashed the Ferrari from 2002-2007, so it sure doesn’t seem that easy.
“pretty rich, not neccessarily pretty smart.”
You don’t think 95% of ML managers could win at least 95 games with this roster?
One thing that can definitely help Granderson improve against lefties, I think, is the park. Book on him from CC was to bust him in and throw him soft stuff away. Well, at the new Stadium, it gets a lot more dangerous to bust him in with that short porch in RF…
“Joe Torre crashed the Ferrari from 2002-2007, so it sure doesn’t seem that easy.”
He still made the playoffs every year and one WS.
I knock JFR as much as anyone, but their pitching was in decline since 2003.
That said, he should have been fired after the 2004 ALCS collapse.
“You don’t think 95% of ML managers could win at least 95 games with this roster?”
Yea maybe they would, but it does take a certain person to put it all together and get everyone on the same page. I thought there was a different vibe to the Yankees last year and maybe Girardi was part of that. Maybe that contributed to all the walk off wins, who knows…Its the old Phil Jackson argument.
“K Long might help CG improve against lefties but reality is it won’t likely be enough to consider him a good lefty hitter”
The more realistic goal is to be less bad against lefties. He has a .615 career OPS against them. That’s awful. It’s Varitekian. If he can bump that up 60-80 points, it would be merely bad.
On the bright side, in 2007, generally regarded to be his best season, his OPS against lefties was .494.
blake
I’m not saying a manager is totally worthless (although it’s not like the NFL or NBA where they have to devise schemes to mesh talent that sometimes have diverse skillsets), but a lot of that meshing was because they imported good guys like CC, AJ, and Swish.
vb03
January 8th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
# Rich in NJ January 8th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
“Overall, I think many people could drive this Ferrari and look pretty smart”
This really sums it up.
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Joe Torre crashed the Ferrari from 2002-2007, so it sure doesn’t seem that easy.
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He made the playoffs every year…Girardi broke that streak…Again, I am fine with Girardi as a manager, but the people who are getting on their knees for Girardi now are the same ones who were kicking him in the groin last year.
“or charter plane crash.”
I’m picturing the Indian’s plane in “Major League.”
This off season, Angels, worse. Twins, no better. Det, worse. TB, worse. Tex, maybe worse. Seattle, I think better. Boston, no sure.
Personally, I think NYY is better having turned Damon and Matsui into Granderson and Johnson. Also, they have a true 1-4 rotation and some SP depth.
Rich, I agree with that but if the manager makes 2-3 win differences a year then thats significant. Its really hard to quantify what a manager does in baseball. Its everythin g in football.
“TB, worse.”
How do you figure?
“I am fine with Girardi as a manager, but the people who are getting on their knees for Girardi now are the same ones who were kicking him in the groin last year”
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actually, that part is true.
aside from being a little more cordial with reporters, last year Girardi was EXACTLY the same person as the year before. Yet because the Yankees won the WS everyone loves him at the moment. Life is a very imperfect place
Frank -
I’d say they’re worse without Kazmir for 60% (or whatever) of the year..
“This off season, Angels, worse. Twins, no better. Det, worse. TB, worse. Tex, maybe worse. Seattle, I think better. Boston, no sure.
Personally, I think NYY is better having turned Damon and Matsui into Granderson and Johnson. Also, they have a true 1-4 rotation and some SP depth”
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100%
one of the networks mentioned the Yankees new 1-4 in the lineup: Jeter, NJ, Tex, Arod
they correctly pointed out, it is the best 1-4 in baseball
95 wins and Ferrari’s aside, Sam’s post had more to do with Girardi as a person than a manager.
Many here seem desirous of building a team with only high quality character guys. It would seem logical that you would want one in your managers office then and Girardi seems to fit that bill.
His merits as a manager between the lines is a whole different conversation.
Rich in NJ
January 8th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
“Joe Torre crashed the Ferrari from 2002-2007, so it sure doesn’t seem that easy.”
He still made the playoffs every year and one WS.
I knock JFR as much as anyone, but their pitching was in decline since 2003.
That said, he should have been fired after the 2004 ALCS collapse.
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Not starting Mussina in game 4 was one of the worst moves ever in the history of the postseason. Torre thought the series was over and wanted to rest his #1 pitcher. He shoudl have canned for that as Mussina was not available for Game 7. He took his foot off the throat
Sorry for changing subjects, but has Nick Swisher, Nick Johnson or Robby Cano ever made the all star team?
You make it sound like breaking a playoff streak was a crime.
Anyway, it’s okay not to like the guy. But the Mo shoulder thing was not his fault.
vinny-b (NJ and Granderson – thank you Cashman!)
January 8th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
one of the networks mentioned the Yankees new 1-4 in the lineup: Jeter, NJ, Tex, Arod
they correctly pointed out, it is the best 1-4 in baseball
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if you say it was ESPN I think I might die of shock.
Erin: actually it was YES
oh and how about Johnny Damon was he ever selected for an All Star Team?
“Many here seem desirous of building a team with only high quality character guys. It would seem logical that you would want one in your managers office then and Girardi seems to fit that bill.”
No, just enough to keep the clubhouse relaxed.
If you have enough good guys who are leaders, malcontents and jerks understand that they have to control themselves.
But I wouldn’t want a wife beater no matter how good he is.
Rodg:
I would imagine the loss of Kazmir’s 5.92 ERA over 20 starts from last season will be profoundly missed. However, a full season of starts from Price, Wade Davis likely getting starts once belonging to Andy Sonnanstine, and adding Soriano as a closer improves them for my money.
New post
Sam, Thanks for the link to the Girardi article. Inspiring.