ESPN: Girardi to be named Yankee manager

by anaconda on Oct 29, 2007 12:30 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

....and Mattingly will undoubtedly be going back home to Evansville, IN.

It has not been a good couple of weeks for the new front office in dealing with Yankee legends; Joe Torre, Ron Guidry, and now Donnie Baseball.

ESPN:

The Yankees officially offered their managerial job to Joe Girardi on Monday morning and he is expected to accept it, a source has told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Don Mattingly and Tony Pena that they will not be getting the job.

Girardi was in Denver for the World Series. A source said he is expected to fly to New York for the announcement, which is likely to come Tuesday. Girardi's contract is expected to be in the three-year, $6 million range.

Mattingly will not accept a position on the Yankees coaching staff, Marchand and ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney are reporting.

Update [2007-10-29 15:3:43 by anaconda]:

Don Mattingly just released a parting statement through his agent, Ray Schultze:

"Don was extremely disappointed to learn today that he wasn’t the organizations choice to fill the managerial vacancy. Instead, he was informed the organization offered the position to Joe Girardi.

Don feels both Joe and Tony Pena represent true professionalism both on and off the field and he was honored to be among them as candidates for the managerial position. Don extends congratulations to Joe and wishes him and the organization good luck next year!

Today is a very difficult day because managing the Yankees was Don’s aspiration and goal since becoming the hitting coach four years ago. Even though this opportunity has passed him by he wants to thank Mr. Steinbrenner for his initial faith, inspiration and support throughout his playing and coaching career.

Don will use this time to reflect on this experience while considering future family and career options. In the meantime, he did inform the Yankee’s that given the circumstances he won’t accept a coaching position within the organization during 2008."

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Comments

Beat me to the punch

My thoughts - as long as Girardi doesn't overwork the young guns, I think he and Dave Eiland have a chance to really help out our young pitchers a lot. Given that we do have a lot of arms up and coming, that's not a bad thing.

I feel bad for Mattingly, but on the bright side, he doesn't have to deal with any fallout should Mo, Posada, or Pettitte leave.

by PsiFighter37 on Oct 29, 2007 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

The right move

Girardi is an excelleny baseball mind. This is a very good move.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

If Joe Torre's leaving...

negatively affected our chances to retain Mo, Posada, and/or Pettitte, wouldn't Girardi's hiring help? He played with all three, and had good relationships with them, as far as I heard, especially Posada.

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

He also was

Pettitte's personal catcher. Not sure how much that dictates about their personal relationship, but you have to imagine that he would trust Joe's input on strategy for hitters.

Chien-Ming Wang+Phil Hughes+Ian Kennedy+Joba Chamberlain = the future

by marcbouch9 on Oct 29, 2007 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Leyritz

was Pettitte's personal catcher, not Girardi.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Leyritz wasn't a Yankee in 1997, 1998...

and part of 1999. THAT'S when Girardi was Pettitte's personal catcher.

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Correct

Leyritz caught 10 games for Pettitte in 1996 and Girardi caught 95 of Pettitte's 134 starts 1996-1999.

Chien-Ming Wang+Phil Hughes+Ian Kennedy+Joba Chamberlain = the future

by marcbouch9 on Oct 30, 2007 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The Girardi part

might be true, but Leyritz caught almost every start for Pettitte in '96.

He caught 27 of Andy's 34 starts to be exact, and that doesn't count the playoffs and World Series.

http://www.mikemav.com/xbl/PC_MLB.htm

But your original point is valid, he did learn to rely on Girardi.

by matthaggs on Oct 30, 2007 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Fucking abhorrent

Absolutely terrible choice by the franchise. If, as has been reported, this was a Cashman call this is just another in a long line of Cashman fuckups. I wonder who will get TJ surgery first, Joba or Hughes?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Um...

Yeah...why is that exactly? I thought it was pretty well accepted that the "reputation" that Girardi has/had for ruining young arms wasn't deserved. You know, after youactually look at pitch counts and innings pitched for the young pitchers he managed Florida.

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Train wreck coming

The guy kills young pitchers, thinks the manager should be the GM and couldn't get along with ownership. That should go over swimmingly in the Bronx.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right on the first two points

but his relationship with this particular front office may be different. Time will tell.

by docgonzo on Oct 29, 2007 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

Another thing that scares me is that he couldn't get along with the apathetic Miami media. The NY media might eat him alive.

One bright side: he will probably bench Melky for sliding into first head first!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

True that

Someone needs to school him on that shit.

by docgonzo on Oct 29, 2007 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

I personally would have been fine with any of the three options.

My take is that this was Mattingly's job to lose, and he lost it. Either he had a lousy interview or Girardi had an exceptional one. But this is a pretty ballsy move by the Yanks, because Donnie would have been the easy choice here.

If you listened to Girardi's conference call, he was smooth as silk with the reporters. I don't think the media will be a problem. He was always one of the most accomodating players with the media (second only to Cone probably), and has a result has earned their respect.

I'm curious to see how the coaching staff shakes out, and I hope Donnie doesn't walk away altogether like Yogi did.

The braintrust is looking like a butt-trust these days, but there's still a lot of time before pitchers and catchers.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Well...

>>The guy kills young pitchers

That's a knee-jerk reaction to what happened to Florida's pitchers this year. If you look at their workload under Girardi, that argument loses a lot of steam.

>>thinks the manager should be the GM and couldn't get along with ownership

Um...it's not like Girardi has never experienced life in the Yankee clubhouse before. I mean he's been a Yankee employee as a player, coach, and broadcaster. I would imagine he knows exactly the situation he's entering into. He's expected to manage, not act like the GM and fight with the owner during the game.

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

This is correct.

Dontrelle Willis was the only Marlins pitcher to rank in the Top 70 in pitcher abuse, per baseballprospectus.com in 2006.

Chien-Ming Wang+Phil Hughes+Ian Kennedy+Joba Chamberlain = the future

by marcbouch9 on Oct 29, 2007 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with pfisty on this one

I think a lot of people don't look beyond his youth, MOY award with the Marlins, and his hardass managerial style and believe he is the right guy for the Yanks.

I don't see it that way. The more I learned about his tenure in FLA, the more I didn't want him managing this team. That stuff may work with a young club, but this team is still chock full of veterans.

Mattingly wasn't the best choice in the world, but he was a better fit to manage the Yankees by comparison.

Girardi's tough guy image and conflicts with upper management tends to wear thin very quickly as was the case in FLA.

I just don't see him as the savior that others do and I really hope I'm wrong.

by anaconda on Oct 29, 2007 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't forget

That while it is the only sample we have, we are judging on only a one year sample. Smart people adapt to situations they are put in. Girardi is known as, and comes off as an intelligent man. In Florida his ownership stuck him with a AAA team, so he put the clamps on and managed like a hard ass. This situation is incredibly different. I trust that as a smart person he would understand that using the same exact mentality won't work here

by mwilli on Oct 29, 2007 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I also want to point out

that while Girardi does get some of the blame for pushing the kids too far, so does the front office.

Aside from the Johnson rain delay game, the day to day handling was not unreasonable. But too many of the kids were allowed to blow passed their previous inning totals. The front office should have shut those guys down once they fell out of contention.

The Yankees have proven to be overcautious in this regard.

This is a reversal of my previous thinking on Girardi.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Smart coaches

adapt to their personnel. Look at Pat Riley with the Lakers and then with the Knicks. Same coach, radically different styles.

Girardi is smart enough (I hope) to realize that the stuff he did to motivate his kids in Florida won't fly with some of the vets here in the Bronx.

I hope manager is the biggest problem the Yanks have.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Last sentence says it all

While I think this is a horrible choice for manager, the overall impact shouldn't be that bad unless he injures one of the young pitchers. The main problem is the gaping hole in our lineup, the complete lack of any semblance of righty power and the teflon coated moron who is our general manager.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel badly for Don Mattingly but

this is a very hard place for a guy who is managing for the first time.

I do not think I have gounds to believe any of these guys would be that much better or worse than the others. They were so different they are hard to compare.

I actually think the pitching coach is the more important change. I do not want to get on Gator at this point but I'm going to watch and see if the new guy can keep the relievers from completely losing their mechanics and stinking for weeks on end. (See, Bruney, Farnsworth, Viz, etc. etc.)

I'm glad to have a manager.

Now I hope that Arod's departure doesn't cause a need to make a BIG DEAL even though it isn't smart. (see Igawa)

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

Girardi Smart??????

This whole thing is such a mess. Can't blame Mattingly for leaving and I wonder who will follow with Girardi at the helm. I think they should fire Cashman. They are relying too much on his "wisdom." He's about as smart as Girardi. Also, A-Rod should get a new agent to save what's left of his reputation.

by Nan on Oct 29, 2007 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Girardi v. Mattingly; Torre

Because of his experience I give the edge to Girardi. Still, I have a soft spot in my heart for Mattingly and wished he would stay with the team in some capacity, preferably as a manager in the minor league system.

As for Torre, I can't help but think Steinbrenner was so pissed off at Torre sitting on his hands in the "bug" game and allowing the game to be continued. Steinbrenner was probably pining for the days of Bill Martin or even Lou Piniella. I think either one of them would have taken a stronger stand.

Perhaps that is something that Cashman and the Steinbrenners saw with Girardi that they didn't see with Mattingly.

And now it looks like it's a possibility that Torre and Mattingly will team up in L.A.

by Skycat on Oct 29, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

Torre

If they wern't going to dump Torre they would have extended him before the season.

It would have taken a WS appearance or even a WS win to save him. I'm not even sure that would have done it. There was a burr under the Stein's saddle and they thought it was time for a change

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Once again

they didn't dump Torre; He walked away.

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

A go fuck yourself extension offer

is the same thing as firing the guy. Cbeck is right.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

You are joking

aren't you? I can't always tell with you.

by flipster on Oct 30, 2007 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely not

Cbeck is right, a fuck yourself extension offer that you know he wouldn't accept is for all intents and purposes the same thing as firing the guy.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 30, 2007 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Is it not true

that he was ready to sign for a year for 4.5 mil back in spring training? Besides that, did his last contract not pay him a premium as a reward for the six pennants and four world championships he won in his first eight years? Is it not also true that a 5 mil base would still have left him the highest paid manager by 1.5 mil? And then of course there were the potential bonuses that could have netted him up to 8 mil and a guaranteed 8 mil base for 2009? That's a "fuck yourself extension"? For a manager who hasn't won a pennant in seven years or even a division series in three years? I don't get it.

by flipster on Oct 30, 2007 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Rhetorical questions are fun!!

Ooh, ooh let me try: Is a 33% pay cut not a slap in the face?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 30, 2007 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Pennant

2003. 4 years. Moot point.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 31, 2007 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Not when

you're getting paid on past glory. Players take much bigger paycuts than that all the time. It was still a 43% higher base than anyone else in baseball. And he was willing to be "slapped in the face" harder (and with no potential bonuses added) back in the spring.

by flipster on Oct 30, 2007 8:57 PM EDT reply actions

Apples and oranges

It is readily apparent when age and/or injury is affecting a player's ability to play. The same cannot be said of a manager, as there is nothing athletic about his job. I don't know what you do for a living, but would you consider a 33% paycut a fair offer?

by Willton on Oct 30, 2007 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

He took about 5 mil

from the Dodgers. That's about what the Yankees offered him, isn't it? And the Dodger deal doesn't have potential bonuses attached. 'Nuff said.

by flipster on Oct 30, 2007 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet Christ

Not sure if you are aware, but the Dodgers didn't pay him 7M last year! If they had, I can guarantee you they wouldn't be paying him 5M this year.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 31, 2007 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I just love

how everyone in the "Joe Was Fired" camp continuously ignores the offer he was ready to accept back in spring training because it completely obliterates their argument. I originally thought it was a de facto firing too. What it actually was was a more generous offer than that which he was originally going to accept, and potentially much more lucrative if the team were successful enough for some or all of the bonuses to kick in.

by flipster on Oct 31, 2007 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really...

Had Torre received the extension back in Spring Training, he wouldn't have had to answer all of the "lame duck" manager questions all season like he did.

It is also less likely that he would been fired if the team was on the hook to pay him for the 2008 season.

by anaconda on Oct 31, 2007 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no idea

what any of that has to do with what I'm saying. My point is that he's playing the injured party when he got a better offer than the one he was going to accept earlier and it just doesn't wash. That's all I said.

by flipster on Oct 31, 2007 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions