Girardi says no to the O's

by ReLaunch on Jun 21, 2007 2:25 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

I guess he liked to be in the company of Michael Kay

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2911691

oe Girardi has declined an offer from the Baltimore Orioles to become their next manager, his agent, Steve Mandel, told ESPN on Thursday.

Girardi interviewed with the Orioles on Tuesday, and ESPN's Peter Gammons reported that the team offered him its vacant managerial job. And ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported that as of Wednesday night, the two sides had agreed to work on an agreement that would make Girardi the team's next skipper.

The discussions with Girardi came after Baltimore fired Sam Perlozzo on Monday after two-plus seasons as manager.

Girardi was a first-time manager last season, leading the Florida Marlins to a 78-84 record and keeping his youthful club in contention until late September.

The former big league catcher was fired at the end of the season following a rift with owner Jeffrey Loria and then was voted NL Manager of the Year -- the first to win the award with a losing record.

A former coach for Yankees manager Joe Torre, Girardi returned to New York this season as a broadcaster for the YES Network.

Meanwhile, as first reported on Monday by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, Andy MacPhail was hired Wednesday as chief operating officer of the Orioles. MacPhail has run both the Cubs and the Twins.

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No surprise

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I knew he was smart

A chimp could've made this call. I'm glad Girardi is sticking around. Even if we can't give him the job he wants, he deserves much better than anything the O's offer.

Excellent call, Joe.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Jun 21, 2007 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought about that ...

Looking ahead, next year Mattingly will take over, and I suspect Bowa, Pena will be managing somewhere. Girardi might be a nice compliment to Donnie.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Jun 21, 2007 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No chance

Girardi would become a bench coach while he can be a manager elsewhere.

Pride, Power, Wildcard?

by ReLaunch on Jun 21, 2007 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a Chicago guy

Maybe he's waiting for Ozzie to get fired.

by matthaggs on Jun 21, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or waiting for Sweet Lou to quit

on the North Side.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Sweet Lou

quits on another team he's gonna be done in baseball.
They just said on the broadcast that Girardi's family has moved back to Chicago.

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

by jscape2000 on Jun 21, 2007 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps.....

I think Girardi really wanted the Cubs' job and the only job that compares is the Yanks' job.

Unfortunately for him, Mattingly is going to be the next Yankee manager so he's gonna have to wait until Lou jets before he gets his dream.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see that happening

why would Girardi want be a Bench Coach again when he has his choice of upcoming managerial gigs elsewhere?

I know he loves the Yanks, but not that much.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't.....

He probably turned down the Orioles job because he thought he can do better down the road.

However, if the thought the O's job was his only shot at managing again -- I think he would have taken the job.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

he's taken his lumps, won Manager of the Year with a rookie ball club (though he didn't deserve it). The next job he takes is with a contender.

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

by jscape2000 on Jun 21, 2007 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.....

Perhaps you misunderstood me.

He didn't take the O's job because he thinks he can do better.

If he didn't believe he can do better, he probably would have taken the O's job.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although I would contest

that Girardi has "taken his lumps."

He did extremely well with a very young team, but he only managed one season and got fired.

It's not like he sustained several years of losing before he built them into a contender.

by anaconda on Jun 21, 2007 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But he signed on

was a good company man through the fire-sale, kept the rookies in the wild-card until the end of september, and won manager of the year.
I wouldn't hire him, but since average GM isn't much better informed than Michael Kay, I think that will be the perception.

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

by jscape2000 on Jun 21, 2007 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I'm thinking

it doesn't have to be a no-brainer contender like the Yankees, but I think a team like the Mariners that are on the rise in a weak division could be in the mix.

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

by jscape2000 on Jun 21, 2007 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs