exactly I wasn’t trying to say Joe Girardi is actually a genius. Its just me over reacting positively to a job well done when we have a lot of others over reacting negatively whenever a mistake is made. And its true we’ll never know what would have happened if Posada and Swisher stared, but we do know what happened when Hairston and Molina started. And i’m not saying we need to bench Swisher and definitely not Posada don’t get me wrong. I’m just happy Girardi did well.

Like the first post said, if you win the game and you’re a genius, if not you’re an idiot.

But just because you won while starting Jose Molina and Jerry Hairston doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do.

doesn’t mean you’re a great manager i don’t know what does

Girardi has some strengths as a manager. Yes, he’s helped in making the Yankees a happy bunch of millionaire ballplayers as opposed to moody discontents. HELPED. But strategically as a game manager?

It may come as a surprise to some of you who think Girardi is great, but great ballplayers will often win even with a manager who isn’t that great.

I don’t think there is any sign of genius in Girardi’s game 2 moves. For starters, I think lots of managers would have tried another outfielder for Swisher by this time. As for Molina HAVING to catch Burnett? I think taking away Posada’s bat for two games in a World Series because you haven’t prepared your number two pitcher psychologically to pitch with him (if that’s the case) is far from genius. It worked out in game two, but would anyone out there seriously trade Molina’s glove and .217 avg and .560 OPS for Posada’s .885 OPS? This is something that could cost you the championship.

Look, the everyday, normal stuff of baseball isn’t what distinguishes a good manager. It’s the foresight and imagination to check out all possibilities and be prepared for them. Girardi had literally weeks (and, really, probably months) knowing he was going to the postseason.

Do you think, say, Earl Weaver would wait to the DAY BEFORE game 3 of the World Series to see if Matsui could play right field? Knowing that there are three games in which the DH wouldn’t be used, don’t you think any good manager in Girardi’s situation might have tried Matsui in right field for A FEW INNINGS HERE AND THERE – possibly even a game or two – to see if he was capable of playing, considering what a potent force his bat has been this year, his proven ability to perform in the postseason, the possibility that he might be hot and Swisher might not at the time? Isn’t it a manager’s job to think in advance of these possibilities – especially in the postseason, especially in the World Series – rather than being surprised by EVERYTHING and working it out at the time?

I know there are some out there who think Girardi’s great and all the Yankees success rests upon his shoulders (in which case, he was poor last year) — but other than those people, I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t believe he’s JUST NOW trying to decide whether it’s feasible to try Matsui in right field? I mean, wouldn’t you think it’s a manager’s job to have thought about this in advance? It seems to me Girardi is paid a lot of money to BE PREPARED for situations.