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February 21, 2008
Girardi: "Expect The Best"
Thoughts on General Joe via the Miami Herald today:
''He's a perfect fit here,'' Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi said. ``He played here. He coached here and he knows the Yankees. Joe is Joe. He knows players, and he knows how to handle veteran guys because he was a veteran player here, and even though he managed a young team in Florida, he'll be even better with veteran guys here. He's straight and he's to the point. There's not going to be any confusion with Joe.''
''I know Joe, and he knows how I run business from his days here,'' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. ``The one thing about Joe is he is not going to complicate things. You can dress it up with the pinstripes and what people's salaries might be; dress it up with 50,000 people in the stadium, but at the end of the day it's still the simple game of baseball. And that's a great thing Joe will bring to the table.''
Girardi is a players' manager, according to Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, who was Girardi's former battery mate.
''He was a tough, scrappy player who worked hard, and he manages the same way,'' he said. ``But he's honest and to the point. You know what you get with Joe. There's no grey area. You are going to work hard. Look at him. He's in great shape, and he's going to work us hard and expect the best.''
That's Girardi's mantra: ''Expect the best.'' He says it all the time. Girardi spoke to his team Wednesday and delivered the same message he had once before.
''I told them I expect to win the World Series,'' Girardi said. ``And I told the Marlins the same thing.''
The Yankees expect nothing less.
''He's going to manage the same way,'' Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said. ``He's still going to push guys. Just because we are older than the Marlins doesn't mean he doesn't need to push us. He's going to do the things he knows to do to push us to get the best out of us.''
...there's not going to be any confusion...
...he is not going to complicate things...
...he's honest and to the point. You know what you get with Joe...
Not that Torre didn't do this as well, meaning keeping it straight and simple...but, when you get this quality and mix it with the preparedness and tactical-edge seeking that Girardi brings to the table, which Torre lacked, it's a beautiful thing for the Yankees.
Posted by WW Staff at February 21, 2008 10:54 AM
Comments
It will definately be interesting. Seems that if you liked Showalter, you'll love Girardi.
Posted by: Raf ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 21, 2008 11:43 AM
The crucial difference is that Girardi actually played in the majors, Buck never did. And that's one of the reasons Buck could never get along with veterans...it happened everywhere he went. Girardi, on the other hand, seems to be trusted by the old guard on the Yankees and his stated promise to actually use ST to evaluate all the players in camp as opposed to scheduling his golf around exhibition games means younger players will have the opportunity to make an impression, either to make the team out of Florida or tucked away as a grace note down the road a few months.
Posted by: JohnnyC at February 21, 2008 12:30 PM
I can't speak to the Buck/Joe G. issue but I don't think being a hardass manager with ML experience is (or lack thereof) matters. If Buck had problems with his veteran players, it's a reflection of his personality, not because he never made it to the show. I don't think Leyland made it to the show and I think most agree that he's a guy that vets love to play for.
That aside, I'm excited for Girardi's time in the big chair. I hope the team responds well to him and I hope it works out great. I was in his corner back in November because -- much as I love Donnie -- I just thought Joe G. would be a better fit as manager. A slightly fresher voice/perspective on things isn't a bad thing.
Posted by: MJ at February 21, 2008 12:39 PM
(Girardi's) stated promise to actually use ST to evaluate all the players in camp as opposed to scheduling his golf around exhibition games means younger players will have the opportunity to make an impression, either to make the team out of Florida or tucked away as a grace note down the road a few months.
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I'll believe it when I see it. The Yanks are set at the following positions; C, 1b, 2b, 3b, ss, lf, cf, rf, dh.
If the kids (other than the big 3) are to make any impression, it will probably be in the bullpen.
Having said that, when push comes to shove, I think Girardi will go to the vets, just like any other manager.
I am excited to see what he'll bring to the table as a manager. Seems to be the prepared type, which couldn't hurt.
Posted by: Raf at February 21, 2008 01:03 PM
I think Girardi will go to the vets, just like any other manager.
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I'd agree with that, which is why I'm so scared of making Joba the setup man. Girardi, like any manager, will eventually be so comfortable with having a dependable arm to bridge to Mo that he'll potentially have a hard time breaking the habit.
It's why I'd rather see Joba used like Johan Santana was back in 2002/2003...
Posted by: MJ at February 21, 2008 01:06 PM
Sorry, my post above forgot to make the logical transition from "trusting veterans" to "when in doubt, veterans and conventional wisdom rule." Hence, CW would mean a dependence on Joba as an 8th inning guy...
Posted by: MJ at February 21, 2008 01:09 PM
Re: Showalter
Stick Michael once said that you only have a problem with Buck if you don't set limits for him. Assuming arguendo that Girardi has similar traits (although I'm not sure that he has a similar overcontrolled personality), I think we can be very confident that Cash will set limits.
Posted by: Rich at February 21, 2008 03:02 PM