October 29, 2007

Girardi succeeds Torre in the Bronx : The Steinbrenners have offered the job to Girardi, who will succeed a certain Hall of Famer.

posted by SFValley_Dude to baseball at 12:45 PM - 12 comments

It's not exactly a buyer's market for managers at the moment. Girardi was the only obvious choice. An ex-Yankee who's had managerial success and is willing to jump into the New York maelstrom? Those types don't exactly grow on trees. Mattingly would have been a sentimental choice, but not a wise one, not yet.

posted by chicobangs at 12:58 PM on October 29, 2007

As I stated in the A-Rod thread, I think Girardi has a questionable (if short) record with young pitchers, and the Yankees will need good performances from their young pitchers in order to be competitive in the coming years. I would suspect that Cashman and other Yankees management will have to be vigilant about monitoring Girardi's pitcher usage (and I suspect it was discussed in the interviews).

posted by holden at 01:01 PM on October 29, 2007

He obviously was not the best candidate. Buster Olney on ESPNEWS says this might cause Posada to want to come back for a good chunk of money. The same for Rivera. Olney seems certain that Clemens and Pettitte are gone for good. However, the money problem still remains. ABC News is reporting Grady Little has been fired and the Dodgers will name Joe Torre as manager. Olney is also reorting that Lucifer (Boras) has successfully negotiated a deal for A Rod with a club. He says he expect a signing of the contract and an introduction to be way sooner thn we think. Olney says that all indications point to that club being the SF Giants. Anothe thing, the Ny Post is claiming that the Dodgers will fire Grady Little, and that Joe Torre wil be named manager.

posted by SFValley_Dude at 01:12 PM on October 29, 2007

I wonder if AROD opted out partially because he knew he didn't want to play for Girardi.....

posted by Bill Lumbergh at 01:53 PM on October 29, 2007

He obviously was not the best candidate. Then who was obviously the best candidate? Girardi didn't exactly stand out, but then again, neither did any of the other candidates, did they?

posted by tieguy at 02:19 PM on October 29, 2007

Joe Torre wasn't the best candidate when the Yankees first signed him, and look at what he ended up doing. I like Joe Girardi, and I especially like he doesn't take any crap from the owner. Should be fun to watch.

posted by MGDADDYO at 02:52 PM on October 29, 2007

I actually believe Bobby Valentine could have done a very good job with club. However, people always remember him as a choke, as an Art Howe or a Ken Macha. I hope he eventually gets a good job.

posted by SFValley_Dude at 03:02 PM on October 29, 2007

However, people always remember him as a choke, as an Art Howe or a Ken Macha. See, I always remember him as the guy who put on a fake mustache disguise so he could stay in the dugout after being ejected.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 03:58 PM on October 29, 2007

Giants and A-Rod. A match made in heaven. Just replace one marquee player with another and poof! no need to shore up your system, no need to even necessarily win. Just hit them dingers, guy, and we're in business.

posted by diastematic at 04:10 PM on October 29, 2007

Everyone wants to point out Girardi's problems handling the young pitching staff in Florida, his problems with the front office, etc. but that's what he has over the other candidates: He already managed, managed relatively well (Manager of the Year), and has probably learned from his experiences. Joe Torre himself called Girardi one of the best baseball minds he has ever come in contact with. I'm happy with the move.

posted by dyams at 06:49 PM on October 29, 2007

Bobby Valentine is doing fine in Japan right now. He chose to go back there, and he's made a ton of money and friends, and he's won plenty. It'll take a sweetheart deal to get him to come back.

posted by chicobangs at 08:28 PM on October 29, 2007

I just read on the internet that Torre and the Dodgers have been talking for months now, and that the Dodgers turned to Girardi out of desperation, and now that they are stuck with Little, Torre is answering Colletti's bell and is coming. Another site said that the Dodgers are the heavy favorites to get A Rod and that Boston will get should Colletti get cold feet. It also said that Seattle and the Angels are totally out of it now. Okay, I just went back and read that Mattingly is flying to LA because he has accepted Torre's offer to be Dodgers bench coach. These are no my words, I am just reading this. I just read agagin on the Journal News that Little has been fired. Torre will be in LA tomorrow morning, and will be named manager tomorrow. Mattingly is in LA right now and will be named bench coach in the news coference. THANK YOU GOD!!!!

posted by SFValley_Dude at 09:04 PM on October 29, 2007

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