Jon Heyman had the following short bit about Joe Girardi in this morning’s column:
Second-year Yankees manager Joe Girardi is having a great spring by all accounts, but that doesn’t mean the pressure’s off. It may be a little early for speculation on a replacement — I think the Yankees will make the playoffs and Girardi will make it into next year — but it’s good to be prepared just in case. If they do replace him after the year, look for Bobby Valentine, who’s in his last year with Chiba Lotte, to become a candidate.
I happen to agree in that I expect the Yankees to make the playoffs, meaning Joe will survive. I like him as a tactical manager, and his interpersonal skills are reportedly improving. However, Heyman poses an interesting hypothetical. When word got out that Joe Torre was done as manager, the list of candidates was fairly obvious to most of the pundits and fans. The only people with a real shot were Tony Pena, Joe Girardi, and Don Mattingly, with a few rumblings about Valentine. If Girardi was let go, in what direction would the team go? I do not know if they would be interested in the candidates that they passed over last time, so Valentine may be on the very short list of viable replacements. Personally, I like Bobby V, and think he would be a solid fit.
What about you? Do you think Girardi should get another shot if the team misses the postseason? Who would you choose to replace him if he was let go?
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
7 Responses to Discussion: The Next Manager
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
I think Mattingly gets it easily.
The standard practice is to replace a laid back Torre type with the more intense Girardi type, then to go back to a Torre type in Mattingly.
However, the Yankee brass embraces the more hands on style of Girardi, so its possible they just look for an older, wiser version of Joe.
While I am rooting for Girardi to do well and win a championship, I would love to see Bobby V as the next coach of the Yankees. Over the past two years, when I am home for winter break from college, I spend the off season getting ready for baseball at the Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy in CT. I have become good friends with Coach Valentine and I know he is anxious to return from Japan and waiting for the right opportunity in the states again. His man is the ultimate baseball entrepreneur and he is the most knowledgeable baseball person I have ever met and I think he’d do great managing the Yanks.
I think this is VERY premature. I know there is discussion about Girardi’s job status, but discussing his potential replacements feels like discussing where Montero should bat in the Yankee lineup. Especially with the high expectations of Opening Day right around the corner.
I want nothing to do with Bobby Valentine as the Yankees manager. I believe it would be a huge mistake. I really hope if Girardi implodes that Dave Miley the AAA manager gets a shot. Beyond Miley I really like Trey Hillman who I wanted over Girardi but he was snapped up by the Royals before the Yankees job opened up. Finally I think Bob Geren would be a great fit as Yankees manager. He will have managed a very young A’s team and being a former Yankee player knows the territory.
Joe G. will be back for 2010, make book on it.
A lot of you may think I am nuts but, I would like to give it to Joe G. for another three years.
Let’s face it, he has done a good job with the pitchers, which is one of the hardest things to do. Also, his handling of the players has been very well done…resting people and giving at bats to those that need it to stay sharp.
The news people don’t think he is fit to be the mgr., because he doesn’t tell them the little things they want to hear…so what! He does a good job…he stays!
Besides, if I know telling Joe G. I have a problem, it will stay with him and not show up on the “News at 10:00″…I will be more apt to come to him with injuries etc., right?
I agree with that last point- his duty is to the players, not the press. There are some things he has no duty to reveal.