Lose The Binder, Keep The Manager
The Yankees first move this offseason should be too retain their manager. Yes, Girardi drives me nuts with his binder of small sample sizes, but the fact remains that overall he has done a good job. He is very good at developing arms in the bullpen and he usually seems to have the right touch with his players. If you disagree think about this, where would David Robertson be right now under Joe Torre? Probably having arm surgery. Where would Curtis Granderson be under Joe Torre? Probably not someone who looks like he can hit 40 homers next season.
Yes, Joe goes to the binder too often and his insistence on changing his number to 28 still bugs me. But he won 89 games in 2008, when the team absolutely fell apart due to injury and he won a world championship in 2009. I firmly believe he mismanaged this team in September, but that is a mistake that didn't prove fatal in the first round, so it is something we should all agree to forget. And apart from a miserable managerial performance in Game 4, you can't blame him for the ALCS. The Yankees hit .201 in the series and had an ERA over 6. It's really a miracle they won two games with those stats.
So I say bring him back, burn the binder and tell him 28 is his number for life no matter what happens. With the Cubs having filled their manager position, the Yankees don't have to overpay or overextend themselves. The Yankees should put Joe's salary in the three-million range and give him another three-year deal.
Once that's done, the real work begins.
Comments
I'm not a fan of Girardi's strategic decisions in the post-season. I also think he should have been kicking these guys in the rear for falling asleep the last month of the season.
I wouldn't mind seeing Larry Bowa manage this team. He knows the team via Torre and had a good influence on Cano. I think he's a better baseball man than Girardi, and might also light a fire under this team.
Girardi would be my second choice.
Posted by: Corey | October 24, 2010 03:20 PM |
Bring Piniella back :)
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 24, 2010 07:29 PM
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There's no question that Joe Girardi deserves to be the manager of the Yankees throughout the foreseeable future.
Managing successfully in New York requires a certain type of balanced personality and the most successful Yankee managers have all been former ballplayers dating back to the 1950's. It gives them perspective and the so-called fiery guys are not as well suited for the job over the short or long term.
Bring Girardi back, sign Mo to a 1 year deal with an option, pay Jeter commensurate with what he will do rather than what he has done and infuse the pitching staff where possible with younger players. It will not necessarily translate into success, but nothing really does in a game which has become more about luck rather than intellect and talent.
Posted by: Matt | October 24, 2010 07:35 PM |
Peter,
Like you, while I don't agree with some of Joe's decisions, I think they should bring him back. Where I do disagree with you is saying "Hey Joe, burn the binder". Don't get me wrong -- I agree with the sentiment, It's just that it's not realistic. Joe's not about to burn the binder. You want Joe, you get the binder. You don't want the binder? Then you have to get rid of Joe. That having been said, Joe needs to learn (as you implied) the concept of statistically significant sample sizes. If a hitter's career stats against a pitcher are 1 for 3, you don't have enough data to infer anything. Especially in the pressure-packed environment of the playoffs. Joe ought to be bright enough to understand that. If all he's going to do is manage off percentages in a binder, you might as well have a computer manage the team. The manager needs to have his finger on the pulse of his players and the ballgame and take that into account when making his decisions.
Matt,
If they offer Jeter a contract commensurate with what's he's capable of, he'll be "insulted". The fact is, he is going to be overpaid based on what he's done. And next year we're going to have to read still more of this nonsense about how they can't possibly ask Jeter hit lower than second because it would be such a slap in his face.
Posted by: Greg | October 25, 2010 10:12 AM |
Greg
Can we make it a smaller binder? Can we hire someone to hide it at certain points during the game? I am open to suggestions!
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 25, 2010 07:55 PM
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