Girardi sat behind a sparse desk and dumped the blame for this nightmarish Yankees season on his chest."I take responsibility for it, that's the only way I know how to do it," Girardi said of the extremely disappointing season that is very likely to end on Sept. 28 and would leave the Yankees out of the postseason for the first time since 1993. "Obviously, my job is to get the most out of everyone."
"If we don't win a World Series, I don't consider it a successful year," Girardi said.
Girardi, 43, admits he learned plenty, and there have been mistakes along the way.Yes there have. I've been very critical of Girardi all season, after all, he has some big shoes to fill, the guy before him only took the Yanks to the postseason for 12 straight seasons. But, I don't think that Girardi should be fired. That's not something this team needs right now, another manager. Plus, you have to believe that a young manager can learn from his mistakes and improve. If not, he'll be gone after his contract is up.
I found this part of the article pretty interesting too, it seems some in the Yankees Clubhouse are not too pleased with Girardi's managing skills:
Reaction to Girardi's job in the clubhouse is mixed.
Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Mike Mussina and Brian Bruney praised Girardi. Others said a lot by not moving their lips when asked. Two refused to comment and said, "Don't write that I didn't say anything."
It can never be a good thing when a player can't even say "the manager did a good job," can it?
11 Comments:
To answer your concluding question: no, not at all.
The other thing that bothers me is this statement: "If we don't win a World Series, I don't consider it a successful year." Folks in the Yankees organization have been saying this for some time now, and it really needs to stop. It is a ridiculously high standard that is subject to way too many factors - including chance and being hot at the right time - beyond any team's control. And I think it is a big reason behind the Yanks troubles in RISP and other clutch situations.
That standard should be making the playoffs and putting the team in position to win. Any higher is self-defeating in my mind. Of course, all players and teams want to make and win the World Series at the start of the season. That's good and fine. But to label the season a "failure" if you don't isn't helping anyone.
I agree completely.
I'm sorry but if your own players can't even circle the wagons and stick up for you then the blame should fall on the manger and maybe he should be replaced with someone who commands a bit more authority and has more experience. Lupica does make a point, Joe Torre's head would have rolled already if this happened on his watch. If a manager had to manage for his job year after year, when he's won 4 world series and 12 strait post seasons, why does Giradi get slack. Buck didn't even after making the playoffs in 95.
Come on Danny. Let's all remember that there were players who didn't particularly like Torre. Remember the statements by Shef and Lofton? And remember earlier in the season when Farnsy said he was pitching better since Torre was gone? Just because "all" players don't support a manager doesn't mean his head should roll. I fully support Girardi. The man's dealt with a ton of injuries and countless deadweight contracts.
Don't be one of those fans Danny that calls for a manager's job after one bad season. Give the guy a real shot.
Mateo,
Kenny Lofton and Gary Sheffield have been cancers to every clubhouse they've been in. Why should any of us believe a word they say? And I know this might not sound right, but there probably aren't many white people that either of these two don't think are racists. It's probably just how they see the world.
As for the bullpen and particularly Farnsworth, yes Girardi handled that aspect of the game better than Torre, but there's more to managing than just the bullpen.
But I also agree with you that I don't think Girardi should be fired.
Guys-
Torre didnt do squat since 2000.He had the best team money could buy.We need to give Girardi a chance.Getting into the playoffs and losing in the first round is almost as bad as not making the playoffs.Im looking forward some big changes because the garbage we saw this year was unacceptable.
First of all, Torre got the Yanks to the World Series in '01 and lost to a better team. They lost to the world champs in '02. They made the World Series in '03.
From 2004 on the Yanks haven't done much, but at least they had made the postseason every year.
Also this myth that the Yanks had the best team money could buy needs to be forgotten. Go look at the starting staffs for the last few seasons, and bullpens and tell me those were the best teams in the league. The truth is that they weren't even close to the best team in the division, forget about the league.
Greg,
Why should it be forgotten? We should have an advantage,shouldnt we? What other team over the past 10 has spent more money than us?No one.We should be competitive every year.Who really cares if we make the first round and lose. Did you feel satisified last yr when we lost to cleveland?i didn't. This whole organization needs to make changes.
Because those teams weren't close to the best teams money could buy. The 2004-2007 Yankees weren't that great, and there was a lot of wasted money. And it was proven every October.
They may have had a lot of superstars, but they didn't have the best teams. The Yankees from 96-03 were complete teams. That's why they had the success they did.
After 2003 the Yankees had very weak starting pitching, and weaker bullpens. The lineups were great, everything else pretty much stunk. And that's why they lost in the first round of the playoffs, not because of Joe Torre.
Greg,
My point is that this whole organization needs to change the way we construct our future teams. We should have a very competitive team that competes every yr .Instead we get a group of misfits that dont play hard, dont execute and lack committment.
Well I can't disagree with that.
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