Early in spring training Peter Abraham looked at the new and improved Joe Girardi. Girardi had changed the way he was going to handle his job, the media, and most importantly, his players. The pool tournament in Tampa was an early sign that things had changed under "General Joe's" command. And as the season continues the tightness in the clubhouse seems to grow.
Today, Bob Klapisch gives the new, more relaxed Girardi credit for the Yankees success. He's got some good quotes from players, CC calls this the best clubhouse he's been a part of. It's a good article and it's worth checking out.
Speaking of new and improved Yankees, Alex Rodriguez seems to be a new person this year as well. Tyler Kepner takes a look at the changes A-Rod has made and how he's backed-up his April promise to “cut some of the fat out and focus on playing baseball.” It turns out Yankees PR man Jason Zillo played a big part in getting A-Rod to figure things out.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 Comments:
Really?! I look at as the Yanks are doing well in spite of Girardi being their manager.
I know of a lot of people who feel that way.
I am still not a huge Girardi fan, just pointing out Klapisch's article. The one thing I'll give him credit for is having a looser clubhouse.
I would say that a manager's job is to not make the wrong decisions, as most decisions are pretty easy to make... in other words, Girardi is just lucky to be the one that'll be along for the ride.
If you are gonna trash him when they are struggling you have to applaud him when they are playing well. I know everyone loves/loved Torre, but hes gone and Girardi is going a good job.
Girardi is by far a better strategic manager than Joe Torre was. He handles the bullpen better too. Last year the team won 89 games and had a rotation filled with Ponson Rasner etc etc.
The thing what Torre is better than Girardi is that Torre is good at being a phoney. Torre had the media eating out of his hands. That was his greatest managerial skill.
Torre got exposed when Don Zimmer left. Zimmer was Girardi's mentor and a lot of Girardi's managerial philosphy comes from Zimmer. Cashman hired the right guy.
So I'm trying to figure this out with Joba... he starts Sunday, but not again until the Texas series... does Pettitte go on 6 days' rest against the Sox on Friday, with Gaudin taking the last game against OAK? I don't see how Mitre or Gaudin would start the first game. At least it seems like we'll be getting Penny, Tazawa, Beckett those 3 games.
Well I like Torre less than Girardi.
I agree with you Scotty but I have been around long enough to know that every manager in NY has for as long as I have been watching.
Ultimately there is no such thing as a perfect manager and no matter who it is at the helm, they are going to be criticized.
Torre won 4 World Championships and he still gets bashed by many.
daneptizl said...
So I'm trying to figure this out with Joba... he starts Sunday, but not again until the Texas series... does Pettitte go on 6 days' rest against the Sox on Friday, with Gaudin taking the last game against OAK? I don't see how Mitre or Gaudin would start the first game. At least it seems like we'll be getting Penny, Tazawa, Beckett those 3 games.
---------------------------------
I believe that is correct. Pettitte will pitch next friday against the sox. They feel Andy is old and having an extra day rest will help him. The red sox series will be Pettitte, Burnett & Sabathia. They can also use Mitre in the bullpen for the red sox series has a longman/ mop up man if they need to. That is why they are spliting up Gaudin and Mitre they want one available in the bullpen at times.
Joe Girardi has done a great job this year, and he has really changed the chemistry of the team, along with Swish and A.J. Burnett.
I know some of you guys are saying he's done a better job than Torre -but remember, Girardi right now has no hardware to prove it. Joe can get the Yankees to win the East and lead them to the playoffs, but until he has a ring, to me, you can't call Girardi a better skip than Torre.
Don't get me wrong, Joe has done a great job this year, it's just that you can't compare Girardi to Mr.T because Girardi has only been here 2 years, and so far has not done anything significant yet, I'm saying postseason wise. Torre won 4 rings and led the Yanks to the playoffs every year he was here, 10 of them coming from AL East championships.
I beleive many Yankees fans have become so in love with Torre that they refuse to see his faults. After Zimmer left his true colors came out. He missed managed the bullpen horrendously and was never a great strategist. Torre was always a little overrated. Just look at what he did prior to becoming the Yankee manager.
Girardi is no Mike Scioscia but he is still learning. People need to get over Torre.
I admit Joe defenitely was not a good skip in his last couple years, but ya know what, the main thing I'm trying to get across is you can't really call Joe Girardi better than Joe Torre just yet. Torre won 4 rings, Girardi right now has none.
Again, I still think Girardi is a great manager, he just hasn't gotten the Yankees to postseason glory yet.
Hopefully before this year's end he'll get his 1st.
BREAKING NEWS
A-Rod out of the lineup with back spasms. Jerry Hairston Jr. will be at 3rd and bat 8th.
I'm not a JoeG fan, but I'll give him credit for having a better clubhouse chemistry than Torre had.
Same here Joe V.
Torre knew how to play the game and he was very smooth, so anyone you bring in after him is going to seem rough around the edges. I was in favor of Girardi coming in (and of Torre leaving). I think Girardi does a far better job keeping his bullpen fresh and not overused. But Torre is a somewhat better tactical manager. Then again, Torre has been managing since the late 1970s so give Girardi some slack there.
The real hero of this season is Brian Cashman. He signed CC, AJ & got Hal to sign off on Teixeira. He improved the bench 100% with Hairston & Hinske, and he brought up Pena and Cervelli. He is making sure Girardi sticks to the program with Joba, frustrating as that may be for the rest of us. And he resisted the temptation of disrupting his team and hurting the future by avoiding Halladay and other star players.
You Girardi haters need to give him credit. He has this team rolling.A few months ago you were all calling for his head. You were wrong.He has done an excellent job.
Post a Comment