Steinbrenner: Decision could be quick

I HOPE they announce friday. Let’s get it over and done with and if it takes some spotlight off the SUCHS then I’m all for it!

We really have to believe what the media has to say.The sky is falling!!

Oh yeah, the choice for the next skipper should be between Girardi and Pena. Mattingly should coach at Scranton first or another minor league team first.

Interesting comments posted by Brian. Reading in between the lines, this likely means Mattingly is going to be named manager. It also means the youth movement started by Cashman is going full speed ahead-the statement-”a team in flux” confirms that.

So what does that mean for the free agents. Well, it likely means if there’s a younger enroute-the free agent won’t be signed.

Right move by the Yanks.

Yankees should go with another Joe
By Buster Olney

ESPN The Magazine

(Archive)

Updated: October 24, 2007

Comment

Email

Print

The guess here is that Joe Girardi is going to be chosen to be the Yankees’ next manager, getting the nod over Don Mattingly and Tony Pena. Here are the reasons why:

1. Experience in running a game

Girardi and Pena have managed in the big leagues. Mattingly has not. This is not the only factor, but it is a major factor, and if the Yankees would be taking a leap of faith in hiring someone who has never run a game — a rotation, a bullpen, the everyday lineup. Mattingly, as one of the great defensive first basemen of all time, was into every pitch, into every moment; he told reporters on his conference call Wednesday that he has spent years thinking along with managers.

But managers will tell you that until you sit in their place and see the game from their perspective, they don’t think you really understand or are prepared for the full spectrum of decisions that have to be made.

2. He knows pitching

The Yankees have rebuilt their farm system and are staking their future on the likes of Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes and the like. Girardi, like Pena, has spent a lifetime focused on pitchers: nurturing them, cajoling them, understanding how they hurt mentally and physically, conveying to his managers when the guy on the mound doesn’t have it any more, understanding how the stuff one pitcher might match up better against a particular hitter. This could turn out to be a decisive advantage in Girardi’s candidacy.

3. He knows New York

Really, all the current candidates know New York. But had the Yankees brought in a Tony La Russa to interview, there would have been an unknown: How is he going to react to the panic that follows every three-game losing streak? How is he going to react to the fallout the first time a Steinbrenner questions his acumen in the newspaper?

Girardi, like Mattingly, knows the culture. Nothing will surprise him.

4. He gets along with fellow employees

Girardi was effectively hired by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, against the wishes of general manager Larry Beinfest, and the result was a poor working relationship between Girardi and the Florida staff (and we know a lot of this because as Girardi was shoved out the door; officials who didn’t like him took a lot of anonymous shots at him). Girardi was an outsider and that became a problem.

That would not be the case with the Yankees, because Girardi has had a longstanding working relationship with GM Brian Cashman and other members of the organization. He knows them, they know him.

5. He knows the media

Girardi’s press strategy as a catcher playing for the Yankees seemed to run along these lines: He was always genial and always available and kept reporters at arm’s length while not really telling much more than they already suspected, and there was an air about his answers that suggested that he felt that he knew more than you did (and presumably he did).

Which means that, except for the air of I-know-a-little-better-than-you, he wasn’t much different than Torre.

The professional distance he kept from reporters didn’t play well in Florida, especially because Girardi followed Jack McKeon, a back-slapping, gregarious guy who loved telling stories.

But the writers in New York know Girardi, have a sense of his style, and ultimately, everything he would do as manager of the Yankees would be viewed through a single prism: winning percentage. If the Yankees were to win next year, well, he would be deified, and if they were to lose and failed to make the playoffs, well, he would be roasted.

There are reasons to pick Mattingly and Pena. If you want a big name, then Mattingly would be the clear frontrunner. He’s Donnie Baseball, the highest-regarded former Yankee who is not currently in the Hall (along with Joe Torre, actually).

If you want a guy who would be embraced by the players, Mattingly would be the guy. Girardi might be a little “too Showalterish” — too much like Buck Showalter — in the eyes of one person who knows the Yankees very well; at the time Showalter left, some of the veterans thought the timing of his exit was perfect, because some veterans had grown weary of him. Girardi would have to take the job knowing that some veterans would be leery of how hands-on he would want to be.

The hiring of Pena would cost the Yankees the least, and their risk would be minimal. If they hired Mattingly and he turned out to be a bust, then his exit would turn into a debacle. If they hired Pena, on the other hand, he would be disposable in the event of a bad year — an easy guy to fire if they wanted to make a change.

But the Yankees’ executives probably should forget all about the politics, about marquee value and exit strategies. They — like the next manager — will be judged on whether the Yankees win or lose. Forget the tabloid response, or the possible fallout if 2008 is a bust. The only criterion for the Yankees, as for every team, should be this: Which manager gives us the best possible chance to win?

The guess here is that the Yankees will decide Girardi is that guy. We’ll see.

Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. He updates his Insider blog each morning on ESPN.com.

Bpark,
Thanks for that. As much as I like Don Mattingly, this article clearly illustrates why the Yankees clearly will be fine with whomever gets the job. Unlike some returning bloggers, you always have your radar locked on what’s going on in baseball. Thanks again.

Bryan, the use of the Benson/Girardi metaphor…interesting. You know someting or just teasing us who are waiting with bated breath? After reading Buster Onley, I’m feelin it will be Girardi. For the simple fact that, if Girardi is a bust, firing him would be easier than firing Donnie. Politics in ’08, who’d a thunk it?

Rudy G. was wearing Red Sox gear? What an ingrate!!!! He might as well set up a camera and pee on the Statue of Liberty while holding a sign that says, “Screw you, New York!!!!” THAT may have cost him a few votes……..

Hilary Clinton walks around with a hammer and sickle firmly planted in her hands. Say hello to Josephine Stalin. She scares me to death.

What’s next? Mitt Romney singing “Rocky Mountain High”??? I officially open the bidding for Rudy”s seats at Yankee Stadium…Chaz bids 5 lbs of fresh venison…mmm.lol

Redsoxlose,

You asked a few weeks ago, when I was freaking out on everyone, who Sentinel is. If you’re still curious go check out the last blog. Enjoy.

redsoxlose, I feel ya.but you gotta think like the Steiny’s. Politics plays big in NY. They already lost alot by trashing Torre the way they did. They have to leave themselves an “out” in case it blows up in their face. Dissin Torre and then having to fire Donnie…well…think about it. It’s alot of smoke and mirrors.

redsoxlose,

I got a letter for your next L-etter posting. Try the letter “X”, I dare you. I’m sure that will stump you.

One other thing, when you read sentinelofinsanity’s blog, don’t get into it with him, he’ll be all over you like a bad case of STD’s for the rest of your life. I’ll give you a few minutes for your next L-etter.

Oh ****, redsoxlose, when Sentinel sees one of your alliteration posts, He’s GOING to go Cherynobl. ROFL. Let the games begin.

Cooking,

I posted a free agent list a week or so ago. Go to http://www.mlbtraderumors.com for a FULL LIST of free agents for next year. There are alot of exciting guys we could realistically acquire.

Hey chazbedlam@cableone.net

Thanks again for the update and the info, but the one ? I had was, out of all those names in the list, whose out there that we are actually serious about, and how realistic is it for the Yankees to go after them, since Brian Cashmen has already stated time and time again that we are getting younger as a team, so instead of going after the older guys all the time, what names are in the list that good really help our ball club in 08?

Matt, care to chime in on potential future pinstripers?

cooking,

I feel the key will be the pending A-Rod situation. It will determine who the Yanks will go after as a free agent. If A-Rod stays I feel they will go after cheaper free agents because he will chew up a lot of pay roll. If the Yanks are interested in getting another outfielder, they may look at Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, and Aaron Rowand as they are the best looking of a weak crop of outfielders, and Aaron Rowand seems to meet the criteria of what the Yanks may be looking for if they keep A-Rod. Rowand is a younger player, and definitely a cheaper option than Jones or Hunter. The only problem with Rowand is consistency. If A-Rod opts out, the Yanks may go after Lowell at third as the pickings at third are slim, and Jones or Hunter. Yes, they are going to be the more expensive options, but they are the most capable of replacing A-Rod’s offensive numbers, and there are no better options. This team shouldn’t sacrifice its chances of reaching the playoffs solely to reduce payroll. That would be guaranteeing failure on the part of this team.

I also don’t see this team going with a platoon system at first for a second straight year. It’s already been down that road, and it saw what a dismal failure it was with “No Offense” Meintkiewicz, and Phelps who they let go. This team will go after a legit first baseman, and according to chaz’s list Dunn may be the best option, although he will be far from the cheapest. He will be more like a younger Jason Giambi, except he strikes out far more. No way Meintkiewicz will be with this team next season.

Of all the starters on chaz’s list, Jason Jennings is probably the best of that group along with Kyle Lohse, but that’s only if Pettitte doesn’t come back. Another option is to look within the Yankee organization, and go with a Steven White who is a good prospect. He definitely knows how to pitch, and has good stuff. There’s also Humberto Sanchez who could be a very good pitcher as well if he recovers from TJ surgery. Both pitchers are young, and cheap.

OF all the middle relievers who look good on chaz’s list Affeldt may be the best. He has very good stuff. Again though this organization may look within its own organization to find a relief pitcher, or it could explore the option of a trade maybe Igawa, Betemit, and a mid-level minor league prospect for a long reliever ( it will take a lot of luck with those three).

Matt_Saiki –
I wonder if the Yanks work on Humberto as a reliever – he could become the 2008 Joba, and we could be talking about him taking over the reigns from Rivera in a few seasons…

chaz,

There’s just one caveat to the third base situatiion. There’s no guarantee that A-Rod will end up sith the Suks, he could still end up with a team like the Angels. IF the Suks don’t get him they may do whatever they can to re-sign A-Rod.

rza,

Mattingly was, and always will be a better player than Bernie Williams. If Mattingly were on the same type of teams Bernie was he would have been an even better player ,putting up far better stats than Williams ’cause he simply was a better hitter than Williams.