The New York Times
Published: November 2, 2007
The mission statement is summarized in the two numerals that will follow Joe Girardi wherever he goes. The uniform number of the Yankees’ new manager is 27, and the reason is rhetorical.
Barton Silverman/The New York Times
Joe Girardi took some pains not to promise instant improvement in the Yankees’ fortunes.
“How many have they won?” Girardi said, knowing that the answer is 26. Joe Torre finished the last seven seasons of his tenure by chasing a 27th title in vain, and now it is Girardi’s turn.
On the day Torre was officially named as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Girardi was welcomed at Yankee Stadium, where the marquee announced his arrival as the club’s 32nd manager.
The Dodgers chased Girardi before signing Torre, and deep down, the Yankees might have preferred him, too. Although they wanted Torre to accept their one-year contract for a guaranteed $5 million, the Yankees are thrilled to be reunited with Girardi, their former catcher, for three years and $7.8 million.
“There’s a great deal of trust we’ve put in his hands,” said General Manager Brian Cashman, who recommended Girardi over Don Mattingly and Tony Peña. Cashman is entering the final year of his contract, and he needs the 27th championship as much as Girardi.
But spotting a quick fix for a team that now stumbles in October was not why Cashman chose Girardi. Mattingly had more history with ownership, and Peña has more managerial experience. Cashman said he simply believed in Girardi, whom he sees as a vital conduit between the baseball operations department and the clubhouse.
Cashman spoke hopefully of Girardi one day taking part in the Yankees’ instructional league or visiting their academy in the Dominican Republic. Torre, for his part, was so detached that he was usually the only manager in the majors who did not attend the winter meetings.
Yet Torre called Cashman after every game, no matter where the Yankees were playing, and the two had a strong bond. Although they disagreed on some moves last season, especially the use of the bullpen, Cashman usually knew what Torre was thinking before they talked.
“I look forward to having the same kind of relationship with Joe, because that’s what I need,” Cashman said, adding, “I can’t imagine a situation where the G.M. and the manager don’t communicate.”
Actually, Cashman does not have to look far. Girardi was fired by the Florida Marlins after the 2006 season over differences with the front office. Selected by the owner, Jeffrey Loria, Girardi never had the backing of General Manager Larry Beinfest, who criticized his communication skills.
Cashman said things would be different with the Yankees, because Girardi has been a player, a bench coach and a broadcaster for the team.
In his season as the bench coach, Girardi saw how Torre and Cashman interacted.
“I wanted to line up somebody that worked within our structure and understands our structure, because there’s growing pains with every new relationship,” Cashman said.
“So, hopefully, growing pains won’t really exist, because Joe’s worked here.”
Another note of caution is Girardi’s handling of young pitchers. Three rookies from his Florida rotation — Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Aníbal Sánchez — sustained major arm injuries last season. Cashman was not specific, but he said he was “very comfortable with the knowledge of what went on in Florida.”
Two coaches from Girardi’s Marlins staff — Bobby Meacham, the third-base coach; and Mike Harkey, the bullpen coach — will be with him in New York. Other coaches will be Peña, the Yankees’ first-base coach; Kevin Long, the hitting coach; Dave Eiland, the pitching coach; and Rob Thomson, the bench coach.
It was Cashman, not Girardi, who confirmed the makeup of the staff, pending the completion of contract talks.
Girardi has a reputation for not sharing much information, a sharp contrast to the voluble and folksy Torre.
Yet when the subject turned to his feelings, Girardi was more revealing. Like Torre, he has always exhibited a certain humanity that has made him highly respected wherever he has been.
In his second tour with the Chicago Cubs, in 2002, Girardi made the tearful announcement to the Wrigley Field crowd that there would be no game because of a tragedy. A pitcher on the opposing team, Darryl Kile, had been found dead in his hotel room.
“Joe showed emotion in his sadness for a friend,” said Don Baylor, who was the Cubs’ manager at the time. “If you have a heart, all of your players are pretty much your family.”
Girardi promised to call each of the Yankees players as he gets to know his new baseball family. His actual family includes a father in Chicago who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Girardi said his father had not spoken in a month until his nurse showed him a picture of him as the Yankees’ manager. “Oh, yeah,” Jerry Girardi said.
“This,” his son said yesterday, “means a lot to our family.”
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