Say it ain’t so, Joe! With the Yankees third consecutive disappointing season coming to an end at the hands of the Astros, fans are calling for someone’s head. Mainly Joe Girardi’s. However, according to General Manager Brian Cashman, Girardi isn’t going anywhere.
“It’s a fact, nobody should be looking for anybody different. He is signed for two more years and managed the team to the playoffs. It’s not his fault we didn’t hit. He managed a perfect playoff game.’’
There you have it. With 2 years and $8 million remaining on his contract, the skipper isn’t at stake of losing his job.
Girardi took over managing the Yanks in 2008, going 89-73 finishing third in the AL East. A spending spree led to a huge turnaround in 2009, going 103-59 and beating the Phillies in the World Series. However, I don’t really give him credit for that. I could have managed the team and won with the roster they had. Since then?
2010: 95-67. 2nd in division. Lost ALCS to Rangers 4-2.
2011: 97-65. 1st in division. Lost ALDS to Tigers 3-2.
2012: 95-67. 1st in division. Lost ALCS to Tigers 4-0.
2013: 85-77. 3rd in division. No playoffs.
2014: 84-78. 2nd in division No playoffs.
2015: 87-75. 2nd in division. Lost Wild Card to Astros.
He is 735-561 in eight years at the helm and, despite the purchased ’09 Series, doesn’t have much to show for his time here.
Even though Girardi isn’t getting the ax, Cashman did hint at some changes when asked about the coaching staff.
“I will go through that with our ownership and Joe. Since you live through it for six months you have a pretty good feel about everything. Now is the time to have these conversations. You live and you know it and you have a feel for what you might want to do with it as you move forward. Those conversations take place with your manager, take place with your coaches and take place with ownership.’’
Bench coach Rob Thomson, hitting coaches Jeff Pentland and Alan Cockrell and first base coach Tony Pena’s contracts expire at the end of October. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild has one year remaining. So don’t expect any major changes for 2016 folks. Just grin and bear it.
