The Yankees had a decent season this year although it was quite disappointing that they didn't get to the series. I think it was a good idea to fire Joe Giradi. He had more than enough time and resources. Lets face it. He is not enough of an emotional leader to rally the team.
Baseball teams traditionally alternate between an emotional leader and a more technocrat type. The classic example was the Billy Martin/Bob Lemon era. Or bringing in someone like Lou Pinella and then replacing him with a Dusty Baker type.
The list that is in the paper is pretty grim. All minor league types or old coaches like Kevin Long the ex-hitting coach who is coaching the Mets or bench coach Rob Thomson. That would be a big mistake.
I would go with a recent ex-player who knows the pressure of playing in New York and dealing with the media. Reportedly Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina turned it down.
I have my own candidate. An exceptional ex-player. A winner. A warrior. The kind of guy who would crawl over broken glass to win. A guy in the Billy Martin mode.
Paul O'Neil.
5 comments:
I don't watch any baseball during the regular season but I did watch (well, actually listened) to some of the Yanks vs Cleveland and then Yanks vs Astros and I was...well, speechless at the way Girardi would leave an obviously failing pitcher in the game way past the point at which he should have pulled him for a reliever. This happened with CC and again with Severino. I frankly couldn't believe Girardi's lack of reaction to what was happening on the field.
I'm thinking the coastal press is pissed the Astros have taken the lead, so now they have to play their narrative.
I thought the Yankees played great during the ALDS and ALCS. As for Girardi leaving a starter in, Hinch got criticized in the ALCS for pulling a starter too soon. Last night, Joe "hack spit" Buck kept insisting Hinch was going to pull McCullers out any minute after through 9 straight balls, but Hinch didn't and only 1 run was given up. Later, we kept hearing how Peacock would be pulled after one batter or any moment now. Astros used only 2 pitchers. Astros' offense has been bipolar at times, but they have shown a talent at tearing up bullpens.
The fact is, MLB statistics suggest the winner of a 7 game series is nearly a coin flip percentage. I'm sure there is frustration of Girardi built up over 10 years, but I was surprised (other than he's a Yankee's manager) to hear he was fired.
Get out the smelling salts, President "I touch butts, but seriously no sexual relations with that woman" Bush will call out "play ball" at game 5.
Leland, what you're seeing is managers FINALLY starting to reject this closers only pitch one inning. That asshole PETA member attorney LaRussa "invented" that horseshit. I loved Peacock pitched 3 2/3 to close out the game. Fingers, Gossage, Sutter would always pitch 2-4 innings. Smoltz liked what Hinch was doing, he kept saying, "He's deciding by what he's seeing" not following some formula "invented" by a control freak attorney/manager.
Hey Troop, I put your suggestion about Paul O'Neill as next manager on a Yankee blog and the response was quite positive. Just thought you should know. Can't even remember the name of the blog, Something or other River Blues I think. The point is that a great thought of Troop is now out there in the world! Who knows, maybe Steinbrenner will drop by, read it and there you go.
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