As we prepare for tonight’s tilt with the Rays, there are numerous questions surrounding the Yankees. Will Andy Pettite‘s groin be fully healed before the playoffs? Will Phil Hughes‘ innings limit result in him being ineffective? Who will be the fourth starter? Will the offense ever remember how to hit? Can Derek Jeter regain the form that made him a Yankee icon?
But the biggest question of all has to be this: Why is Joe Girardi still the manager?
Yes, I realize Girardi was the manager last year for #27. But many observers, myself included, felt the team won despite his managerial hijinx, not because of them. And the job he’s done this year – well, this current road trip pretty much sums up his season.
A manager’s job is two-fold: one, to put his players in the best position to do their job; and two, to motivate and inspire his squad to shine. Girardi consistently fails to do either. He insists on putting in line-ups where there are as many reserves as regulars. (How else do you explain bench players accounting for 21% of the teams plate appearances this season?). Quite frankly, I’m getting tired of seeing a bottom of the order consisting of Ramiro Pena and Francisco Cervelli. (That particular duo has started together an incredible 15 times this season – better than 10% of the season). It’s nothing against either of those guys, but this is supposed to be the Yankees, not the Orioles. Or the Cubs.
Girardi over-relies on the bullpen; the Yankees only have 3 complete games as a staff – 11th best in the AL. Don’t forget; this is the same guy who was run out of the Marlins clubhouse largely because he burned his bullpen so badly in 2006, they fell out of contention. It makes you wonder if Alfredo Aceves‘ workload contributed to his (possibly career-threatening) injury.
He also rubbed that clubhouse the wrong way, as the players simply got tired of his act. I doubt we’ll ever hear anyone on this team complain about the skipper – they’re all too professional for it – but I defy anyone to tell me this team actually wants to win for Girardi. To be blunt, lately the Yankees look as though they would rather be taking a nap than playing baseball. That type of lethargy is direct reflection on Girardi’s leadership -or lack thereof.
Last night’s game – with the odd bullpen choices (Kerry Wood and Boone Logan combined to throw fewer pitches in 1 1/3 innings than Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre did in 2/3 of an inning), lackadaisical hitting, base running blunders – was a microcosm of the season thus far. Lost in all the noise about the bullpen maneuvering and Brett Gardner’s inexplicable attempted steal of third were two other moves that make absolutely no sense. In the 5th, Jorge Posada was caught stealing. On a straight steal. With two out. Later, in the 11th, after Austin Kearns led off with a sharp single, Girardi had Curtis Granderson bunt. If you have the heart of the order coming up, that makes sense. But not when the next hitter is Colin Curtis.
I’m sure the infamous binder had all kinds of percentages for each of the weird moves we saw. But games aren’t won in a computer model; they’re won by players on the field. Speaking of computer models, the Pythagorean prediction says the Yankees should be 89-55 or two games better than they’ve played. Why do you suppose that is?
Managers can rarely win a game. But when they insist on managing like the league idiot, they can certainly lose them. For that reason, Joe Must Go.
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
It amazing the kind of paranoia in Yankeeland since theyve gone 1-8 in last 9 games.
correction “1-7 in last 8 games”
Really, get a grip and be the professional writer you think youare.
I gotta admit…last night had me seeing red. I ain’t been so mad all season. We’re on the same page, RR, because idiot is the same word I used last night. And it was because Wood was sitting after, I believe, 11 pitches, and our worst pitcher was out there. Heck…I’ll say it again…(bleeping) idiot!
But they had a pretty good run right before this funk they’re in right now. Combine the two, it’s right at .500. Joe’s got us this far, and besides, who to replace him w at this point in the season?
One realistic solution is to bring in an old Zim type. Old feller that JoeG respects and will to listen. McKeon kind of fits the mold in my so called mind.
I meant ‘listen to’.
Nothing like alittle controversy. ;-)
In ’08, I didn’t know anyone who wanted Joe around for ’09. The team wins in ’09 and he’s a genius. This is the same guy, no better now than he was in ’08. The ultimate measure of a manager is: does he get the team to play above, at or below their potential. For three years running, the Yankees have finished with fewer wins than the combined WAR of the players would indicate. That says “below potential” to me, folks. -Ray
If bench players didn’t account for 21% of the teams plate appearances we’d be in worse shape going into the playoffs than we are now. I don’t like Ramiro Pena or The Cisco kid either to be honest but that’s the hand Girardi’s been dealt by his general manager.
As for the bullpen that’s Girardi’s strength as a manager. You all criticize his fast hook which ill give you. That’s fair hes far too quick to mix and match in a tie game, but he is the opposite of Torre in that hes keeping innings down and by keeping everybody involved hes able to find multiple pitchers that can do the job for him. I highly doubt that Boone Logan or Joba would have ever gotten out of Torres dog house after their early season performances.
You’re only true argument against Joe is that 89-55 Pythagorean record you cited. Fair enough but were in the midst of losing 6 of 8 games, we were doing just fine a week ago. Girardi has made some curious calls of late but I’ve seen a vast overreaction across Yankees Universe. Lets all take a step back.
P.S. Don’t think me too biased because of my name here on the site. Truth is I was more a fan of Girardi as a player versus a manager.
I know where everyone is coming from – it’s hard to argue when the team has the best record in baseball. But my point is, the team is not playing anywhere near to it’s potential. BR has the Yankees combined WAR at 42.7; a WAR of 0 would indicate a .500 team (in other words, you’re no better and no worse than average). That’s 9 wins more than the Yankees currently have – this shouldn’t even be a pennant race. There’s only one common factor when looking at the team as a whole, and that’s the manager.
Does WAR adjust its values on players with age and try to predict decline? Even if it does I’m guessing it wouldn’t predict Jeter would be a .260 hitter and Arod would have less than 30 HRs.
That’s cumulative WAR for the entire 2010 roster, so it includes the sub-par seasons from A-Rod and Jeter.
Both Bill James Pythagorean method and WAR are inexact stats, so there’s some wiggle room. But if you take either of them, the team has underperformed vs. where they should be.
Do you expect if the Yankees lineup was in its most effective order (meaning Jeter batting 7, 8, or 9) that 2 game under performance would be erased?
Well now, RR…there’s a good topic for you. Where should Jetes be batting?…
Good question. And, yes I do. But then, that’s a BIG part of the manager’s job, isn’t it?
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/2010/09/18/is-it-time-to-move-derek-jeter/
Hope it answers your question, @Lumpee ;)