Joe Girardi has the resume and the heart to lead the Yankees

By Caroline Boron
Staff Writer

It may be the last year in the hollowed hall of the current Yankee Stadium for the 2008 season, but it is a first for New York Yankees current manager Joe Girardi. The new skipper, taking on his new position after the former manager, Joe Torre, left New York for Los Angeles, is excited about the future of the men in pinstripes as the season begins.

Girardi is no stranger to New York, as he was part of three World Series championship teams in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Girardi played with rookie Derek Jeter each of the three years, along with other current Yankee greats — Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte.

His Major League debut, however, occurred April 4, 1989, as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Girardi continued to play in the Chicago ball club for four seasons, and then head over to Colorado, where he caught for the Rockies from ’93 to ’95. After four seasons and three World Series rings with the Yankees, Girardi returned to the place where it all started, the windy city, playing from 2000 to 2002 again with the Cubs. His final season of his 15-year career was played with the St. Louis Cardinals, finally leaving his place behind the plate September 28, 2003. Girardi was also the manager of the Florida Marlins in 2006, where he was awarded National League Manager of the Year.

Needless to say, after more than 1,000 games played and more than 4,000 at bats, Joe Girardi has had quite the baseball career. In the years from the end of his career to his new job as manager of the Bronx Bombers, Girardi has stayed active with the Yankees franchise. He hosted a show on the YES network called “Kids on Deck,” a youth-oriented television baseball program from 2004-06. Girardi left the YES network in 2006 when he accepted the Marlins manager position.

Having played under the management of Joe Torre for three seasons, Girardi looks to bring his own personality and leadership style in the last season of “The House that Ruth Built.” He is not looking to be compared to Torre in any fashion, but holds much respect for him as the former manager. Girardi had the privilege of assisting Torre as the Yankees’ bench coach in 2005 and is now expected to fill the shoes of Torre as his rookie season of manager begins.

Girardi is up for the challenge, according to an article by Dawn Klemish posted on the Yankees Web site.
“I’m just going to be who I am,” Girardi said. “No matter who came in after Joe, their approach was going to be different because we’re not clones. I’m just going to be myself.”

Indeed, Yankee fans will see how Girardi’s leadership plays a role with the current Yankees and a few former teammates. Girardi only has one major goal in mind for October of this year, as he wears the goal right on his back — No. 27, in hopes of acquiring the 27th World Series Championship with the New York Yankees.

Fans can only await and wonder what will happen as the 2008 season begins.

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