Comments on: Who’s To Blame? Part 2: Joe Girardi

By: Kenny Johnson

Kenny Johnson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:12:12 +0000

I think we need a new hitting coach. Perhaps the instructor at Texas. For a mediocore ball club they kock the cover off the ball.

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:14:44 +0000

Alright I’m wrong. Girardi obviously feels there is a big enough problem with Cano that he has benched him. This is a problem because if he feels this way this is something that should have been done sooner.

By: Frank Negron Jr.

Frank Negron Jr. — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:34:41 +0000

This is a teamwide disappointment. Its not just on Girardi but he does have to take some of the blame. Cano just needs a good kick in his rear, Larry Bowa was the biggest influence on him, it’s starting to show now.

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:22:32 +0000

No, Cano has only been in the league for 3 years. He’s still growing as a player. The season where he hit .340 shows his potential just as this season shows he obviously still needs to improve. Most young players go through this, so why is it ok to pin this on Girardi?

By: gozer

gozer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:16:47 +0000

So Cano just stinks then?

I know! Let’s overhaul his entire swing!

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:47:05 +0000

In Cabrera’s case though he fell off in 2007 from 2006 and falling further in 2008, while not many predicted it, follows a trend.

Also Cano had always been extremely inconsistent even under Torre. He had a terrible first half last season only to rebound with a monster second half. His season this year mirrored last season’s except his second half wasn’t as good. But it follows the same exact pattern.

By: gozer

gozer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:19:23 +0000

I’ll tell you this much – the Yanks were happy to have an injury to explain away Hughes’ ineffectiveness. The new Steinbrenner regime seems to be all about excuse-making and have little in the way of accountability. I wouldn’t expect anything less from two spoiled brats.

As for Cano and Cabrera, when is there any evidence of that sort of thing? We know that both players loved Torre and viewed him as a father figure. How do they feel about Girardi? I don’t know. Even the writers in the locker room don’t have that sort of access into the minds of these guys. That’s why sports journalism deals in speculation as much as fact. Carlos Delgado clearly had issues with Willie Randolph. There were whispers and speculation to that effect while Willie was managing the team, but naturally everyone denied those reports until Willie was gone and the proof was i the pudding.

When players perform for one manager and not for another, it’s fair to speculate on the impact of the managerial change. Sometimes that speculation is baseless, but often times it’s not. Is there some measuring point where it’s okay to hold Girardi accountable for his players’ performances? After two seasons? Maybe three? Or perhaps we should remove both managers from the equation and let the team run itself. That way no one has to take blame for anything.

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:46:16 +0000

I’m a big Torre fan, but I don’t see where I have to pick a side. They manage the game differently. I’m not sure Torre could have done any better or worse.

I just don’t see where there is any evidence of any of the stuff Frank is claiming. Especially now that you’re saying the Yankees knew Hughes was hurt. That’s a statement which you cannot backup with any evidence whatsoever. Nobody would use a 21-year-old injured pitcher and if he knew he was hurt I’m sure he’d pull himself out. That’s a crazy baseless statement.

I also see no connection to Joe Torre and how Cabrera and Cano played this year or last. You say they lacked focus and I don’t see that. Especially when Girardi has said repeatedly that Cano is one of the hardest working players on the team and he has already committed to working with Long all winter.

By: Frank Negron Jr.

Frank Negron Jr. — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:01:18 +0000

The way the Yanks were run this year was a mess from top to bottom. Yes you couldve avoid injuries but focus should always be there. The lineup shouldnt have changed everyday for the first 4 months, but again at least Girardi tried something new. I just think his media personality needs to be more credible. His managerial style was ok, just needs a lil tweaking.

By: gozer

gozer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:57:41 +0000

Like it or not, fans of Torre swore that the Yankees would regret pushing him out the door and that he made an extremely difficult task look extraordinarily easy time and time again. Now is not the time to talk of coincidences and injury. Now is the time for the Pro-Torre camp to gloat and the Pro-Girardi camp to eat crow. Maybe when Girardi has a single postseason contest on his managerial resume, the debate can be reopened. Until then, the Yankees, Girardi, and his supporters look foolish.