Speculation On The Next One After Torre
From Jon Heyman today –
Speculation over a successor is starting up now.
Some on the inside view bench coach Don Mattingly as the clear favorite to replace Torre over the more experienced Joe Girardi. However, a managerial search can’t be ruled out.
If Steinbrenner is as in charge and as with it as his remarks suggested (he certainly didn’t sound like the vegetable he was portrayed as in a magazine article a few months ago), Mattingly, a Yankee icon, would be viewed as the leading contender despite his nonexistent managing experience and role in recent years as a coach on Torre’s staff. Steinbrenner has strong and positive feelings for Mattingly.
Ex-Yankee Girardi could still be in the mix, though, and the NL Manager of the Year with Florida is believed to be favored by some in the Yankees’ brass, including the “baseball people” (aka. Brian Cashman and his staff), and new son-in-law Felix Lopez. However, it’s also possible that Girardi’s close ties with Don Zimmer, who’s been childishly attacking Steinbrenner since he left, could hurt him.
If the search expands, two other candidates could include Bobby Valentine, who was a pennant winner with the Mets and a champion in Japan and is liked by both general manager Cashman and Steinbrenner, and Tony La Russa, the type of marquee name that’s attracted Steinbrenner in the past. La Russa’s situation is unsettled in St. Louis, especially after the dismissal of general manager Walt Jocketty. Some believe La Russa, who’s changed jobs every decade or so, might jump at the chance to go to the Yankees, who’d certainly be able to pay him after spending a record $7 million on Torre this year.
I never get the Bobby Valentine thing. He is “liked by both general manager Cashman and Steinbrenner”? O.K., yes, Valentine is a bright and charismatic guy. If you want to hire him to work in the YES booth, aside from his Sesame Street character sounding voice, it could be fun. But, to run the team? I’m not sure that “Top Step Bobby” could play in the Bronx? Then again, if the choice is between Valentine and La Russa, give me Valentine.
I wish there was a way to take Girardi after Torre and still work out the Mattingly angle.
I still think the Mattingly move would be a P.R. nightmare. Like I wrote back in October of last year: You don’t put your “gods” in a position where you then have to strike against them. It’s pretty much common sense.
Maybe it makes more sense to ask Donnie to do what Willie Randolph did in 1993 – and become the team’s assistant general manager? Throw some extra bucks at him, pitch it as a promotion/learning opportunity, mention less travel, etc. – anything to save face for him and keep the fans happy. And, then, if Girardi doesn’t work out, give Mattingly a chance on the field after that.
I just hate the notion of letting Girardi get away when he’s so close to the organization now. I think he’s that good.
No Valentine, no La Russa. I agree about Donnie, making him manager and then firing him if it doesn’t work out would be awkward.
If Zim had stayed as bench coach, I think the Yankees would have #27 already.
Christ, don’t bring La Russa here. He would be a total disaster. He bristles at the press in St. Louis. What would he do facing down the snarling mass in the Bronx?
Valentine is also a horrible, horrible choice. This guy is such an egomaniac who loves to have a camera light in his face. I couldn’t stand him when he was with the Mets and I think hiring him would set the team back.
I think the choices are Girardi and Mattingly and both would be fine. My personal preference is Mattingly. I don’t think it would be too big of a deal if they hired Girardi over Mattingly and Donnie left the team.
Is Girardi a good baseball mind? Yeah, he is. Did he get a young Marlins team to play for him? Yeah. Do I view him as some savior prince coming in? No. I watched his Marlins play the Mets and I didn’t always agree with his decisions. I think Girardi might get a little overrated based on his year with the Marlins when what really helped that team was an awesome young pitching staff. There’s also something to be said about the fact that reports have him wanting to field a different team and being hard to work with.
I think Donnie is going to get the ball — since Stein loves bringing back heroes to be with the team. Plus they’ve kind of been setting this up the last few years. Girardi should have had the job after he was the bench coach for a year. It was set up perfectly. But they kept Torre around, probably to the detriment of the team, and now it’s not such an easy decision.
I saw Big Stein from 5 feet away in both Jan. and March. He looked very pale, short of stride and a bit glazed over both times. At that point he was not driving himself to Legends Field (first time in years). Perhaps he was just in a rough spell back then, but my uninformed medical opinion is that, compared to similar close ups over the past few years, he may have had a mild stroke. Perhaps he’s rallied since; I genuienly hope so.
I respect and admire Donnie, but based on what they’ve shown till now, Girardi will be the better manager. I want #23 tied to the Yankees and like the idea of giving him some portfolio with the organiztion.