2012 Joe Girardi Performance Thread

[NelsonMuntz]

What are they wrong about? Certainly, you agree that Nunez has the potential to be a superior SS to Jeter, or at least the current Jeter, if Nunez could ever get over his nerves throwing. He surely has the range and the arm, and the Yankees are trying to give him a chance to show what he has.

And most people in baseball would say Nunez is a better hitter against LHed pitching than is Gardner.

This is not a crazy lineup.

Nunez is a butcher in the field with a .305 OBP vs. LHP. The less he is in the lineup the better as far as I'm concerned.

[2JAY]

So Sabathia can't face Sean Rodriguez but he leaves the lefty specialist Rapada in to face Longoria. Awesome.

I know that its only one 2012 appearance, but I really wish that the Yankees would cut ties with Rapada. He has been a mediocre/sub-par pitcher everywhere he has been and I just don't see his value as a LH specialist when all he does is nibble around the plate.

[NelsonMuntz]

I know that its only one 2012 appearance, but I really wish that the Yankees would cut ties with Rapada. He has been a mediocre/sub-par pitcher everywhere he has been and I just don't see his value as a LH specialist when all he does is nibble around the plate.

Well, his lefty splits are actually pretty good but I agree that he nibbled way too much tonight. In any event, Rapada should NEVER face right handed batters, especially the caliber of Longoria.

[Eldee5]

I know that its only one 2012 appearance, but I really wish that the Yankees would cut ties with Rapada. He has been a mediocre/sub-par pitcher everywhere he has been and I just don't see his value as a LH specialist when all he does is nibble around the plate.

Had Cesar Cabral not gotten injured at the end of Spring Training, I don't think we'd even have to have the discussion. Rapada was kind of what they got stuck with.
I don't disagree with your assessment.

[-tz]

I could have predicted Girardi's postgame interview word for word. "There's no quit in them." "I thought he threw the ball OK." "That's baseball."

[bomber999]

I could have predicted Girardi's postgame interview word for word. "There's no quit in them." "I thought he threw the ball OK." "That's baseball."

There probably was not much chance he was going to say "Our starting pitching sucked again, Nunez showed yet again what a defensive liability he is, Rapada probably has no business on a ML roster, and our offense is wildly inconsistent." Although all of that is true.

[False1]

Ugh. Although I like Girardi being proactive in getting guys half days, I really didn't like today's lineup. Nunez in the field, no Gardner. Jones held his own, but man that Nunez boot in the first was a tone setter.

According to the YES crew said Girardi hinted that A-Rod might get a full day off and they were speculating that Martin might get a day off as well.

It is amazing these 2 games, that every defensive alignment that Joe has tried to use, the Rays have beaten it . While every shift that Maddon has used has been perfect.

It really is uncanny. Yankee hitters literally put the ball in play right into the shifted defensive alignment every time, and when Girardi started moving the infield around it seemed to completely backfire. I think it was a Pena/Kuroda matchup when I looked and saw Cano standing behind second base. Isn't Pena predominately a pull hitter? Seemed odd to me.

So Sabathia can't face Sean Rodriguez but he leaves the lefty specialist Rapada in to face Longoria. Awesome.

What was his explanation for this in the post game? A LOOGY is generally a waste of a roster spot. A LOOGY in the hands of a manager that wants to stretch him against elite RH hitters is counterproductive. Why on earth is Rapada facing Longoria???

[-tz]

What was his explanation for this in the post game? A LOOGY is generally a waste of a roster spot. A LOOGY in the hands of a manager that wants to stretch him against elite RH hitters is counterproductive. Why on earth is Rapada facing Longoria???

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/04/0...uns-at-a-time/

Girardi said he would have gone to Cory Wade had Rapada gotten Joyce out in the seventh, but after the Joyce jam shot, Girardi decided to try to stick with Rapada through Luke Scott.

[False1]

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/04/0...uns-at-a-time/

Thanks.

That makes ZERO sense. So he brings in Rapada to ideally retire Joyce so that Wade can face Longoria with nobody on. Wade would have faced Scott regardless. Rapada fails to get Joyce, so somehow it now makes MORE sense for Rapada to try and get Longoria (an elite RHH) with a runner on so he can try to get the LOOGY matchup against Scott - which he'd have given up if Rapada got Joyce to begin with? He wisely didn't want Rapada facing Longoria with the bases empty, yet somehow it's wiser to allow him to face Longoria with a man on? Sigh.

Rapada career against RHH (let alone elite RHH): .359 / .474 / .692.

[Yankees1962]

Before I get started with my premise, it has nothing to do with what Girardi has done the last two games as the recent criticism is valid in my opinion.

With that said, there is something I noticed over the last couple of years about Girardi and the Yankee fanbase. The fanbase doesn't really like him. For a manager that has won a WS and has managed this team going into his 5th season, the Yankee fanbase has little affection for their manager. I mean even though Torre had his detractors, he also had his defenders and before the playoff debacles of 2003 and 2004, most of the Yankee fanbase was relatively happy with Torre. However, with Girardi, it's been going down hill for him since his first year as Yankee manager.

His selection as Yankee manager after Torre was a popular one around here, but it seems like his biggest critics are the vary ones that supported his appointment as manager.

Why is that? What is it about Girardi that makes him seemingly unlikeable for Yankee fans?

Maybe, it's his personality which most fans have little connection with or his managerial tendencies that appear to be less intuitive than what I expected from him. Even when he trys to put down his manager's manual and think outside the box, it backfires on him like it did the other day. Walking the bases loaded in the first inning, really?

Anyhow, back to my real point about this particular post. Girardi could leave as Yankee manager tomorrow and there won't be much consternation about it, unless they named a manager the fanbase doesn't like, ala Bobby Valentine. However, a Francona would be a popular replacement choice even if he's a former Red Sox manager. Of course, the most popular choice outside of Joe Maddon would be the prodigal son coming back home from the left coast. Perhaps Girardi needs to find his way back home to Chicago because Yankee fans really haven't warmed to him as Yankee manager and I seriously wonder if they ever will?

[Yanks4eva1]

^ I think this is a very good observation on your part Yankees1962. But he wasn't very popular in Florida with the Marlins either, or at least with the front office.

I don't know what it is - perhaps we NY fans need a manager with a little more heart, and less clinical. Rex Ryan hasn't won a thing, but he's a fan favorite - and it's the personality - the heart. Coughlin is clinical, but we know he cares about his players and he and Eli are quiet warriors. Joe Torre was a native NYer from Brooklyn, but the man was laughed at when the Boss picked him to be manager, yet he knew how to handle things with him and his players. For the most part, they absolutely loved Joe Torre. As for Joe G., you don't hear that kind of respect and admiration from the players. Not a one of them. He's their manager. Sort of like the vice president that walks in the office and he asks you to do something because s/he's the VP, not out of respect for him or her, but for their title. Don't get me wrong. I think he does care about this team, but there is an aloof edge to him and that doesn't resonate with the fans. Maybe not with the players either.

I'm grasping at straws, I know, but I really think Joe's heart is in Chicago. For the love of Wrigley, I hope that he gets his chance to manage the team he loves. And yes, I would love to see Donnie Baseball as manager of this team and take them to the WS and hoist the trophy above his head. Nothing would be more satisfying than that to me as a Yankee fan who grew up loving the former Captain. Nothing.

[Yanks4eva1]

So Sabathia can't face Sean Rodriguez but he leaves the lefty specialist Rapada in to face Longoria. Awesome.

LOL -

[foul ball]

So Sabathia can't face Sean Rodriguez but he leaves the lefty specialist Rapada in to face Longoria. Awesome.

Got the feeling that Girardi gave up on the game.

[JSG]

So Sabathia can't face Sean Rodriguez but he leaves the lefty specialist Rapada in to face Longoria. Awesome.

LOL -

........ do not attempt to adjust the knobs on your television set, for you have entered ..... the Girardi Zone ...... sure, micromanage your Ace in the first, then go laissez faire w a junkballer in brutal matchups late ......... serenity now, serenity now ........

[primetime714]

Before I get started with my premise, it has nothing to do with what Girardi has done the last two games as the recent criticism is valid in my opinion.

With that said, there is something I noticed over the last couple of years about Girardi and the Yankee fanbase. The fanbase doesn't really like him. For a manager that has won a WS and has managed this team going into his 5th season, the Yankee fanbase has little affection for their manager. I mean even though Torre had his detractors, he also had his defenders and before the playoff debacles of 2003 and 2004, most of the Yankee fanbase was relatively happy with Torre. However, with Girardi, it's been going down hill for him since his first year as Yankee manager.

His selection as Yankee manager after Torre was a popular one around here, but it seems like his biggest critics are the vary ones that supported his appointment as manager.

Why is that? What is it about Girardi that makes him seemingly unlikeable for Yankee fans?

Maybe, it's his personality which most fans have little connection with or his managerial tendencies that appear to be less intuitive than what I expected from him. Even when he trys to put down his manager's manual and think outside the box, it backfires on him like it did the other day. Walking the bases loaded in the first inning, really?

Anyhow, back to my real point about this particular post. Girardi could leave as Yankee manager tomorrow and there won't be much consternation about it, unless they named a manager the fanbase doesn't like, ala Bobby Valentine. However, a Francona would be a popular replacement choice even if he's a former Red Sox manager. Of course, the most popular choice outside of Joe Maddon would be the prodigal son coming back home from the left coast. Perhaps Girardi needs to find his way back home to Chicago because Yankee fans really haven't warmed to him as Yankee manager and I seriously wonder if they ever will?

I don't know about that. I think the manager always gets more hate and less praise than anyone else. My take is that like any manager Girardi makes mistakes from game to game, but overall does a good job. I think these past two games he hasn't done a good job as his mistakes have been readily apparent and potential game losers. Seeing the general quality of some of the other managers out there though I wouldn't want Girardi to leave. I think most Yankee fans would agree unless they're still stuck on the mistakes made in these past two games.

[Torre Must Go]

I think I hate Wallace Matthews more than he hates Girardi. Bitter, angry man who doesn't give him or the Yankees the benefit of the doubt. We need new people covering this team.

[awy]

the dreaded loogyitis

[Mr Coffee]

I like Girardi, I just don't agree with all his decisions.

[snapple]

Switching Swish and Granderson was a great idea. I just wish he would have left Grittner in the game (or started him, w/e).

[SLURPEE]

Did Jeter really need a day off from the turf on the second game of the season?

[Shadoux101]

I like Girardi as a Manager. Sure, he makes mistakes. So does every other manager.

Lets look at positives.

He can see the bigger picture and manages the players in a way to not burn them out. Espeically in the pen. I like that he has built a great pen with cash and has tended to manage it properly. You can expect to see production from these guys in the pen coming up for years to come.

This teams chemistry has changed much for the better since he has taken over. I know he isn't the sole reason but to say he hasn't been a large part is simply ignorant. It's enjoyable to watch the team have fun while winning.

[snapple]

I think Girardi is fine. It's better than that assclown in Boston

[Shadoux101]

Did Jeter really need a day off from the turf on the second game of the season?

Probably not but that is the plan this year.

[Shadoux101]

I think Girardi is fine. It's better than that assclown in Boston

I don't even want to imagine.

[Mr Coffee]

Lineup today per LoHud:

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher DH
Raul Ibanez RF
Brett Gardner LF
Chris Stewart C

RHP Phil Hughes

I guess Swisher needs to rest as well.