Yankees: Girardi to earn a Master’s of the Arts Diploma in managing

The Yankees, like most teams back in the day, used to refer to their manager as the “Field General. A manager today, however, has a multitude of responsibilities in addition to that. No one is doing that better now than the guy who doesn’t have a job after this season.

The Yankees, over the course of their long history, have had a variety of personalities who have assumed the post as manager. From the fiery, “I’ll beat the hell out of you, if you don’t do it my way”, Billy Martin, to the easy “let it be” approach of Joe Torre, and then, to the “clown who knew better than anyone”, Casey Stengel, you could say we’ve seen it all.

Martin, but not Girardi, would self-implode today

And while each of these men had their distinctive style of managing, and each was successful, it is doubtful that any of them could manage successfully in the big leagues today. Only Torre, who was present when managing was in the infant stages of transitioning to what it entails today, might be able to handle what Joe Girardi has on his table presently.

Can you imagine, for example, Martin taking time out to do a pre-game and a post-game show with questions coming rapid fire from people he doesn’t even know, without unleashing a torrent of “F”‘s somewhere along the line? And all the while know the cooler containing the Budweiser is sitting beneath his desk back in his office. Ah, not a good situation.

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Or, how do you think Stengel might do these days answering questions in “Stengelese” that no one can understand, but because it’s “funny” the Yankee brass allows it to go on? Again, not very likely.

Joe Girardi, and let’s be clear at the outset, has seen a good deal of criticism for his style of managing in the recent past. Back in December, for instance, I wrote a column that questioned his ability to relate to the Baby Bombers and what the impact would be on the Yankees if he couldn’t. And there were other pieces that spoke of the same.

In my mind, Girardi has passed the test. His press conferences are pointed and serious. And at least, he gives answers that weigh closer to honesty than spin. And these days, that’s about all we can hope for.

Number One: Put your men where they can succeed

And while holding down the Yankees media fort, he still manages to handle his players in a way that consistently puts them in a position where they can succeed. He doesn’t bat Gary Sanchez leadoff, and he doesn’t hit Brett Gardner in the cleanup position. Nor. does he send Chris Carter up as a pinch-hitter in a close game with runners on first and second with no one out expecting him to move the runners over on a ground ball to the right side.

Nor, does he send Chris Carter up as a pinch-hitter in a close game with runners on first and second with no one out expecting him to move the runners over on a ground ball to the right side.

These are the subtleties of managing in the big leagues today, and they can’t be measured. Often, they’re referred to as “intangibles.” You won’t find them in the stats, but you’ll certainly find them in the clubhouse where all 25 players know their roles and what is expected of them.

And you’ll find them in the bullpen, without Girardi’s phone call, where a starter begins to crumble, and the loose talk and banter stops as pitchers get up on their own and begin to stretch, anticipating that they might be needed.

And you’ll find them in Ronald Torreyes who quietly takes a seat on the bench when Didi Gregorius returns without requiring one of those “office visits” with Girardi explaining why it’s necessary for him to sit, despite the fact that he’s hitting .300. These things don’t happen by accident.

Video Courtesy of the YES Network

The Yankees are not an accident; they’re a design

They happen by design and Girardi is the man pulling strings, but not in a Billy Martin way. He is quiet, he is stoic, and he doesn’t “excite.” He’s just the man who has propelled the Yankees to a position where they are ranked in the top three of any poll you can find.

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And for that, he is well on his way to picking up a Master of the Arts (and not Science) diploma for the job he is doing this season.

What happens next year between Girardi and Cashman, who’s also on the contract bubble, is of no consequence now. That’ll all come later when the dust has settled on this season. For now, though, it should be enough to sit back and observe a man at the top of his game.