Do you trust Girardi to take this team to the Series?

I Believe in Joe Girardi.

But I think the point should be made that if Girardi blows it with this team (barring injures to CC, AJ, Tex and lets say Jeter or anyone else) then he should probably be fired. I’m not saying Torre would definitely win, but come on, he was an incredible manager, and although he certainly had great teams, not all of the teams had the talent on paper that this current incarnation will have.

I think torre was a better manager for a group of older established veterans and kinda let the kids run wild. Torre was also better with the media something I could give 2 shits about. I think girardi was brought in to usher in a new era of relying more on young guys from the farm. The most important aspect of girardi is that he has shown to be more than willing to go with the hot hand later in games. Bullpen management is one of the few areas of a game where the manager can win or lose a game. Torre often famously was stuck in a world of defined roles and too much reliance on veterans as opposed to the most skilled.
I definitely beleive in Girardi. He got screwed last year with all the injuries something even green tea guy couldnt fatherly himself out of.

I have faith in Girardi. I’m thankful that he uses statistical information to help formulate his game plans , and I was thoroughly impressed with the way he managed the bullpen last year. That said, with the team he’s been given, anything short of at least an appearance in the ALCS would be a big disappointment. I’ve no doubt that he is fully aware of the expectations of his team, and I’m sure he’ll do the very best he can to win us #27 this year. For now, I’ll go ahead and call myself a fan of Joey G.

I think, if Yanks can win 89 games with Ponson, Rasner and the rest of the gang, They can do much better with CC, AJ, CMW, Joba and Andy, even if one or two fall flat (I am thinking Joba or AJ).

Last year Girardi didn’t have the weapons to go to war. This year he does and I believe he will deliver. After all, last year the difference was only 8 games between the Rays and the Yanks (its not like we we’re the Mariners). Just like Rockies in 07, Rays were the Cindrella team in 08. Yanks just need to focus on one target, and to me that target is RED SOX.

My trust in Girardi is proportionate to my trust the talent because a manager has very little impact on a team’s wins and losses beyond bullpen management and personnel deployment.

All things being equal in terms of health and over or under performance, the talent is sufficient to win the WS.

Girardi has demonstrated that bullpen management is a strength. He tends not to make decisions based on sentiment.

My biggest concern for the season is Posada’s health. If he can’t catch 100 games, Molina becomes the regular catcher, and he is only slightly better than replacement level offense/defense.

If the CF situation remains status quo, that would likely leave two very weak spots in the lineup. I’m confident that they could overcome one. Two would be supoptimal.

The fact that Girardi could lead last year’s team to 89 wins, after injuries to many key players including Wang, Joba, and Matsui, should show everybody that he’s more than capable of dealing with adversity.

I’m willing to bet that if Torre was around last year, the team may have won less. Because much of that team’s success has to do with the great way Girardi handled the bullpen. And Joe was never well-known for his use of relief pitching.

the other aspect is that outside of Torre’s first few seasons, the AL East has been a 2 team race.

he deserves (a lot of) credit for beating out Boston, but there was not really a legitimate third team in the division from 1998-2007. Toronto had a handful of 85-ish win seasons, but for the most part, it was Boston and New York.

the ascension of Tampa ALSO happened to coincide with Girardi’s first year as manager, but it is something that was out of his control.

that was GOING to happen at some point, but maybe it happened about a year earlier than expected?

if TB were there usual terrible self, Girardi would have guided this team, DESPITE all the crap that happened, to the Wildcard.

granted, that doesn’t really mean a damn thing, but my point is simply that Torre never had to worry about Tampa.

Have never liked the fact that Torre was writing this book during the ’07 season when that team underachieved as much as any Yanks team of his tenure. And in regards to A-Rod, much of the key to maximizing his postseason potential is getting him to relax and do as he does the other 162 games of the season. If the relationship with him and the manager wasn’t all it could be, I’d much rather keep the sportscar instead of the guy who can’t properly drive it. Not to say it’s all Torre’s responsibility, but he does have an obligation to get the most out of his players, especially at the rate he was being paid.
With Girardi, the Yanks went as far as they could with a busted up rotation. Also, there were no arms blown out in the pen like Torre would do annually. All things considered, I think Girardi does a good job of getting the most out of his lineup, and this year will be as good of a test as any.

I’m shocked at the hate for Torre

You’re misreading the conversations if you think people hate joe torre. We all like and respect him and are very thankful for what he did for the team. The truth is the team was moving in a different direction, and after a string of dissapointing playoff collapses it became evident it was time for a change.

Oh please. Best ever? Seriously? One Casey Stengel would beg to differ. Hell, even Ralph Houk was better (note, I’m in my early 30s, not 70s, as my name-dropping might imply). :)

The fact is, Torre was good, but he was handed a golden team, and I don’t think he could have done anything but win. I think his weaknesses were seriously brought into the light in the years following 2001.

Girardi at least knows how to use a bullpen.

I guess all you geniuses forgot about last year.

This team is filled with all-stars surrounded with a coaching staff that is scared to call anyone out and discipline any of them!

GIRARDI NEEDS TO START DOING HIS JOB AND STOP KISSING ASS!