The Yankees today announced their 2008 coaching staff. No surprises here as Joe had this info in October: Kevin Long – hitting, Tony Pena – 1B, Bobby Meacham – 3B, Rob Thomson – bench, Dave Eiland – pitching, Mike Harkey – bullpen. This is indeed the beginning of a new era in the Bronx.

When Joe Girardi is formally announced today as the Yankee manager, he will don number 27. Why 27? Because he wants to win the franchise’s 27th World Championship and will literally carry that chip around on his shoulder. The number 27 has a rather unglorious history in New York. But fan favorite Mel Hall wore it during a stretch that seems that it was generations ago.

That’s the word from ESPN. Nothing big, though it qualified as “breaking” for them. Minus the ink on parchment, it’s a done deal.

Update from Ben K.: I’m hearing unconfirmed rumors that Kevin Long will join Torre and Mattingly in Los Angeles. While I’d love to see Long stay in New York, coaches are always replaceable.

Christening our new Joe Girardi category, let me present to you news from Dan Shanoff’s Quickie. Shanoff, a Northwestern alum like Girardi, shares an interesting story:

In the football weight room, where all athletes worked out … there are lists of weightlifting records, and the only non-football player ANYWHERE was in the squat, where Girardi was the all-time king.

So there you have it; all five feet, eleven inches of Joe Girardi, the new Yankee manager, could out-bench NU football players. Look out, Jason Giambi.

ESPN is finally officially reporting that the Yankees are offering the managerial job to Joe Girardi and that Girardi will accept the position. We’ve held off on reporting too much of the rampant speculation up until now because there were simply too many conflicting reports flying around. Don Mattingly is not expected to join the coaching staff.