For some reason Cubs fans like to think that their team is in the same class of high spenders as the Yankees and Red Sox, when really those two (and even more so the Yankees) are in a class by themselves. But because we think the Cubs can go dollar for dollar with New York names like Joe Girardi get tossed out in the Cubs managerial discussion.
Girardi is the current Yankees manager and his contract is up at the end of the season. The only reason Girardi hasn’t been given an extension is because the Yankees do not engage in contract negotiations during the season. They aren’t even talking to Derek Jeter. Barring a monumental collapse by the Yankees (probably meaning not making the playoffs) Girardi will sit down this winter and quickly get a nice long term deal to stay in New York.
That is why I think it’s sort of pointless to discuss Girardi for the Cubs job, but I’m doing it anyway. Those who think he can come here point to his Northwestern ties and the fact that he has called the Cubs job his dream job before. Realistically though a smart man like Girardi isn’t going to take a pay cut to sit in the Wrigley fishbowl and manage inferior talent. Just for fun though let’s look at Girardi the manager
Pros
- Experience with two teams, has a World Series ring
- Way overachieved with a bad Marlins team before being fired
- Next to Sandberg he is the most popular guy out there
- Has managed A-Rod and controlled him, which means the Cubs guys shouldn’t be a problem
Cons
- Every Marlins pitcher he managed had Tommy John the next year
- It isn’t hard to manage the Yankees when they have all that talent
I won’t pretend like Girardi is a bad manager, he’s an excellent one. Of course that is why he will most likely be staying in New York where he will probably be getting Cliff Lee on top of the best roster in baseball already. I would love to see Girardi as the next Cubs manager, but I don’t think Tom Ricketts can afford to out spend the Yankees right now.
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