If the Yankees do not come out of the gate quickly, assorted Gasbags and mouths from other media precincts will ask the front office to remove Joe Girardi from YES’ broadcast booth to replace Aaron Boone, the guy who succeeded him.
No matter how the authorities spin things, they won’t be able to put a lid on the perception. Girardi is more of a manager-in-waiting than a television baseball pundit.
Looking down from the booth at the team he managed for ten seasons, including the Bombers’ last World Series win in 2009, Girardi will serve as The Eye in the Sky for supporters who blame Boone, when they aren’t blaming Brian Cashman, for everything that goes wrong in the Bronx. Boone is in his contract’s final year of guaranteed pay.
Yankees pitchers and catchers report to Tampa on Wednesday, and there is already talk about Girardi’s motivation for accepting the YES position. On the “Yanks Go Yard” website, a headline reads, “Is Joe Girardi laying the groundwork to be Aaron Boone’s Yankees successor?”
On Tuesday’s episode of Yankees Hot Stove on YES, Bob Lorenz asked Girardi if he is “open” to “managing in the big leagues again?” Girardi stated that he would “love” to have another opportunity. “But if I don’t, I’m very happy as a broadcaster,” Girardi remarked.
Girardi, who will be in his third season with YES and has previously worked for Fox Sports, MLB Network, and the Cubs, is an accomplished broadcaster. This is why YES hired him. However, unless they are crazy, they understand that he brings added value.
With Girardi behind the microphone, the spectre of controversy looms over every program on which the former manager works. His near proximity to Boone will add to the broadcast’s reality-show vibe.
Girardi’s amount of games is still to be determined. Nonetheless, he plans to work games equitably throughout the season. Girardi will be in both two- and three-person booths. He will begin the season working in a three-person team.
Girardi will not appear in YES’ before or postgame studios.
Adding Girardi might benefit YES’ business. He has two options for travel. Both of these promote a scenario in which more viewers will be drawn to the broadcast. Will Girardi protect Boone? Or will he dispute his actions, offering ammunition to those who say he intends to sink Boone?
Got it? The chance of prolonged controversy exists, depending on how the Yankees perform and how Girardi reacts.
Inquiring baseball minds wonder if Girardi is simply auditioning for his future managerial position – only on YES.
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