Thursday, October 25, 2007

Next Stop in Rumorville: Joe Girardi Could Manage Dodgers

From "Sources: Developing opportunity for Girardi in L.A." by Buster Olney at ESPN.com:

Joe Girardi might have an opportunity to manage in the majors in 2008 -- even if he doesn't get the Yankees' job.

Officials familiar with Girardi's job prospects said Thursday if the Yankees do not hire him to succeed Joe Torre, then Girardi could have a developing opportunity with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The agent for Girardi, Steve Mandel, was asked if Girardi had been approached about a job opportunity with the Dodgers, and Mandel would not comment.

Dodgers manager Grady Little is under contract for next season after the team picked up his option for 2008 on March 7. Little also has a club option for 2009.

"Grady Little is our manager," a Dodgers spokesperson said Thursday.

Dodgers executives could not immediately be reached for comment about Little's status.

Girardi and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti have known each other for almost two decades. Colletti came to know the former catcher as media relations director for the Cubs; Girardi was selected by Chicago out of Northwestern as a fifth-round pick in the 1986 amateur draft.

"Grady Little is our manager." Now there's a vote of confidence.

UPDATE:

The managerial replacement talk continues with more hearsay and conjecture, this time about Joe Torre. From Robothal:

Managers, even expensive managers, are far cheaper than players. The Dodgers could give Torre a two-year, $14 million contract — the approximate terms he wanted from the Yankees — and trumpet him as their big off-season acquisition.

Are you freakin' kidding me? If all Frank McCourt's price increases go toward a non-player acquisition, I'll march down to Elysian Park Avenue and punch him in the face myself.

UPDATE:

Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com has some thoughts on Girardi:

If the report is true, Girardi's "opportunity" could be a position on Little's coaching staff or a role as an assistant to general manager Ned Colletti, who worked for the Chicago Cubs when Girardi played for the Cubs. Colletti was not available to comment.

Little's coaching staff is not under contract for next year and there have been indications that some members will not return, including -- but not limited to -- hitting coach Bill Mueller, who is expected to return to a front office job. The entire staff was given permission to seek opportunities elsewhere at the end of the season.

7 comments:

Steve Sax said...

I hear that Juan Pierre is our center fielder, too.

Or maybe not.

cigarcow said...

Whenever ESPN begins the headline of one of its stories with "Report:" or "Sources:" I immediately assume it's BS. They just love to draw attention to themselves -- especially when it involves the Yankees. We've been sucked into the east coast propaganda machine! Wheee

Orel said...

Yeah, Girardi's people probably planted the report.

Steve Sax said...

I heard the source for the ESPN story was someone by the name of Kim Turkjian.

Damon said...

The only downfall I see from Girardi being our manager is that griddle and the dodgers are gonna have to be shitty enough next year for him to get fired.

Steve Sax said...

Damon: huh?

Damon said...

yea that didn't make sense. If the dodgers do good next year how can they not extend grady's contract