Last season, when the Yankees went through a terrible April and mediocre May, Joe Torre’s head was on the chopping block and there were many who thought that he would be fired to satisfy George Streinbrenner’s anger over how the season had gone.
Well, here we are in May again and the Yankees are 20-24. Does that mean Joe Girardi needs to start polishing up the resume.
Apparently, not just yet:
Not long ago, a humbling weekend for a stumbling Yankees team could have provoked the principal owner, George Steinbrenner, into criticizing the manager. Times have changed, but only to a point.
Hank Steinbrenner, who is co-chairman of the Yankees with his brother, Hal, praised Manager Joe Girardi in a wide-ranging telephone interview on Monday. But with the last-place Yankees sputtering along at 20-24, the architect of the team, General Manager Brian Cashman, received only measured support.
Speaking of Girardi, Steinbrenner said: “I think he’s doing fine. It’s pretty simple — he’s playing the hand that he was dealt, just like I am. He’s doing the best job he can. I have complete confidence in Joe.”
(…)
The Yankees will get a boost on Tuesday when Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup after missing 17 games with a strained right quadriceps. The way the season plays out from here could determine Cashman’s future.
“If Brian wants to be the G.M. next year, there’s a chance he will be,” Steinbrenner said. “If he doesn’t want to, he won’t be. At this point, do I still want him to be the G.M.? Yeah, I do.”
Hank, apparently, is holding a grudge against Cashman for failing to acquire pitcher Johan Santana during the off-season. If things don’t turn around, it could be Cashman paying the price to satisfy Little Stein’s ego.
Meanwhile, I look forward to watching the O’s win their fourth straight series this season by getting it over the Yankees. I doubt this can be sustained all season, but I think they can at least pull out a few this week. This O’s team looks like a team that could be very competitive this season or next if they can keep their current attitude and work ethic, and if their prospects continue to get better.