07-13-2010, 05:51 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It's a job he coveted only 3½ years ago. About the time Lou Piniella was knocking him out of contention for it -- Piniella all the while keeping an eye on whether that New York job would open up after the 2006 season.
In fact, Chicago favorite son Joe Girardi -- the man who got that New York job a year later -- still calls the Cubs' managing job attractive.
''It's a great city, it's a great baseball town, yeah,'' the Peoria native and originally drafted Cub says even now. Even with the confetti still occasionally falling from a sock or shirt sleeve after that latest World Series he presided over as the Yankees' second-year manager in October.
But would the Northwestern grad and All-Star Cubs catcher with four Yankees rings -- three as a player -- again consider tackling what might be the only great challenge in the game he hasn't already taken down in his young managing career.
Maybe even now?
What's certain is this: The 45-year-old who won a Manager of the Year award in Florida in his first season on the job and a World Series in New York in his third season as a manager (second with the Yanks) is not under contract beyond this season.
What's nearly as certain is that the Cubs will have a managerial opening after this season, whether because Piniella steps down, is not asked back or by some mutual decision.
And for all the attention and sentiment directed Ryne Sandberg's way by those speculating on Piniella's successor, it's hard to imagine a more suitable replacement than the other guy who played there, is from there, has succeeded at two different ends of the major-league managing spectrum and has commanded respect and performance from young teams in Florida as well as celebrity teams in New York.
''That's not something I would talk about now,'' he said. ''I grew up in Peoria. I grew up a Cub fan. But right now, I'm extremely happy where I'm at.''
No doubt. But while the Yankees can say all they want about waiting until after the season to address extensions for their manager and several key veteran players, the fact they haven't locked up Girardi for a few more years after last year's title shows a conspicuous lack of regard -- if not a lack of respect.
If the Cubs want to start playing with the big boys under new ownership, if they want to do things like their role models, the Boston Red Sox, if they want to beat the Yankees -- here's their chance.
Go after the guy who might be the best fit for a roster beyond this year that figures to retain several marquee salary guys (if only because many can't be moved) while incorporating the kind of young, athletic talent that Girardi has shown a knack for helping succeed.
He's certainly not afraid of the challenge of that 102-year thing, or the Chicago meat grinder that chewed and spit out Dusty Baker and that has its teeth firmly sunk into Piniella's backside.
''Every job in the majors as a manager has its challenges,'' Girardi said. ''I enjoyed playing there. I enjoyed playing day games. And I loved it.''
So what about a run at managing this thing? A shot at pulling off the last impossible task left in American major-league sports?
He certainly couldn't be blamed for staying in New York if the Yankees get that extension offer together. But if they don't, or they take long enough to make him sweat, and Piniella departs this year, then the Cubs can certainly be blamed if they don't pounce.
And if it's just a matter of Joe making it so?
''You're asking me hypotheticals, and I don't deal in hypotheticals,'' he said. ''I am under contract. I love what I do. And I love managing.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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In fact, Chicago favorite son Joe Girardi -- the man who got that New York job a year later -- still calls the Cubs' managing job attractive.
''It's a great city, it's a great baseball town, yeah,'' the Peoria native and originally drafted Cub says even now. Even with the confetti still occasionally falling from a sock or shirt sleeve after that latest World Series he presided over as the Yankees' second-year manager in October.
But would the Northwestern grad and All-Star Cubs catcher with four Yankees rings -- three as a player -- again consider tackling what might be the only great challenge in the game he hasn't already taken down in his young managing career.
Maybe even now?
What's certain is this: The 45-year-old who won a Manager of the Year award in Florida in his first season on the job and a World Series in New York in his third season as a manager (second with the Yanks) is not under contract beyond this season.
What's nearly as certain is that the Cubs will have a managerial opening after this season, whether because Piniella steps down, is not asked back or by some mutual decision.
And for all the attention and sentiment directed Ryne Sandberg's way by those speculating on Piniella's successor, it's hard to imagine a more suitable replacement than the other guy who played there, is from there, has succeeded at two different ends of the major-league managing spectrum and has commanded respect and performance from young teams in Florida as well as celebrity teams in New York.
''That's not something I would talk about now,'' he said. ''I grew up in Peoria. I grew up a Cub fan. But right now, I'm extremely happy where I'm at.''
No doubt. But while the Yankees can say all they want about waiting until after the season to address extensions for their manager and several key veteran players, the fact they haven't locked up Girardi for a few more years after last year's title shows a conspicuous lack of regard -- if not a lack of respect.
If the Cubs want to start playing with the big boys under new ownership, if they want to do things like their role models, the Boston Red Sox, if they want to beat the Yankees -- here's their chance.
Go after the guy who might be the best fit for a roster beyond this year that figures to retain several marquee salary guys (if only because many can't be moved) while incorporating the kind of young, athletic talent that Girardi has shown a knack for helping succeed.
He's certainly not afraid of the challenge of that 102-year thing, or the Chicago meat grinder that chewed and spit out Dusty Baker and that has its teeth firmly sunk into Piniella's backside.
''Every job in the majors as a manager has its challenges,'' Girardi said. ''I enjoyed playing there. I enjoyed playing day games. And I loved it.''
So what about a run at managing this thing? A shot at pulling off the last impossible task left in American major-league sports?
He certainly couldn't be blamed for staying in New York if the Yankees get that extension offer together. But if they don't, or they take long enough to make him sweat, and Piniella departs this year, then the Cubs can certainly be blamed if they don't pounce.
And if it's just a matter of Joe making it so?
''You're asking me hypotheticals, and I don't deal in hypotheticals,'' he said. ''I am under contract. I love what I do. And I love managing.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link
This is not some silly theory that's unsupported and deserves being mocked by photos of Xena. ![[Image: ITgoyeg.png]](http://i.imgur.com/ITgoyeg.png)