Ex-Yankees manager Joe Girardi is favorite for a sudden managerial opening

by Felix Pantaleón

After being kicked to the curb by the Yankees when his contract expired, Joe Girardi has been waiting for his next job. He might have found it with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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After being kicked to the curb by the Yankees when his contract expired because he wasn’t the hugging type, Joe Girardi has been waiting for the next team who needed an old-school manager, not a new-age bench buddy.

He might have found one with the St. Louis Cardinals.

After the Cardinals’ 8-2 loss on Saturday to the Cincinnati Reds that dropped the Cardinals to 47-46, manager Mike Matheny was canned.

And the Cardinals, 7.5 games behind the Cubs in the N.L. Central, apparently aren’t looking for a guy who will give his players neck rubs and hugs.

According to reports, the leading candidate is Girardi, who was dumped by the Yankees after taking them to the American League Championship Series, which ended in a seven-game loss to the Houston Astros, the eventual world champions.

Joe Girardi now favorite to replace Matheny

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 15, 2018

However, the rap against Girardi — that he was too aloof, wouldn’t coddle younger players and didn’t embrace analytics enough — will follow him to St. Louis, even though he won a championship with the Yankees in 2009, nearly reached the World Series with overachieving youngsters and is one of the best at manipulating a bullpen.

If you go back and read the reporting on why Joe Girardi was sacked by the Yankees, you wouldn’t be so quick to assume he’s the right guy in STL. The ability to communicate-connect with young players, and all kinds of players, will be a priority in choosing next STL manager.

— Bernie Miklasz (@miklasz) July 15, 2018

While the Cardinals shop for a new manager (translation: get Girardi signed), bench coach Mike Shildt was named interim manager. Matheny was shoved out the door and told to take hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller with him.

If Girardi is hired by the Cardinals, history will link him to another former Yankees manager: This marks the first time the Cardinals have changed managers during a season since 1995, when Joe Torre was replaced by Mike Jorgensen.

In the meantime, the debate will rage:

Was told before season if #stlcards move on from Matheny that Mozeliak is a fan of Girardi. Will be interesting if Girardi gets job or is deemed too similar to Matheny: intense ex-catcher who does not mix great with media.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 15, 2018