NewsGirardi cut managerial teeth in NL
Skipper familiar with Phillies from year leading Marlins
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/27/09 10:00 PM EST
MIAMI -- As a first-year manager in 2006, Joe Girardi quickly developed the reputation for embracing his players while keeping his thoughts close to the vest publicly.
In his lone season managing the Marlins, Girardi guided a roster that featured more than 20 rookies over the course of the year. It was a difficult challenge, especially with the team sporting a league-low $15 million payroll.
Yet, despite facing long odds, the Marlins finished a respectable 78-84, fourth in the National League East. The young squad had talent. Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Josh Johnson were among the rookies then.
Many felt the Marlins would lose well over 100 games, and they appeared headed that way. In late May, they fell to 20 games under .500, but by Sept. 11, they made a remarkable turnaround, reaching 73-71. But Florida stumbled in the final weeks and ended up with a losing record.
After having a fallout with upper management, Girardi was replaced by Fredi Gonzalez two days after the season ended.
It was with the Marlins three years ago that Girardi first managed against the Phillies.
On Wednesday night, the skipper will meet up with the Phillies in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. In his second season as Yankees manager, Girardi will be matched up against many of the Phillies who were with the franchise in '06.
One constant Girardi showed all season as Marlins manager was his knack for remaining the same every day, regardless of the opponent.
"We didn't do anything different as far as preparation when we played the Phillies," said Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham, a rookie with the Marlins in '06. "We had the exact same meetings for the Phillies as we did when we played the Nationals. We'd go over the pitchers as hitters. That's all that we did."
The '06 Marlins staff had mixed results against the Phillies trio of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
Rollins was held in check, as he was limited to a .217 batting average (15-for-69), but he scored 13 times in 16 games.
Utley, however, had a big '06 against the Marlins -- batting .373 (28-for-75) with seven homers, 19 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
The player who gave Girardi's Marlins the most trouble was Howard, the slugger who pounded out nine home runs and drove in 21 runs in the season series. Howard added a .481 batting average (26-for-54) and a 1.074 slugging percentage.
Girardi was 41 when he managed the Marlins. A few years removed from his playing days, Girardi instilled his own work ethic onto his players.
"I think one of Joe's biggest pluses is, he just always encouraged us to work hard," Willingham said. "He was the type of guy who would be in the weight room as much or more than the players.
"He would set an example that way. He was always visible working out, and working hard, in general. He was always really positive. I think that helped us out as young players as much as anything. He just had a very good way of relating to the players. He tried to build relationships with every player. One of the biggest things is he knew his players, and he put us in a position to succeed."
What Girardi was thinking, he rarely showed publicly, or even privately to those regularly around the team. He kept a distance from those close to the team, much more so than many managers. In terms of strategy, he wouldn't say much even in private settings.
"I think he managed his team pretty much the same way, every day," said Marlins radio announcer Dave Van Horne, who has more than 40 years experience broadcasting in the big leagues. "I can't even remember in pitching matchups, when the Marlins would go up against a really good pitcher, I can't recall whether they changed things -- whether they did more bunting early in the game, or played small-ball early. Or whether they tried to get an early lead on a night that might not produce many runs.
"I don't remember those strategic things they might have done in a series, whether it was against Roy Oswalt or Cole Hamels. Joe never would say."
Florida faced Philadelphia 19 times in 2006, winning just six.
While the results weren't what the club wanted, Marlins players always felt they were in the same class as the Phillies or New York Mets, who won the division that year.
"Joe didn't allow us to feel inferior with the best teams in the league," Willingham said. "I think he kind of instilled a mind-set in us that we were Major League players, even though we didn't have a lot of experience. He expected us to go out, execute and play like we were in the big leagues like we were eight- or 10-year veterans. I think that was the way he went about his business, and it rubbed off on us."
Similar to the approach Girardi took with the Marlins against the Phillies, Phils manager Charlie Manuel did not change his style against the Yankees when the teams met in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium in May. Manuel had Matt Stairs as his designated hitter with right-hander A.J. Burnett on the mound. He had Raul Ibanez DH against left-handers Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia, which allowed Manuel to play John Mayberry Jr. in right field.
Manuel already said Ibanez likely would DH in Game 1 of the World Series against Sabathia. Ben Francisco could play left field.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
