The Yankees Have Major Issues: Girardi Isn’t One Of Them

The Yankees had a tumultuous first week of spring training, in which many issues have come to light. Manager Joe Girardi,  while not be responsible for any of them, will be tasked with smoothing over the cracks on some. As if the manager needed more things to worry about.

The Yankees were struck a blow even before camp even officially opened, Tyler Austin fouled a ball off of his foot and will be out at least six weeks. Austin, who was competing for time at both first base and the outfield, will most likely start the season in extended spring training. He got to camp early, started working hard, and for doing the right thing, gets sidelined. It happens in baseball.

Later that week, special instructor and Hall of Fame pitcher Rich Gossage, as his custom, went off on a variety of topics. None of which were necessary at all. Last year he took issue with bat flippers. This time, in an expletive-laced rant, he denigrated the credentials of one of the classiest Yankees to put on a uniform.

It seems old Goose finds it insulting to be mentioned alongside the likes of Mariano Rivera and Aroldis Chapman. After referring to each as “one-inning guys,” Goose then expressed his displeasure about an award being named after Rivera, who most consider the best closer of his time.

If you take out the insults and the cursing, what you can take away is this: the game was played differently in the 70’s and 80’s. Thanks a lot for the information Goose. We couldn’t have figured that out without your “special” instruction.

Yankees President Levine Chimes In

Not to be outdone, Yankee President Randy Levine called a press conference after beating reliever Dellin Betances in arbitration. Over a mere two million dollars, Levine gloated his victory to anyone who would listen.

He also bashed Betances’ agents and suggested that the young pitcher was used in some conspiracy to jack up prices for set up men. You can’t make this stuff up.

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It’s bad enough that the Yankee President couldn’t even get one of his star players names right during the hearing. Levine had to do the unnecessary and call a press conference rubbing it in Betances’ face. I doubt other teams do such things.

As others have speculated, this is not a good image for the most famous franchise in sports. Young players could be thinking “is this what I have to look forward to? Getting bashed during arbitration and having to hear the front office repeat it to the press? I have to listen to some old guy tell me how much tougher it was in his day?”

That doesn’t even touch on how other players, future free agents might perceive it. In another time, around the late 80’s, players were taking less money to play anywhere else. Several had made it clear that they had no intention of playing in “that Zoo.” While they obviously fixed that, they are in danger of repeating history, and it’s not a good history.

Yankees Manager Is Being Targeted

The Yankees have some problems right now. Problems that are not Joe Girardi’s fault. I have this strange sneaking suspicion that he’ll be the one to blame if the team falls out of contention. This time, it’s not his fault in the slightest.

Right now, the Yankees front office has one foot in and one foot out. While stating that they are in a rebuilding mode, they also expect to contend. They have several question marks all around the diamond. Either rebuild or contend, but you can’t do both. Try to focus on something for a change.

So get ready for another season in which the Yankees sell their past and promise their future. Presently, there is a lot of excitement regarding their younger players.

With a team President bashing a young star player and an invited special instructor bashing everyone else, who would want to spend their career surrounded by negativity?

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Joe Girardi is the least of the Yankees problems going into 2017. Hopefully, he can fix some of the major ones which were caused by someone else. If things go wrong this season, it’s Levine who should be axed, not Girardi. Perhaps they should tell Goose to stay home next spring as well.