On Friday, June 3rd, 2022 the Philadelphia Phillies have fired their veteran manager, Joe Girardi, according to the president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, Dave Dombrowski.
The Under-Performing Philadelphia Phillies
The decision was ultimately made after the Philadelphia Phillies began the 2022 MLB season with an overall record of 22 and 29. The Philadelphia Phillies have lost 7 of their past 9 – ball games, and they are currently resting in 3rd – place in the National League East division of Major League Baseball, 12 – games behind the 1st – place of the NL East, New York Mets.
“It has been a frustrating season for us up until this point, as we feel that our club has not played up to its capabilities,” the Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski explained. “While all of us share the responsibility for the shortcomings, I felt that a change was needed and that a new voice in the clubhouse would give us the best chance to turn things around.”
After the Philadelphia Phillies made this serious announcement, Girardi still made his usual appearance on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio, and he had this to say, “We underperformed and that falls on me. This is what happens.” Girardi noted struggles in the bullpen and some slow offensive starts as some of the explanation for the, “number of reasons we didn’t win.”
“I think you can overcome, sometimes, one thing, maybe even two, but sometimes when it’s more than that, I think it’s somewhat difficult,” the former manager of the Philadelphia Phillies Joe Girardi stated. “… I just pray that they, you know, get better and they get to the playoffs.“
The now 57 – year – old Girardi, had managed the Philadelphia Phillies for the last 3 – MLB seasons, putting together a below average record of 132 and 141 as the Philadelphia Phillies continue to make their first MLB playoff appearance since the 2011 MLB season.
In 14 seasons as a major league manager for the Florida / Miami Marlins, the New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies, Girardi is 1,120 and 935, and he won a World Series with the New York Yankees back in 2009.
Another Firing for the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies assistant coach, Bobby Meacham, was also let go on Friday, June 3rd, 2022. Meacham had joined the team with Girardi back in 2020.
Huge Payroll with very Little Success
The Philadelphia Phillies presently carry a $224 million payroll. They also possess the 2021 National League Most Valuable Player Award recipient in Bryce Harper as well as the National League Cy Young Award runner – up Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, All – Star catcher J. T. Realmuto, and the free – agent additions such as the sluggers Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. Despite all that talent, the Philadelphia Phillies have not won the World Series since 2008, and they have witnessed their fan interest heavily recede over the course of a decade – plus of basically just mediocre baseball.
Harper has been plagued most of the 2022 MLB season with right forearm soreness, and he was forced to give up right field in order to play only as a designated hitter. The Philadelphia Phillies 2nd – baseman Jean Segura is out for up to approximately 3 – months with a fractured right index finger also. The Philadelphia Phillies are currently 12 and 15 at home and are 4 and 10 in 1 – run ball games this year.
The Replacement Manager for the Joe Girardi Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies bench coach, Rob Thomson, will serve as the ball club’s interim manager for the remainder of the 2022 MLB season, while their quality assurance coach, Mike Calitri, was then promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies new bench coach.
“I believe we have a talented group that can get back on track, and I am confident that Rob, with his experience and familiarity with our club, is the right man to lead us going forward,” Dombrowski goes on to say.
Thomson has been with the Philadelphia Phillies since the 2018 MLB season. Rob previously spent 28 – years in the New York Yankees organization, including 10 – seasons when Girardi was the manager of the New York Yankees from 2008 to 2017.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity and I appreciate the confidence Dave has shown in me,” the Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson expressed. “Having said that, this is an emotional day for me, having worked so closely with Joe for so many years. This has been my home now for the last five years and I care deeply about this franchise, this city, our players, our coaches, our staff and our fans. I am ready to lead this team and look forward to getting to work and turning this around.“
Thomson’s 1st – game this Friday, June 3rd, 2022 will be against the struggling Los Angeles Angels squad that has lost 8 – consecutive games overall as well as losing 6 – games in a row on the road.
The Future for Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi has a lot of Major League Baseball experience as a player and a manager throughout his professional baseball career. He was also very successful in both of those roles, and it was only a matter of time until he was given another opportunity to coach in the big leagues once again if he would like to do so.
Joe Girardi’s Coaching and Managerial Experience
As Joe Girardi’s days a Major League Baseball player came to an end in 2003 it did not take long for him to find a way to stay involved in the game that he loves. In 2004 he was a broadcaster for the YES Network. By 2005 he signed on as the bench coach of the New York Yankees under the highly successful Joe Torre who was the manager of the Yankees at that time and had managed Girardi when he played for the New York Yankees.
By 2006 the Florida Marlins hired Joe Girardi to manage their ball club replacing their former manager, Jack McKeon. Joe Girardi did a fabulous job leading that team to a record of 78 – 84 and contended for a wild card spot in the 2006 MLB postseason. He was able to accomplish this level of success with very little resources as the Florida Marlins had the lowest payroll in the majors at that time.
He won the National League Manager of the Year Award in 2006 for his immediate impact and for turning around a struggling franchise. Despite these accomplishments Girardi got into fights with the owner of the Florida Marlins, Jeffrey Loria, and he was fired as their manager after only 1 – season.
Joe Girardi got his second chance to manage as the New York Yankees and Joe Torre went their separate ways following the 2007 MLB season. Girardi managed the New York Yankees from 2008 to 2017. He won the World Series with the Yankees as a manger in 2009. He did a fabulous job as the head coach of the historic New York Yankees franchise, but in 2017 his contract expired and the Yankees decided not to extend his contract as they brought in Aaron Boone to take Girardi’s place managing the Yankees. Boone is currently still their man in New York for now.
As the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies over the past 3 – MLB seasons Girardi compiled an overall record of 132 and 141. Throughout his time as the head coach of the Philadelphia Phillies Joe was unable to lead his team to the Major League Baseball postseason as the Philadelphia Phillies have not made it to the MLB playoffs since the 2011 season.
Unfortunately for Girardi no matter how good of a manager you are, if you have the type of talent and payroll that the Philadelphia Phillies there is no excuse for not making it to the MLB playoffs over the course of 3 or 4 – big – league seasons.
Girardi’s Career as a Major League Baseball Player
Joe Girardi was a catcher with several MLB franchises over his long career including the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and the Saint Louis Cardinals. He played in the big leagues from 1989 to 2003. Throughout his time playing professional baseball he was well respected for his leadership as well as his production on the field day in and day out.
Girardi helped guide the New York Yankees to three World Series Championships (1996, 1998, 1999) as a player and then another World Series championship later on as their manager in 2009. He was selected to the Major League Baseball All Star game in 2000.