Joe Girardi Should Be Fired on the Spot!

You know I’ve been one of the bigger Joe Girardi supporters since taking over for Joe Torre as the manager of the New York Yankees, although that doesn’t mean I haven’t reamed him a new one just like anyone else at times, but I have to say I am a tad bit disappointed in him lately. Maybe disappointed isn’t the word, maybe disgusted? I really don’t know and it’s odd for me to be speechless as you all may already know and I think I’m so beyond angry and frustrated that I don’t even want to rant and rave about it. I just want him fired, effective immediately. 

Alex is not the poster child for Major League Baseball like Derek Jeter was or Mariano Rivera was but he in no way, shape or form deserves this level of treatment from the Yankees and from Joe specifically. Joe fills out the lineup card and Joe either has it out for Alex, he’s managing for his job or both because in the grand scheme of things these games are meaningless. The message you sent to a long time Yankee and any potential free agent that is watching this and wondering if he should come to New York is the exact opposite of meaningless, it’s everything. 

Not that the Yankees tend to get into the deep end of the free agent pool lately, and not that money isn’t the ultimate motivator for many anyway, but if I am a Bryce Harper or a Manny Machado or an equivalent free agent that had any inkling of an idea that I wanted to come to New York this whole circus and the way Alex is being treated has to leave a sour taste in your mouth, no? It’s leaving a sour taste in my mouth and I’m just a regular guy with a blog so imagine what other players are thinking right about now. 

Joe Girardi has gone on record many times saying that it is not in his job description to run a farewell tour yet he had no issues doing so for Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Now granted Rivera went out still pitching like the great arm that he was but Jeter was a far cry from the 2012 version of himself when he finally walked away. He was an automatic double play ball almost every time he had someone on base and yet he continually batted second each and every game. And yeah, Joe said the same things about the farewell tour but what Joe said and what Joe did were two different things. This time around with Alex it almost seems personal and that, Mr. Girardi, isn’t in your job description either. Your job description includes winning games and if you think throwing Aaron Hicks out there every day while Alex sits on the bench just a handful of home runs away from 700 then you should just turn in your uniform and your iPad binder now. You’re fired. 

You’re a disgrace Joe and you don’t deserve to wear the Yankees pinstripes any longer. Be gone. Oh and Randy Levine, who undoubtedly at least threw his opinion into the mix because it is no secret that he and Alex are not exactly fond of each other, get a haircut and be gone as well. We don’t want you and we, you know the fans paying your salary and Joe’s salary and Alex’s salary and everyone else’s damn salary, don’t need you either. Goodbye. 

Alex Rodriguez’s Final Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays 8/12

Here we go Yankees family. In a little over seven hours the first pitch will be thrown in the final game of Alex Rodriguez’s long, illustrious and tumultuous career. It’s only fitting that Alex retire with his final game coming in the Bronx but it begs the question, could he not have waited until tomorrow? I mean he has worn #13 since joining the Yankees back in 2004 and tomorrow is the 13^th but I doubt he put that much thought and effort into it. I’m a numbers guy so I did. Anyway tonight the Yankees will begin a series with the Tampa Bay Rays with Chris Archer taking the mound to face Alex and the bombers. Opposing Archer for the Yankees will be CC Sabathia. I know Alex is far from Derek Jeter, and in some ways and in some circles that may be a good thing, but you have to think he does something tonight, right? Hits a home run, drives in the game-winning RBI, something. I can’t see our last image of Alex Rodriguez being a four strikeout game and being pinch hit or pinch run for late in the game. Wishful thinking maybe, I don’t know.

Sabathia has hit a skid lately after starting off the season so well which is evident by the fact that the veteran lefty has logged just one victory in his last nine starts. During that time period Sabathia has posted a 1-5 record with a 6.62 ERA and in the two starts in that span that came in the month of August Sabathia has yet to make it out of the sixth inning. All that mixed with the fact that he is facing off against Chris Archer could make this a long game tonight for New York and their fans.

Archer heads into this start fresh off a victory over the Minnesota Twins last time out where he threw six quality innings for the Rays. In Archer’s last five starts he has lasted at least seven innings in three of them despite leading Major League Baseball in losses with 15. That’s definitely more a product of the offense and defense behind him though and less to do with the fact that Archer just hasn’t pitched all that well.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, FOX and MLB TV. Alex has had 15 at bats against Archer in his career heading into tonight’s contest and has just two hits and three RBI against the Rays ace, both of those hits were home runs though. His stats against Archer are not impressive to be fair, a .133 batting average against the righty is evidence of that, but to be fair who has hit Archer well in their careers? Probably not many. One last time Mr. Rodriguez, leave it all out on the field. The fans will appreciate it and so will the team. One last time. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Jorge Mateo & Alex Rodriguez

As the New York Yankees say hello to a plethora of prospects over the next couple of months and years the bittersweet reality is they will have to say goodbye to a few as well. It’s simple mathematics. You only have 40 available roster spots and 25 active roster spots and when you want to call up one of your top prospects, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin or today’s showcase check in Jorge Mateo for example, you have to let a few go in order to accommodate. Today the Yankees say goodbye to Alex Rodriguez as he rides off into the sunset leaving his playing career behind so possibly the Yankees can welcome someone in his place.

So let’s get nostalgic with the past and bring you Alex Rodriguez’s career stats as they stand today:

Year	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
22 Yrs	2782	12199	2021	3114	547	696	2084	329	1338	2285	.295	.380	.550	.930	140

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

And let’s bring you something to look forward to with the stats of Jorge Mateo:

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	21	Tampa	92	415	55	97	11	8	44	29	28	91	.257	.308	.392	.700

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This is going to be an emotional night for many but maybe none more than me. I love Alex and I mean that. I loved him in Seattle, loved him in Texas, loved him after his interview with Peter gammons admitting steroid use, loved him after he slapped the glove of a Boston Red Sox player, loved him after Biogenesis and loved him even after he opted out of his contract during the World Series. I’m going to miss him and by the end of the day I think you’ll fully realize that.

This is Alex Rodriguez Day here on the blog. Everyone stand up.