Written By Dan Martin and Kevin Kernan at New York Post.com
On the day Joe Girardi was dismissed by the Yankees, some of his players offered praise, like David Robertson and even Gary Sanchez, who had been benched during the season by the manager.
But Mark Teixeira, who played for Girardi from 2009 to 2016, criticized his former manager for being too tense and not connecting enough with his players.
“We all know why Joe Girardi is not coming back,” Teixeira told The Post on Thursday at Minute Maid Park. “We all know it’s because of the communication and the intensity was a little bit too much. [General manager Brian Cashman] did an amazing job rebuilding this roster. He just wanted a different voice.’’
A voice that is heard more frequently in the clubhouse.
“Everyone loves Joe, everyone respects Joe, he is a good manager, he is a good man,” said Teixeira, who now works for ESPN. “But with baseball the way it is played today and the need for a manager to be a better communicator and communicate with the front office the reasoning for doing things and to be a little bit more relaxed — especially in a place like New York, where the pressure is everywhere. He just wasn’t the best man for the job anymore.”
Apparently, the Yankees felt the same way.
“The communication and the highs and lows of the season weren’t Joe’s best assets and he will probably tell you that. He manages every game like it’s Game 7.”
Teixeira believes that caught up to his former manager.
Derek Jeter, who played for and with Girardi, called the news of his departure “unfortunate.”
“He’s probably one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and it’s unfortunate, but this is a business,” said Jeter, who recently became part-owner of the Marlins. “You learn that,’’ Jeter said at the Fast Company Innovation Festival at the 92nd Street Y. “I think when you first come up as an athlete, as a professional athlete, when you’re younger, you’re just playing the game. The longer you play, you realize this is starting to become a business. So there’s some things at times are unpopular or not popular, but it’s part of the business.’’
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