AL NOTEBOOK
H. Steinbrenner Says Girardi Will Be Back
The Yankees are in danger of missing the playoffs under first-year manager Joe Girardi, above. "He's done everything he could. That's the bottom line," Hank Steinbrenner said.
(By Tony Gutierrez -- Associated Press)
TOOLBOX   Resize
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
|
The Yankees plan to retain Joe Girardi as their manager next year.
"Joe will be back," co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said yesterday at the club's spring training complex in Tampa. "He's done everything he could. That's the bottom line."
Girardi is in his first season managing the Yankees after agreeing to a three-year contract last October. The team likely will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but Girardi wasn't expected to be fired.
New York has been hit hard by injuries to ace Chien-Ming Wang, C Jorge Posada, RHP Joba Chamberlain and OF Hideki Matsui. The offense has struggled and the back end of the rotation has been largely ineffective.
Still to be resolved is who the Yankees general manager will be in 2009. Brian Cashman's contract is up this year, and Steinbrenner said discussions on a possible extension will take place after the season.
ยท SOLD ON PRODUCT: Red Sox owners, players and former IF Johnny Pesky greeted fans and handed out commemorative tickets to mark the team's record-breaking 456th straight regular season sellout before Boston's game against Tampa Bay.
"It's just incredible. It's hard to put into words. We have a deep appreciation with the loyalty of the fans," owner John Henry said.
Tim Wakefield, the longest tenured member of the team after coming to the Red Sox in 1995, also thanked fans for their support before one middle-aged female fan had a surprise for him.
"Thank you," she said as she leaned forward and kissed his left cheek.
The Red Sox began their streak on May 15, 2003, and broke the Indians' mark, set from June 12, 1995, to April 2, 2001, at Jacobs Field.
Three fans threw out ceremonial first pitches to David Ortiz, Wakefield and Mike Timlin.
