5 potential replacements for Joe Maddon as Chicago Cubs manager
1. Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi is getting back into managing with Team USA. But qualifying and next summer’s Olympic games in Tokyo is situated around the MLB offseason, and the former Yankees manager has already said he has permission to listen to any opportunities that may come his way.
"I’ve signed on (with USA Baseball) to do the whole thing,” Girardi said in a conference call with reporters last Thursday, a day after he was named to the position. “(But) I will hear (any offers from MLB teams) out. I have permission to hear them out, yes."
Girardi is a Peoria, Illinois native, he was drafted by the Cubs and spent the early part of his playing career with the team. After pulling out of consideration for the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers jobs last year, MLB insider Jon Heyman cited “industry speculation” that Girardi was waiting for the Cubs job to come open.
Girardi surprised reds by pulling out Friday. He had a chance to win job at that point but they never got to point of talking money with him. He also pulled out of rangers derby. Industry speculation: he’s waiting a year on Chicago
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 21, 2018
For those who are critics of one or both guys, our friends at Da Windy City cited some examples of how Girardi has similar managerial tendencies as Maddon earlier this season:
-Attempts to steal second base: 8.3 percent (Girardi)/9.0 percent (Maddon)
-Sac bunts: 2.0 percent (Girardi)/1.7 percent (Maddon)
-Intentional walks: 0.5 percent (Girardi and Maddon)
-Pinch-hitters per game: 0.7/1.0
-Pitchers per game: 3.9/4.1
dark. Next. 5 teams who could make offseason deal for Mookie Betts
The logistics of his commitment to Team USA looking to next summer could get hairy, but that should not keep Girardi and the Cubs apart. He surely wants to manage the team, and if they end up having to replace Maddon they should want him.