Girardi interviews for return to Cubs, but as a skipper

by user 71.193.209.86

On Monday October 9th, former Cubs Joe Girardi interviewed with Cubs GM Jim Hendry, for the recently opened Cubs manager position after the firing of former manager Dusty Baker. Girardi and Hendry met early in the afternoon and talk for the better part of the day. Hendry said. "I thought it went very well."

Last season, Girardi was the manager of the young Florida Marlins leading them to a very unexpected 78-84 records. This was great for a team that shipped away about 60% of its players from the year before, had a payroll of less than $15 Million (New York Yankees payroll is 198,662,180) giving them the lowest in the league by over $20 million, and had a lineup loaded with rookies. This accomplishment earned Joe the notoriety of being one of the leading candidates for manager of the year. But that 78-84 record was not enough for the people in Florida, and Girardi was fired after only one year of managing.

Joe Girardi is a native of Peoria, Ill., and former Northwestern University student. He was a catcher for the Cubs from 1989-92 and 2000-02. After he retired from playing in 2003 he joined the New York Yankees as a bench coach in 2005.