Regardless if the Yankees make another move, 2009 will be a huge season for Joe Girardi. After taking over for Joe Torre, Girardi was expected to bring a new style to the Yankees. Outside of his focus on team conditioning, last season was a complete washout for “General Joe”. His lack of communication with his players, testiness with the media, and some dubious in game management disappointed many who thought he was the perfect replacement for Torre. It’s no secret that Girardi can’t afford a slow start in 2009.  His competition may very well come from the Far East in the form of Bobby Valentine.

On December 21st, it was reported that the Chibe Lotte Marines would not extend the contract of former Mets manager Bobby Valentine. The 58 year old Valentine has flirted with professional baseball since his departure from the Mets in 2002. According to Jon Heyman, he nearly was given the Tampa job before Joe Maddon. There were also rumors of discussions with the Dodgers. We are putting the “cart before the horse” with this situation, but I believe Bobby V would be a great manager for the New York Yankees.

There is no doubt Valentine has his faults. He is brash, opinionated, and sometimes lacks a filter. If you look past the phony mustaches, “whartongate”, and his sarcastic demeanor there is a great baseball mind. Valentine was perhaps the best in game manager in Mets history. Very rarely could you question his decisions on the field. He had the innate ability to maximize player’s skills and put them in situations where they would be most successful. Think an old school baseball mind that uses sabermetrics. Numerous fringe players had their best major league seasons with Valentine. Need proof? Look at the stats of players such as Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton, Matt Franco, and Glendon Rusch. Remember, this is a man that won a pennant with Bubba Trammell, Jay Payton, and Timo Perez as his outfield. There has been a knock on his relationship with veterans. The only vets that will have problems are those that are unwilling to commit to winning team baseball.

Valentine already knows how to handle the media in New York. Working with the meddlesome Steve Phillips should have prepared him for the Steinbrenner/Cashman combination. The Yankees would be the perfect situation for a Bobby V comeback. If the Big city, big expectations, and a huge spotlight aren’t enough then the challenge alone will close the sale. Valentine never shies away from a challenge, and there would be no bigger one then the Yankees.

As mentioned, I am not ready to throw Joe Girardi overboard. The moves made this offseason should provide him with the “horses” to make the playoffs. Regardless of how he does it, making the playoffs is all that matters in the Bronx. However, those expectations come with great pressure- something that Girardi has yet to show an ability to manage. Keep an eye on Bobby Valentine; he might just be what the Yankees need in the near future.

Tags: Bobby Valentine, Joe Girardi, New York Mets, New York Yankees