New York Daily News

Girardi: No time to watch Yankees

- BY JOHN HEALY

The Yankees may be the hottest team in baseball but former manager Joe Girardi is not exactly keeping close tabs on them.

The ex-Yankees skipper said at the BTIG Charity Day on Tuesday that his personal life has kept him away from closely watching his former team.

“I really don’t get a chance to watch a lot,” he said. “My life is busy . ... I’m very involved with my wife and kids. I’m going to go see a baseball game tomorrow. I’ve seen five basketball games over the last weekend, so I don’t get a chance to sit down and watch a lot of games. Kids have a way of taking you away from the TV.”

Girardi, 53, said he is making the most of his time away from baseball, but he is still involved with the game.

He is doing occasional work for MLB Network and will also be putting on his coaching hat again this summer, teaming up with Raul Ibanez as the two will coach their teenage sons in a Florida summer league.

“Raul’s son plays the outfield, my son infield and we’re going to help coach,” he said. “I told Raul he’s the manager. I don’t want to be the manager. I’ll let you make the tough decisions.”

Yet Girardi would not mind making the tough decisions again at some point. When the Yankees and Girardi parted ways last fall, most of the managerial positions had already been filled, but he is keeping an open mind about the future.

“I would like to do it again,” he said. “But you know, we’ll see what happens.”

Girardi missed the playoffs three times in 10 years as the Yankees manager, winning one World Series and coming within a game of the World Series last season.

Despite not getting the chance to complete that task with the current squad, Girardi says he still roots for the Yankees to do well.

“Yeah, I pull for them. These guys were a big part of my life the last 10 years,” he said. “I mean you develop relationsh­ips. Yeah, you pull for people. I want to see the guys do well.”

Girardi added he has no regrets over the way he managed or any decisions he made while with the Yankees.

“I did what I thought was best at the time,” he said. “I gave everything I had and they went a different direction.”

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