Unexpected return
Girardi says trip to Yankee Stadium will be odd, but he’s looking forward to it
Joe Girardi wasn’t expecting to get a welcome back to Yankee Stadium this season. The former Bombers manager who is in his first season as the skipper of the Phillies was not initially scheduled to see the Yankees in the regular season for a few more years.
And then the country and baseball shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic and everything was shuffled in an attempt to get baseball back. Now Girardi and the Phillies will not only see the Yankees four times in the regular season — including the Yankees’ home opener in the Bronx — but also for an exhibition game July 20 at Yankee Stadium.
“I think it’ll be odd because I’m not used to going in the other dugout or the other locker room. It will be really good to get back and see people that I know,” said Girardi, who managed the Yankees to their last World Series win in 2009 and was fired after the 2017 season. “I look forward to seeing Lou [Cucuzza] on the other side in the clubhouse. I remain friends with Lou and talk to him on a regular basis. But it would be good to get back.
“But it’s gonna be a little bit different. I have to make sure I don’t turn into the wrong door when I come down the stairs, and I think we do come in a different way as the visiting team so that should help out. I won’t lead, I will follow to make sure I go to the right place.”
Girardi managed the Yankees for 10 years, winning one pennant and one World Series. The 2009 title was obviously the highlight for Girardi, who also caught for the Yankees during his playing days.
Any bad blood between the former manager and the club seems to have subsided. Girardi said that GM Brian
Cashman and he had made amends and new Yankees manager Aaron Boone had reached out and thanked him for all the work he did developing what is now Boone’s lineup.
Girardi rehashed the relationship when the Phillies were at George M. Steinbrenner Field to face the Yankees this spring. He received a standing ovation from Yankees fans that night, which he appreciated.
It will have to do for now since the home opener will be without fans at this point.
“I don’t think it will feel odd [not having fans] because sometimes as much you feel like it’s really appreciated, it’s a little bit uncomfortable because you don’t know how to really act when you get a standing ovation in the opposing stadium,” Girardi said. “I think it’s in a lot of ways, it’s really nice. And I got a lot of cheers we played the Yankees in spring training I was very appreciative. But it’s a little uncomfortable at times because you don’t know how to act.”