It is too early for Phillies fans to panic, but one person who may be nervous is Joe Girardi, the team’s manager.
Girardi, who started managing the Phillies in 2020 under a three year contract, has lost more games that won, so far, during his tenure in Philadelphia (114-119). In his first 11 games with the team this season, he used 11 lineups in 11 games to forge a record of 4-7.
The great hitting that was supposed to be the Phillies’ strongest suit is sputtering.
In six of the team’s first 11 games, it scored three runs or less.
At the same time, the club’s starting rotation had only one Quality Start. A Quality Start is defined as a game in which the starting pitcher completes at least six innings without permitting more than three earned runs.
Girardi, an ex-catcher with the Cubs, Yankees, Rockies, and Cardinals, has not had a plate appearance in the Big Leagues since he retired as a player after the 2003 season but the anemic hitting of the Phillies is feeding the calls for his head by some media personalities and fans.
It is nothing new for the 57-year-old manager to pilot a club without a guaranteed contract beyond his current year at the helm. He did this in 2010 when he was with the Yankees notwithstanding leading the team to a World Series victory over the Phillies in 2009. Girardi’s contract was extended before the 2011 season and he proceeded to manage the Bronx Bombers till the end of the 2017 campaign.
Girardi is on the hot seat not only because expectations for the Phillies is high among the fan base, but also because the executives at Citizens Bank Park are anxious. The Phillies spent a lot of money on new players for this season and they want a quick return on their investment. Those investments were made by General Manager Dave Dombrowski, who did not hire Girardi to manage the club. Girardi was anointed Manager of the Phillies by Matt Klentak, who was fired as General Manager not too long after that hire. Despite what Dromborwski may say, General Managers prefer to run their luck with their own field generals.
It is not fair that Girardi is in the perfect position to be the Phillies’ sacrificial lamb if the team keeps underperforming. It is not fair because Girardi has not had a real chance to lead the Phillies without the limitations that COVID-19 has imposed on all human interactions everywhere on the planet. Managing is more than just strategy; it is also about getting the most out of your players psychologically.
It is too early to call the executioner. Despite the Phillies’ hitting woes, their artillery has shown some potential. Philadelphia led the Mayors in doubles (25) and were almost hitting a home run per game: 10 homers in their first 11 games.
Girardi’s luck is in his player’s hands. Fate shuffles the cards for the manger, but the hitters and pitchers are the ones that play them.
