It’s been an interesting 2021 season for Joe Girardi.
The former Yankees manager, who was fired after the 2017 season because the team lacked “connectivity and communication,” has certainly made his feelings known this season with the Phillies.
And those feelings are mostly anger.
Girardi landed the Phillies job before the 2020 season after the Mets chose to hire Carlos Beltran after a lengthy interview process.
The season prior to Girardi’s hiring, Philadelphia went 81-81 and he has not exactly gotten them over the hump. Philadelphia finished 28-32 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and are 34-36 thus far this season.
A middling record has not been short on Girardi highlights, though.
Sticky Scherzer battle
On Tuesday night, the 56-year-old requested umpires check the Nationals’ Max Scherzer for illegal sticky substances because Girardi thought it was “suspicious” that the ace touched his hair. This check occurred in the middle of the fourth inning and was Scherzer’s third check of the game.
Following the fifth inning, the pitcher glared at Girardi, who responded by screaming at the opposing dugout and wildly waving his hands. Girardi was promptly ejected from the game thereafter.
While the skipper claims there was no malicious intent, the three-time Cy Young Award winner felt otherwise, leading him to mock Girardi by holding up his glove and hat, in case the manager wanted another check.
“I’m not playing games, I’m trying to win games here,” Girardi said. “I have respect for what Max has done in his career, but I have to do what’s right for our team.”
No, you’re outta here
In an April 26 game against the Cardinals, Girardi was ejected, but only after ejecting pitcher Génesis Cabrera and an umpire — calls that he has no right to make.
Cabrera’s first pitch, a 97-mph fastball, hit Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper square in the face. As a result of his injuries, Harper had to leave the game. Cabrera’s next pitch, at 94 mph, struck shortstop Didi Gregorius’ ribs.
Both teams were issued warnings by the umpire after the second incident, which pushed Girardi over the edge and led him to take action.
The umpires were quick to eject Girardi, who had to be escorted back to the dugout as he continued to yell at the umpires. As he left the game, Girardi shouted, “Throw the ball over the f–king plate” toward Cabrera.
In his own dugout
Girardi’s vitriol has also been shot toward his own players, too. During a May 16 game against the Blue Jays, Jean Segura had to be restrained by bench coach Dusty Wathan in a dugout fight with Girardi. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Segura made his second error of the night, prompting the altercation.
The skipper refused to answer any questions about the fight. “Next question,” Girardi said. “I’m not going to talk about it. Next question. You got a baseball question? Ask me a baseball question.”
Lies!
Perhaps Girardi’s most bizarre decision of the season did not involve any yelling, or even an ejection. Prior to a May 25 game against the Marlins, Girardi admittedly lied about the possibility of Harper pinch-hitting for a “competitive advantage.” However, reporters pointed out that Harper wasn’t even wearing a jersey in the dugout.
After being asked about his decision, Girardi announced that the Phillies would be instituting a policy where they would not reveal any information prior to a game.
“Just so you guys know: We’re going to approach this different,” Girardi said after the game, per The Athletic. “I’ve talked to people in our organization. Just a manager’s decision. And I’m not going to share anything — who’s available, who’s not available — because I think it’s somewhat unfair to us.”