Joe Girardi prefers not to uproot his family---NY Times

""“Do you know how badly I want to manage?"” he said. "“I want to manage so badly. But I don'’t want to move my family a third time in three years."

As Girardi sat in the corner of a coffee shop here, he spoke carefully and, at times, emotionally.

• At first, Girardi was praised for his work. But after his argument with Loria, Girardi was portrayed as a control freak. Three weeks after the argument, The Sun-Sentinel of South Florida, quoting anonymous sources, reported that in spring training Girardi wanted to move Miguel Cabrera from third base to first, shift Dan Uggla from second base to left field, use outfielder Josh Willingham at catcher and send the starters Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco to the minor leagues.

(Isn't Josh Johnson the one Girardi supposedly overused because he was so good? Where is the sportswriter/owner's tool to explain that one?)sm

While Girardi refused to discuss what had been internal evaluations, he seemed to express doubt that he made those recommendations by saying: "I don'’t want to get into "He said, he said."’ That doesn'’t do anyone any good."”

• It would be unlikely that Girardi, the Yankees bench coach in 2005, would accept a coaching position with the Yankees. As much as Girardi reveres Manager Joe Torre, he would probably view coaching as a step backward. "I believe I'll manage again,"” Girardi said.

For now, communications may be Girardi's full-time job. Steve Mandel, Girardi's agent, said there could be broadcasting positions available for Girardi, who has worked for Fox and the YES Network and could return to one or both outlets.

• After Girardi agreed to a three-year, $2.1 million contract with the Marlins, he was told they wanted to trade Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell and lower their payroll to $45 million from $56 million. But they also made more jarring reductions.

Florida shed Delgado and Lowell in addition to Josh Beckett, Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre, Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota. Several other players signed elsewhere. Girardi, who had turned down a better offer from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, was left with a $15 million team filled with youngsters. "“I believe the landscape changed from what it was originally going to be and I was misled a bit," he said. "“But I'’m O.K. with that."”"

From the article by Jack Curry, NY Times, 10/25/06

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