Chicago Cubs: Could 2019 be Joe Maddon’s last season with the Cubs?

Chicago Cubs: Girardi is not the answer here

Girardi was a fan favorite as a Cub, turned in a successful stint as the Yankees’ manager and had been tied to the Cubs as a possible managerial candidate on several occasions before Maddon assumed that role before the 2015 season.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

However, in New York, Girardi was supposedly let go because of a failure to communicate effectively with younger players, despite zero losing seasons, five 90-win seasons and a 103-win season that resulted in a World Series in 2009.  With the Marlins, despite winning National League Manager of the Year in 2006, he was fired after the season due to friction with Jeffrey Loria over heckling umpires.

Girardi, to put it plainly, is old school.  A lot of people like that.  A lot of fans like that. Owners and general managers across baseball seem to not like that. In fact, the trend of late has been to hire guys with little managerial experience who can function efficiently and effectively within the modern clubhouse.

This means lots of analytics, dealing with the “geeks” as Maddon would say, and connecting with young players who have become more and more prevalent in the modern game.  Two of the most recent noteworthy and successful hires, Aaron Boone (Girardi’s successor with the Yankees) and Alex Cora, had very little coaching/managerial experience, but are considered excellent communicators.  In other words, they’re a bit more “new-school” in their approach and ability to foster a rapport with a young clubhouse.