Girardi is facing tremendous pressure as the MLB opens for the season. His star player, Alex Rodriguez was still recuperating from a hip injury and staying out of the limelight for a while. A-Rod had been making the headlines since February when the results of the random drug test were leaked which was followed by his admission on ESPN that he was using performance enhancing drugs.
Barely 2 years managing the Yankees, Girardi had gone through a lot of stress and would need to prove that the millions he was paying four free agents, the new Yankees stadium and the absence of A-Rod would still get them to win this season. It seems, though, that through this storm Girardi was not ruffled.
From LoHud:
His reaction? Girardi canceled practice and took his players to shoot pool one day in spring training. Then a few weeks later, he had his pitchers use baseballs and bats to hold a putting contest on the basepaths of a practice field. He also encouraged Nick Swisher to crank up the music as loud as he wanted in the clubhouse.
“I kind of like the music,” Girardi said. “The clubhouse has more life when there’s music.”
Girardi’s demeanor in spring training did not resemble that of a man who needed to win and win right away.
“I know the situation,” he said. “If we don’t get back in the playoffs, somebody else is probably going to be managing this team.”
Girardi knows that his job is on the line which is why he has to keep a clear head and make wise decisions to enable him to win in the play offs. The past problems have taught him to have grace under pressure. Some players say that the spring training had been the best because they just did not focus on the batting but Girardi made sure that his boys were having fun. The team admitted that they do miss A-Rod. However, with his absence they just would have to step up to the plate and work twice as hard.
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