Given the choice between managing the Baltimore Orioles and spending time with his family, Joe Girardi chose the latter.
Girardi ? a former major-league catcher and the ex-manager of the Florida Marlins ? said in a number of interviews Thursday that the Orioles? position was not a good fit.
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Girardi?s agent, Steve Mandell, of Chicago-based firm Gameplan Creative, did not return multiple phone calls Thursday afternoon.
“Steve told me he didn?t think Joe was ready at this time, he just wanted to wait,” Andy MacPhail, the Orioles? recently hired president of baseball operations, said during a conference call Thursday.
MacPhail offered Girardi a contract Wednesday night.
“For family reasons, he just didn?t feel like he should or could go at this time,” MacPhail said.
Girardi went 78-84 with the Marlins in 2006, earning National League Manager of the Year honors despite a major-league-low $15 million payroll. He played in the majors for 15 seasons.
For the time being, MacPhail seems confident in staying with interim manager Dave Trembley.
MacPhail indicated that he?d like to get back to interviewing on Tuesday.
He opted not to get into specifics about which candidates he might interview but did note that he has spoken regularly to Dusty Baker. MacPhail cautioned that he would not make a hasty hire, preferring to find the right person for the job.
“I think you will find there are many good candidates out there,” MacPhail said.
Some national baseball analysts earmarked the Orioles? skipper position as one of the worst in baseball.
In the midst of a 10th-straight losing season at 30-41 and in last place in the American League East, that argument has validity. Others, however, disagree.
“I disagree with the people that think they?re now the Royals or are in that sphere,” ESPN.com senior baseball writer Jayson Stark said Tuesday in an interview with The Examiner. “I think [the Orioles] are a sleeping giant.”
It?s been a whirlwind week for the Orioles, who entered Monday?s travel day on an eight-game losing streak. After Tuesday?s loss in San Diego, the team snapped the nine-game skid with a 7-1 win Wednesday. The O?s visit Arizona for three games starting today and return to Camden Yards to face the Yankees Tuesday night at 7:05.
On Monday, the club fired manager Sam Perlozzo, replacing him with bullpen coach Trembley, who is in his first full season as a big-league coach. The Orioles met with Girardi in Chicago on Tuesday, and reportedly offered him the position shortly thereafter. In a news conference Wednesday, the team introduced MacPhail as the team?s president of baseball operations ? a new position in the team?s front office.
