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The New Joe Arrives In The Bronx

Published: Nov 2, 2007

NEW YORK - On his first day at Yankee Stadium as New York's manager, Joe Girardi already was watching his back.

When he stepped to the podium and put on his new pinstripes, the number on his jersey was 27. Did it have something to do with World Series titles?

"How many do they have?" he said, knowing the Yankees have been stuck on 26 championships since 2000.

His number will be a constant reminder of his mandate. Still, he wouldn't predict whether his team can win it all next season.

"You don't have all the pieces together, so it's hard to evaluate exactly where we're going to be," he said.

Girardi, who won three World Series titles while catching for the Yankees from 1996-99, talked about how much getting the job meant to him and his father, Jerry.

"I try not to get emotional, but my father hasn't spoke in a month. And when the lady who takes care of my father, he has Alzheimer's, showed him the picture of me as the new Yankee manager, my father said, 'Oh yeah,'" he said.

Girardi takes a job held by Hall of Famers Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel. He follows Joe Torre, who quit two weeks ago and on Thursday became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It didn't take Girardi long to find out what it meant to be Yankees manager.

"I got a call from Yogi last night and you realize the stature of the position when Yogi calls you at your house and says, 'Do I still get to come to spring training?'" Girardi said, lowering his voice to mimic that of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

Girardi, who got a $7.8 million, three-year contract, beat out bench coach Don Mattingly and first-base coach Tony Pena for the job.

Asterisk Would Cause Bonds To Skip Hall

NEW YORK - Barry Bonds would boycott Cooperstown if the Hall of Fame displays his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

That includes skipping his potential induction ceremony.

"I won't go. I won't be part of it," Bonds said in an interview with MSNBC that aired Thursday night. "You can call me, but I won't be there."

The ball Bonds hit for home run No. 756 this season will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Hall. Fashion designer Marc Ecko bought the ball in an online auction and set up a Web site for fans to vote on its fate. In late September, he announced fans voted to send the ball to Cooperstown with an asterisk.

LEGAL: Former Yankees executive Steve Swindal pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol in St. Petersburg. He agreed to a suspended driver's license for six months and one year of probation.

MARINERS: Former major-league manager Lee Elia rejoined Seattle as an on-field consultant. The 70-year-old Elia spent last season as a scout with Tampa Bay. He was the Devil Rays' hitting coach from 2003-05.

ORIOLES: Baltimore cut ties with Kris Benson, declining its $7.5 million option on the right-hander. Benson, who missed the 2007 season with a torn labrum, filed for free agency later in the day and will get a $500,000 buyout.

TIGERS: With the California wildfires closing in on his parents' house, Joel Zumaya went up to the attic and tried to salvage a few things for his father. Moments later, his 2008 season was in jeopardy.

A heavy box fell on top of the Detroit Tigers reliever, injuring his pitching shoulder and forcing him to have major surgery Wednesday in San Diego. He is expected to be sidelined until midseason.