One Joe to Another: Girardi Takes Yankee Helm

Joe Girardi didn't hesitate taking on history the moment he stepped to the podium today to accept the highest profile job in baseball - manager of the New York Yankees. There was a fresh new feeling as the 43-year-old former catcher took the reins.

"This feels like home,'' he told the assembled media horde at Yankee Stadium. "I knew it was real when I got a call from Yogi (Berra) last night. He asked me if you could still come to spring training. That really puts in in perspective."

Such began the career of the 32nd manager in Yankees history and the first new field chief in 12 years. He slipped on a No. 27 pinstriped jersey and just like that, he became the bench boss. The Yankees have won 26 World Series, so the number took on instant meaning. (Not to mention the greatest Yankee team of all was the 1927 edition).

"This is where I wanted to be,'' Girardi said several times as wife Kim beamed at his side. "It's been a dream of ours."

Photo of Joe Girardi by Ray Stubblebine/Reuters/Landov

Girardi now has a three-year, $7.8 million contract with the Yankees, nearly four times the $2.1 million, three-year deal the Florida Marlins gave him before the 2006 season. Girardi was fired after just one year -- even though he was the National League's Manager of the Year -- after clashing with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.

His Yankees contract includes a signing bonus of $300,000 and annual salaries of $2.5 million plus the opportunity to earn performance bonuses. Joe Torre made $19.2 million the past three seasons to manage the Yankees and more than $50 million over his 12-season tenure.

Girardi will immediately have much on his plate. Will closer Mariano Rivera, catcher Jorge Posada and starting pitcher Andy Pettitte return? How will he handle the young pitching staff? And what about his reputation as a "control freak?"

"Let's let Joe Girardi be himself,'' Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said. "We go in with a solid prior relationship. I expect this Joe and I will get along just as Joe Torre and I did for the past 10 years. That was a rock-solid relationship."

The real Joe Girardi was the Northwestern graduate who fought back the tears as he spoke of his ailing father, who has Alzeimer's disease and lives in Chicago. Girardi said his dad hadn't spoken for a month, but when a caregiver showed his father a picture of Girardi being chosen as the Yankees manager, he did.

"Oh, yeah," Girardi said his dad responded.

That's a sentiment many in the baseball world share seeing Girardi get this job.