Sep 13, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi (28) during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Girardi is a family man. Coaching the New York Yankees, he knows players have a life outside of baseball, especially the ones with a family.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Girardi talked about the contrast from coaching younger players for the Florida Marlins, to more established players in New York:
My first managerial job [Marlins, 2006], a lot of my players didn't have families, 'cause they were so young. So then you come here and a lot of guys have kids, and to me … one of the many things that I learned from my father was the importance of knowing what your father does. And I knew what my father did because he took me to work with him. And I tell my players: "Your kids need to know what you do. So, bring 'em here, and at 4 o'clock, 4:30, once we start our work, then they have to kind of be out." But I want them to know. I want them around. You need to spend time with them. You know what? Your son has a baseball game, and you're not playing that day and you're a pitcher or whatever … not late for the game, but you don't have to be here, that sort of thing. I want their kids to know what their father does, and they have to be around, they have to be present.
It's always great to see the other side of the players, the side with the families, and even better to know that some managers preaching that importance.
(h/t New York Post)
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