A picture truly is worth a thousand words, and New York Yankees fans had a lot to say when they saw Aaron Boone and Joe Girardi together. Girardi, a beloved figure in the Bronx as both a player and manager, was at Sunday’s 3-3 tie with the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since the Yankees parted ways with Girardi after the 2017 ALCS.
Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) showing Girardi, Boone, captain Aaron Judge, and center fielder Cody Bellinger chatting on Sunday morning. Girardi managed Judge during the three-time AL MVP’s first two seasons. After Girardi’s departure, the Yankees hired Boone, who had no previous coaching or managerial experience. Boone has since compiled a 603-429 record and one pennant in seven seasons.
Fans were quick to voice their opinions. One wrote, “The man who SHOULD BE THE YANKEE MANAGER,” alongside a critical remark about Boone. Another added, “Say what you want about Girardi, but he would’ve won that ring last year.” Despite Girardi’s six playoff appearances in ten seasons, he often faced criticism for his lineups and reliance on clichés. Fans regularly mocked his post-loss comments like, “It’s not what you want,” after a tough defeat or injury.
However, time has softened opinions, and fans now tend to focus on Girardi’s four combined championships—three as a player and one as a manager—rather than his 2015 obsession with the underperforming second baseman, Stephen Drew. One fan commented, “Girardi, how we miss you. You were your own man and a smart manager.” Another wrote, “Wishing he was still manager so they wouldn’t be so lacking fundamentally and in the dugout.”
Girardi’s last managing job was with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was fired in 2022 after a 22-29 start. It remains to be seen whether the 60-year-old will return to managing or stick to his role in the broadcast booth.
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