BOLASIAR.EU.ORG - As the last Yankees manager to win the World Series, Joe Girardi couldn't replicate that success in Philadelphia, where expectations and an underperforming club forced him out of the position."
Despite a 22-29 start to his third season with the Phillies following yet another off-season free agency splash, the Phillies dismissed Girardi on Friday.
However, the signings of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Schwarber have not translated to success on the field at Citizens Bank Park.
A 28-32 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign wasn't good enough to reach the playoffs, thus Girardi, 57, only managed one full season in Philadelphia, directing the team to an 82-80 record and a second place finish in the NL East in 2021.
While the aforementioned five have been impressive, the Phillies' rotation and bullpen have lacked depth beyond the glitzy additions of Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, a perennial problem area for Dombrowski-constructed teams. This has been a tactic used by both owner John Middleton and second-year club president Dave Dombrowski to increase the pressure.
As to who is to blame for these inconsistencies: Girardi, his staff (coach Bobby Meacham was also fired), the player development wing, or the front office. Nevertheless, it was made quite plain on Friday who was to blame: Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was dismissed after taking the team to the 2017 World Series championship game.
The Philadelphia Phillies now have a new voice in their quest to end a postseason skid that stretches back to 2017. Rob Thomson, the team's bench coach, will serve as temporary manager for the balance of the season.
There was no respite from the heat of the summer this year. Because of Harper's injured throwing elbow, the Phillies have been forced to play Castellanos and Schwarber in center field, further compromising the team's already shaky defense.
The situation has worsened for others under this administration. It was only a year later that the NL Rookie of the Year candidate Alec Bohm was relegated to the minors, as was the once dominant left-hander Jose Alvarado.