(670 The Score) Former Phillies manager Joe Girardi, who was fired in early June, hopes to get back in the dugout to lead a team once again, he told the Mully & Haugh Show on Thursday morning.
Amid his third season leading Philadelphia, Girardi was dismissed after the Phillies got off to a disappointing 22-29 start. Earlier this week, he joined the Marquee Sports Network, where he'll work as a game analyst on select Cubs broadcasts. Girardi is a Peoria native who attended Northwestern.
"Every job that you take is a learning experience, and you learn a lot about things that you need to do, things about yourself, things about different relationships with people," Girardi said when asked what went wrong in Philadelphia. "And I think you learn a lot. I look at my time in Philadelphia as, you know, it was very enjoyable and I was blessed to have another opportunity. And if I get another opportunity, I'm definitely really going to consider it. Because I do want to manage again. But for now, I'm fine with broadcasting. It's something I've enjoyed in between my stints. If I don't get another managing opportunity, I am fine with broadcasting, because I really love. The great thing about it is I prepare a lot of the time in a very similar fashion, but I don't have to worry about the wins and losses. I don't have to answer for those. And that's not such a bad thing when you go through struggles. Broadcasting is fun, and for me, this is an opportunity for life to kind of go full circle in a sense. It brings a lot of fond memories I have with my family, especially with my father, because we used to sit down when they were on the road, we'd watch WGN and watch the Cubs games. He was a salesman, and I'd ride in the car with him and listen on the radio. And he was really passionate about the Cubs. Hopefully he hears me in heaven. But it's a great opportunity, and that's what I'm looking to do."
Girardi, 57, indicated he'd have interest in managing any type of team, whether it was in a rebuild or competing at a much higher level. Girardi is 1,120-935 (.545) in his managerial career, having also led the Marlins in 2006 and the Yankees from 2008-'17. Girardi managed New York to a World Series title in 2009.
"There's only 30 teams," Girardi said. "It's not like there's thousands of jobs … So I don't think you ever think like that (of being picky about the managing job). They're precious, and the one thing that going through it a couple different times, I don't wish anyone to lose their job. I don't. It's very disruptive on your family. It's very difficult. And like I said, these jobs are precious. After going through it, I hope everyone is back next year and I'll just broadcast and do my thing and enjoy it. I don't think you're really that selective in a sense. Because you with the idea that you can be part of something that's being built. Because those are usually the jobs that open in a sense. And then that's fun. I've been part of teams that have been built, I've been a part of teams that were together, I've been part of teams that were really good when I took over and then they had to go through a little bit of a rebuild. I've had a chance to do it all, and I enjoy it all. Because there's something great about managing young players, but there's also something great about managing a great mix of players too."
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