Cubs All-Star Moments: Joe Girardi, 2000

by Al Yellon on Jul 3, 2011 7:00 AM CDT in History

Catcher Joe Girardi of the Chicago Cubs moves to scoop the ball during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Ezra Shaw /Allsport

This is the first of a series, leading up to the All-Star Game next week, revisiting interesting anecdotes regarding Cubs in the All-Star Game, or stories surrounding Cubs and All-Star festivities.

Some of these moments are truly memorable; others are a little offbeat. I'm going to start this series with one of the more offbeat ones.

Joe Girardi, current Yankees manager, had two stints as a catcher for the Cubs, from 1989-92, when he was taken by the Rockies in the expansion draft, and then again from 2000-2002. He had a pretty good career, posting over 4,000 at-bats and 1,100 career hits and was known as a hard-nosed defensive player and a good clubhouse guy; his well-received speech to Cubs fans at Wrigley Field the day Darryl Kile of the Cardinals died helped cement his image as a leader.

He made just one All-Star team, in 2000 -- and not in the usual fashion.

In 2000, Mike Piazza, still near the peak of his career, was voted National League All-Star starting catcher. However, on July 8, the Sunday before the game, Piazza was hit in the head by Roger Clemens and was ruled out of playing in the game.

Jason Kendall, then of the Pirates, took over as starter and Mike Lieberthal of the Phillies was already on the roster as his backup. But NL manager Bobby Valentine wanted another catcher to back up those two.

MLB officials started calling every catcher in the league, but no one was home, or answering phones. Girardi, at home in suburban Chicago with his kids, was the only one that could be reached, so he got the offer.

At the time, Girardi was hitting .302/.374/.415 with four HR and 21 RBI in 61 games, so it wasn't as if he were having a terrible season. But neither was he considered having an All-Star caliber year.

As it turned out, all Girardi got for it was a free trip to Atlanta. He was the only position player to not play in the game, so his only All-Star appearance ended with his role being primarily to warm up pitchers in the NL bullpen. The National League lost 6-3. Maybe they should have let him play.

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I wonder if this Joe guy can manage?

I have always liked Girardi as a player and manager. He was my first choice here followed by Ryno. But hey we got the better manager now..

by Grockcubs on Jul 3, 2011 7:18 AM CDT reply actions

Of course we got the best manager in MLB

did you expect less from our Cubbies? :)

"So sad, This Cubbie Thing" Courtesy of E-Man, 6/25/2011

by jeffstorm2 on Jul 3, 2011 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Well he is no match for Quade!

I feel like we dodged a bullet when we didnt get him….we are much better off now!

by TJ11 on Jul 3, 2011 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

girardi proved to me he can manage

when he let kerry wood go, at least he can spot a lack of talent

by Mike the ex cub fan on Jul 3, 2011 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Methinks interest is waning in

the 2011 Edition Cubs…and rightfully so. Not so long ago, I’d have said the fans who populate BCB could never, would never lose interest in the Cubs… not so long ago. But now… I dunno. The general mood seems to have soured…either that or the word laughable comes to mind. Can a fanbase as long settled as ours become eroded? Looks like Ricketts intends to test our resolve…do so with caution Mr. Ricketts, have a care. What I see brewing now, well, it just aint pretty.

"So sad, This Cubbie Thing" Courtesy of E-Man, 6/25/2011

by jeffstorm2 on Jul 3, 2011 8:03 AM CDT reply actions

There's no better proof of your thesis

than the fact that in a blog post about Joe Girardi, the comments immediately change the topic to the woeful feebleness of this year’s Cubs. And rightfully so. Geo’s home run on Thursday was a complete shock to me and I realized that I’ve come to expect this year’s team to NEVER come through in the clutch. I’m sure Mike Quade is a good man and a nice guy, but he’s the wrong manager for this team. Would Girardi or Sandberg have been the right one? I don’t know and we’ll never know. But I do know that while Girardi manages a de-feacto all-star team every day, the Cubs are in seemingly perpetual not-quite rebuilding, we haven’t given up on the season yet mode. With the decisions that were and are now being made, and the people the Cubs have at the helm, this season felt like it was over in May. And, yes, my wife has told me that I’m the most cynical person she’s ever met.

by Lifesize on Jul 3, 2011 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Man-o-man

I’d like to say “I hate to agree with you”…but I’d be lying. As for being cynical…hang with us for a spell! :]

"So sad, This Cubbie Thing" Courtesy of E-Man, 6/25/2011

by jeffstorm2 on Jul 3, 2011 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I'll always be a Cubs fan.

I’ve been with them for 40 years so far and I’m not going to jump ship over one crummy team. If that was all it would take, I wouldn’t have made it out of the 70’s.

by Lifesize on Jul 3, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Since mid-late 60s myself

This is the attitude that makes us some of the most loyal fans out there and, to an extent, perhaps some of the most exploited.

"So sad, This Cubbie Thing" Courtesy of E-Man, 6/25/2011

by jeffstorm2 on Jul 3, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

VERY good post......

You are correct, I feel that Cub fans are taken advantage of by this organization.
They know how loyal we are and give us a total crap team and front office and think we will be sheep.

by TJ11 on Jul 3, 2011 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions