Guillen says Yankees picked 'the right guy' in Girardi

It's not so much that Ozzie Guillen feels sorry for Joe Girardi.

He's just certain he doesn't want Girardi's job.

"Not everyone can handle that job, but he's right for it,'' said Guillen, pointing into the Yankees' dugout before the White Sox lost 9-5 to New York on the South Side Tuesday night. "It's the hardest job in baseball, being the manager of that team, but Joe can handle it.

"They picked the right guy. He's a Yankee. You got to have a Yankee in that job, someone who understands what you're going to get with the owner and the media. That job ain't for me. I can tell you that for sure.''

Girardi's got plenty on his plate already with injuries piling up and a pitching staff ranked as one of the worst in baseball through 21 games.

And then on Monday's off day, as Girardi was visiting his sick father, he learned that Hank Steinbrenner was quoted as saying of Joba Chamberlain, "You don't have a guy with a 100-mph fastball and keep him as a set-up guy. You have to be an idiot to do that.''

GM Brian Cashman's reply was that Chamberlain was staying put, and while sitting alone in his office Tuesday afternoon, Girardi said there's no issue at all.

"Everything's fine,'' Girardi said, matter-of-factly. "We're all on the same page.''

But this is just the first ring being set up for the circus, right?

"Everything's fine,'' Girardi repeated with a smile.

"Wow,'' said Guillen. "It's different there, but when you're the owner, you can say anything you want.

"He's just being a Steinbrenner. That's one reason I wouldn't want to manage that club. There'd be two tigers in one cage.

"Thank God Jerry Reinsdorf's my owner. That's the opposite of how it's done here in Chicago. Here, the owner's always protecting my butt.''

But lest you think Girardi is anything but comfortable in his new digs, think again. He's doing just fine, thank you, and he couldn't have been happier after getting a chance to see his children in the dugout before Tuesday's game.

He also had a surprisingly good visit Monday with his father, Jerry, who's suffering with Alzheimer's, and wasn't certain to live long enough for this reunion.

"I think he knew me, really,'' Girardi said. "My kids got him all fired up and he was telling them to be quiet and settle down. He hadn't opened his eyes for two weeks before that. It's probably the best day he's had in a year.

"He even brought up his mom. I haven't heard him talk about his mom in years.''

Assuming the Yanks get healthy, Girardi's schedule might not allow for such a visit again until late in the fall, when he says there's no reason the two teams on the field Tuesday can't face each other again.

"That's a really nice team Ozzie's got over there,'' Girardi said. "Last year was strange. It was just one of those years when they all didn't hit in the same year.''

If it sounds like there's a mutual admiration society between managers, there is.

"Ozzie's a very sharp guy, and very creative,'' Girardi said. "He wants you to think he's not.''

Girardi then shoots you a glance the way Don Zimmer used to, as if to say: You're nuts if you believe that.

"Don't let him fool you. Ozzie knows what he's doing and everything has a purpose to it,'' Girardi said. "He knows how to get the most out of his players, just like he got the most out of his ability as a player.''

Guillen would simply like to have Girardi's jewelry.

"He's got a handful of rings from the time he played there, and he belongs there in that dugout,'' Guillen said. "He played there, coached there, was a broadcaster there, and now manager there. That's a big advantage for him.

"The thing is, as a manager you can't worry about what everyone thinks. You can't make people happy so you got to do what's right for the ballclub and what you think is the best way to get the most out of 25 guys.

"Joe's smart. He's gonna do it his way.''

Girardi proved that in Florida, which only made him more desirable in New York.

He showed it again Tuesday when he offered Bobby Abreau a green light on a 2-0 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh. When the ball landed for a grand slam it was 6-3 Yanks.

In the bottom of the inning, Chamberlain -- as if on cue -- saved the club from a bases-loaded nightmare, and pitched 1¿ scoreless innings.

As grounded as they come, Joe Girardi didn't need a Down to Earth Day.

But with both Barnum and Bailey peeking over the horizon, a victory sure didn't hurt.