If he is finished managing and gets tired of broadcasting, perhaps Joe Girardi has a future in fortune telling.
Girardi, previously the manager for the Marlins, Yankees, and Phillies, predicted an uncommon subpar performance from Luke Weaver during the YES Network broadcast just before the notable reliever surrendered the decisive home run in Friday’s 5-3 defeat to the Orioles.
Weaver, who had only allowed three runs over his initial 24 appearances of the season, gave up two runs in the eighth inning and was tagged with the loss in his first outing after returning from the injured list due to a strained left hamstring.
“When a guy hasn’t pitched for 17 days, you ideally want to give him a bit more of an easy transition,” Girardi mentioned right before Weaver delivered the critical 3-2 pitch in a 3-3 game. “But you can’t do that given the situation in the game’s score (Friday night).”
Moments later, Ramon Urias hit the tie-breaking home run leading off the top of the eighth to give Baltimore a 4-3 advantage.
Weaver retired two of the next four hitters but allowed a hit and a walk and left two runners on base for Tim Hill, who yielded an RBI single to charge another run to Weaver.
Weaver threw 14 of 24 pitches for strikes.
His ERA climbed to 1.71.
Aaron Boone plans to use both Weaver and Devin Williams to close out games.
The job was supposed to belong to Williams, but he was so ineffective early in the season that Weaver took over and was lights-out until his injury.
Williams steadied himself in Weaver’s absence, which only lasted 17 days and was much shorter than initially expected.
During his 10 seasons overseeing the Yankees, Girardi was mostly praised for his handling of the bullpen.
It was one of the rare areas where he was considered an upgrade over legendary predecessor Joe Torre.
Boone’s bullpen management also is a strength.
One of the key tenants is not using relievers three days in a row, though he even broke that rule for Weaver earlier this season in a series against the Rangers.
