Girardi may be next marlin's manager

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FFICIALS: GIRARDI HAS BID FROM FISH

October 12, 2005 -- All signs point to Joe Girardi soon being named as the Marlins manager.

According to industry sources, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has made Girardi an offer the Yankees bench coach is likely to accept.

Girardi met with Loria last week in New York. The two were slated to meet again when the Yankee season ended, but in the meantime, Tampa Bay asked for permission to interview Girardi for its managerial opening and it was granted.

Girardi's name also surfaced as a possible replacement with the Cubs if Dusty Baker leaves.

If Joe Torre returns and Girardi replaces Jack McKeon in Miami, Torre will be working with his fourth bench coach in four seasons.

And it will be interesting to see if Torre has a say in naming Girardi's replacement. Since the past two bench coaches - Willie Randolph and Girardi - weren't former managers, it's not out of the question that hitting coach Don Mattingly could rotate into the bench coach spot.

The Yankees will likely be looking for pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre's replacement, as well. Stottlemyre said Monday he didn't expect to be back.

Former Red Sox skipper Joe Kerrigan, who is scouting by videotape for the Yankees, will get mentioned, as will bullpen coach Neil Allen and former Yankee great Ron Guidry.

No Yankee coach has a contract for next season. George Steinbrenner grumbled about third base coach Luis Sojo's aggressiveness during the year, although Sojo's decisions in the postseason paid off. The Boss contemplated replacing first base coach Roy White last winter and could do it this time.

Not only did the Yankees' season end with Game 5 Monday, they endured the same travel nightmare the general public must regularly endure.

After busing to the airport, the Yankees' charter plane sat on the runway for an hour before it was taken out of commission. After re-loading onto another aircraft, the Yankees had to fly to Houston and then home. They arrived at Yankee Stadium at noon and most went directly to their cars.