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Courtesy of Dove Men+Care, Lady Loves Pinstripes was given the opportunity to ask New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi some personal questions about his life at home and on the field.

Here is Lady Loves Pinstripes exclusive Q&A with Yankees Joe Girardi.

Lade Loves Pinstripes: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Joe Girardi: As I’ve gotten older and become a husband and father, I’ve come to a point in my life where my priorities are with my family. In five years, my daughter and son will be in high school and what I will want most then is stability for my family. Other than that, I really can’t say.

LLP: Is your son showing any interest in being a baseball player?

JG: My son, Dante, is nine, and he shows a lot of interest in being a baseball player. We spend a lot of time practicing together.

LLP: If I asked your family, “Is Dad better as a player or a manager,” what would they say?

JG: My wife would definitely say that I’m a better manager than a player because I don’t have to deal with hitting. My kids were really too young to know me as a player.

LLP: Your wife and you look very in love, and I have read that you are a great couple… is that a main component to your success on the field?

JG: Kim and I are very much in love, and I think that this is extremely important success in any line of work—you can’t perform at your best without a strong support system at home.  Our journey and the milestones we experienced together have allowed me to be more comfortable with who I am as a person—in my life at home and as a professional.   

LLP: I had noticed the braces for the last two years. Now I know why from the Dove Campaign video that you did it with your daughter…anything else you have done like that with your kids?

JG: The Dove Men+Care “Journey to Comfort” campaign celebrates the unsung moments that have helped me become comfortable in my own skin—truly comfortable with who I am. I do silly things, and as a dad, I am able to laugh at myself because it’s about making them happy. As you’ll see in the videos that can be found at www.dovemencare.com, my daughter Serena and I got braces at the same time. I even put on colored bands on my braces to match Dante’s at one point.

I’ve reached a stage in my life where I no longer care about what people think about me having braces or embarrassing myself because your kids are what matters the most. I once made deal that if gas prices got below my weight I would do a cartwheel. The “Journey to Comfort” videos take a look at the personal achievements and experiences that have led Albert Pujols, Andy Pettitte, and me to reach a level of comfort within ourselves. Now, thanks to Dove Men+Care that is formulated specifically for a man’s skin care needs, we can all have total skin comfort—literally.   

LLP: Who is each of your kids’ favorite player on the Yankees, and your wife’s, other than you, obviously?

JG: My daughter, Serena, favors whichever player has the youngest child and lets her hold him or her. My son, Dante, doesn’t have an allegiance to one player either. He emulates Alex Rodriguez when he hits, wears a Derek Jeter jersey, and recently asked for a Robby Cano autograph.  

LLP: Finally, I went to school at Convent of the Sacred Heart in NYC, and I know you brought the World Series Trophy to our Greenwich-sister school because Brian Cashman and your daughter attend. Did you find the CSH girls interested in baseball? Just because I am a female fan, who attended CSH for 10 years and pro sports were not a hot topic.

JG: I found the girls at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City to be very interested in baseball when I visited. They had great questions and I was able to take pictures with every class. Having my daughter introduce me to her school was a special personal moment in my life and that memory will last forever.

Dove Men+Care has teamed up with New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, along with Yankees Andy Pettitte and St. Louis Cardinals Albert Puljos for a video series called “Journey to Comfort”.

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane—no, wait, it is a baseball flying over the visitor’s dugout in left field at Yankee Stadium.

Nick Swisher made sure the New York Yankees avoided getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx, by hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth with one out.

Swisher’s teammates and fans alike were ecstatic for the most fun-loving player in pinstripes.

It is impossible not to love Swisher, as his vivacious attitude is infectious.

Swisher was a well-needed breath of fresh air in 2009; his personality soothed a traditionally overly-anal Yankees locker room.

Swisher quickly earned high regard and respect in New York because he works just as hard as he plays. He is the first to praise his teammates in any interview, always with a smile on his face (unless it’s right after a loss).

This season, Swisher has been consistent at the plate, hitting 25 home runs with 80 RBI, 31 doubles, and three triples. He has been the glue multiple times in 2010 when the Yankees were struggling.

Swisher’s clutch hit changed the somber mood in the Bronx for fans and the team, who were about to extend their losing streak to four. Instead, the Yankees finish this 10-game homestand 7-3.

What great timing for the Bombers, who head out for the longest stretch of road games on the season.

This nine-game spread is just the start of one of the toughest September schedules in MLB. It will test the Yankees who start in Texas against the Rangers, then head to Tampa to meet the mighty Rays, only to finish up at Camden Yards against the newly-talented Orioles.

Nick Swisher got the right mood going into it, that is for sure.

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Derek Jeter is a household name.

In case you didn’t know, Jeter is the starting shortstop and Captain of the New York Yankees.

He has five World Series rings, four Silver Slugger Awards, and  four Golden Gloves along with countless other awards. Some of them recognized Jeter the player, others Derek the person.

Jeter is the ultimate Captain. Find me a professional athlete, fan, manager or coach that would disagree.

Going on about Jeter’s accomplishments is easy, but baseball is more than a sport. It is a job.

Like any employee, Jeter is judged on his performance and whether or not he is fulfilling expectations. Something Yankee fans refer to as ‘The Jeter Meter’.

In Jeter’s case, there is no doubt he has exceeded all expectations. He has above and beyond done his job over the last decade.

Now the Yankees and their Captain have reached the end of his current job contract. Without a doubt, both sides plan on signing another agreement at the end of 2010.

Still there is an obvious predicament. Jeter has struggled on the field this season and he’ll be the first to admit it. Reality bites, but as of now it stands that Jeter might be better off not at shortstop in 2011.

It is his position to lose, because the Yankees would keep him till the end of time.

The Captain still has the chance to prove everyone wrong this year, if the Yankees make the playoffs.  For any player shining in October brings instant confidence and creditability, something Jeter could benefit from.

For right now it seems only fair to acknowledge that if Jeter’s play does not improve his salary will suffer.

Currently, Jeter’s 2010 stats total a batting average of .264, with 60 RBIs, 10 home-runs, 25 doubles, three triples, 89 strikeouts and stealing only 15 bases.

Compared to 2009 when Jeter’s average over the regular season finished .334, stealing a total of 30 bases, with 66 RBIs, 18 home-runs, 27 doubles and 90 strikeouts.

While, it doesn’t read that bad, Jeter has been on the decline since around May 2. The month of August has been the Captain’s least productive month in the big leads with 20 strikeouts, 11 RBIs, one home-run in 117 at-bats. Jeter finished with a .239 batting average for August.

Than I started looking at it from another angle, the Captain-side. From this angle Jeter should get a raise.

If not only for being the leader he is and the face of the most winning franchisee in sports.

His teammates worship him; his fans cheer the loudest for him and he leads not just a ball-club, but also an entire city.

The Yankees were the lucky ones the moment Derek Jeter signed-on because this man is all class.

The truth is success is not solely based one individuals performance; it’s how a group or a team finishes. Sometimes the most crucial element is the person who motivates others to achieve. The person who’s presence is enough on it’s own to strive for nothing less than to win.

Tell me who is a better example of the above than New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter?

No one.

Derek Jeter is the New York Yankees exception because he is rarefied air in the sports world that deserves to be recognized.

Okay all Yankee-haters, bring it on??!!!?!!!

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The 2010 MLB season has not disappointed, as competition is fierce but so is disappointment.

For playoff staples, like the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, things could not have gone any worse. As they say, “When it rains, it pours” and both the above two ball clubs will be noticeably absent. The presence of the Red Sox and Cardinals will be deeply missed, a true heartbreak for all fans of baseball.

So, which American League teams are in contention?

Legitimately, no team has clinched anything just yet and that needs to remain the mindset.

Every baseball fan witnessed the 2007 New York Mets lose 14 of 17 games, followed by losing the NL East and a spot in the playoffs. Say what you want about presumptions, but nothing is ever guaranteed and it only comes off as arrogant.

One team that looks sure to clinch is the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have zero competition in the AL West. Unless a Mets-like implosion is on the horizon, it’s the Rangers’ division to lose.

The remaining two divisions are all off to the races, literally.

In the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox picked up Manny Ramirez attempting to gain on the division-leading Minnesota Twins. The usually competitive Detroit Tigers have fallen out of the postseason talks, which gives the White Sox some breathing room to try.

Same old story in the AL East, except the Tampa Bay Rays are the new Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have been hit with an injury bug that hasn’t let up all season. Considering the situation up in Beantown, skipper Terry Francona should be the manager of the year for keeping his team in the hunt for so long.

As for the Rays, the New York Yankees will fight them till the end for the division. This is by far the tightest battle in baseball, but the wild card looks to be coming out of the AL East so both teams will most likely be in October.

Predictions

AL East: New York Yankees

AL West: Texas Rangers

AL Central: Chicago White Sox

Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays

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Fact is, the New York Yankees love returning to the Bronx.

Why wouldn’t they love coming home, with a packed stadium full of fans?

The Yanks are tied for the first place, and they also share the best record in baseball and Yankee fans will cheer the team till the end.

The other team leading the pack is the Tampa Bay Rays, a 12-year-old franchise with loads of potential and hands-down has the best young talent in all of MLB.

The Rays reside in the AL East and remain the Yankees’ biggest threats, so where is the love down in St. Petersburg, FL?

No one knows because Rays fans seem to be extinct, which is just unbelievable. Forget that Tropicana Field is a dump, the Rays are head-to-head with the Yankees and this could be their year to win it all.

It’s a shame if the Rays lose motivation and stop even giving a s*it because the only time the Trop filled up was when the Yanks or Red Sox were visiting.

In sports history, no dominating MLB, NFL, NHL, or NBA team in first place, right before the playoffs, has had no one cheering in the stands.

Don’t even try and blame it on the Trop as a venue. Up until this season, the Minnesota Twins played in the Metrodome, which was one of the worst pro sports facilities ever and Twins fans packed in that cave game after game.

The Rays had better attendance in 2009, not by much, but when you are barely filling up half your house it comes down to numbers.

Why, as a Yankees fan, should I want to broach this subject?

It happened watching Baseball Tonight on ESPN, following the Yankees’ demolishing of the Oakland A’s 11-4 when the Rays highlights came on.

The Rays, also at home, beat the tough Toronto Blue Jays 2-1, and this is after taking two of three from the Red Sox over the weekend. It also keeps the Rays neck and neck with the Yankees.

So, when Rays Carl Crawford came on to say, “It was a big letdown. We came out all fired up and you see that, it’s really depressing.” 

The “THAT” is referring to empty seats all around a team who doesn’t get why.

Honestly, being ready for a well deserved self-patting on the ass comment, to instead hear a bummed out all-star, was depressing.

Odd right, because I am a Yankees fan?

Well, I am also a baseball fan and the Rays are playing superb baseball, winning 17 of 28 games in August. 

It is hard to imagine only have 11,968 tickets were bought for Monday night’s game; God knows how many showed up.

One thing is for sure, coming into New York the Rays will meet a packed Yankees Stadium and can’t imagine how that affects players mentally.

If Crawford’s cry was not enough for the city of Tampa Bay to come out and support the Rays, then they can’t blame players for wanting to leave.

In order to get the Trop replaced, the Rays need to win. Check. It’s normal to presume that would entice fans to buy tickets and come cheer. Not in Tampa Bay, and certainly not now.

Pretty pathetic and sad day for the Rays, and for baseball fans that respect what the Rays are doing.

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The New York Yankees have a situation. And it is pretty simple to know what the situation is regarding: the AL East.

The Yankees goal is to win the division, but the Tampa Bay Rays are standing in the way. The Rays have kept pace with New York and vice versa, as both teams are tied for first place.

The Yankees need to get in sync and end this awful August run.

A turn-around by AJ Burnett, who is taking a lot of blame, is not the main issue.

Is Burnett a problem? Yes, Burnett is throwing heat clocking 95+ mph. However, Burnett lacks control and command, and hitters are crushing the ball when he does throw strikes. His ERA in August is 6.08 in 26.1 innings pitched, giving up 5 homeruns, 18 earned runs, 10 walks, and 18 strikeouts. Yikes!

In 2009, Burnett played a vital part in the team’s success. Obviously something is not clicking on the mound, but whatever is being done to fix the issue is not working.

My suggestion is to use Burnett where he is most reliable, in the first three innings of a game. Javier Vazquez and Sergio Mitre (both of whom have starting experience) are in the pen and can at least cover four or five innings total. Then Joba and Kerry Wood can cover an inning and a half.

With the expanding rosters effective tomorrow, the Yankees can bring up some extra pitching arms for the bullpen. This allows Burnett to relax and allows Andy Pettitte to return from the DL without rushing or else it could be trouble again.

The other problem comes from the Yankees’ hitters, who are starting to leave runners on the base pads over and over again.

In Friday night’s loss to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees stranded 11 runners on base. The only production came from Nick Swisher’s bat.

For now, the Yankees are sans the power of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixiera. It is not ideal, but it is manageable. In addition to Robinson Cano and Swisher, getting production from Marcus Thames, Brett Gardner, and Curtis Granderson is enough to win.

It is hard to make judgment calls when the Yankees never give the full details in regards to injuries or innings limits. Even skipper Joe Girardi seems to bend his rules to fit the Yankees model—which is to win.

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After losing the first game, the New York Yankees demolished the Blue Jays at home in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Marcus Thames, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, and Mark Teixeira all homered in the affair.

Wednesday night’s game determines the series; both teams want to win but are on very different paths.

The Blue Jays have a chip on their shoulder. My guess is because Toronto resides in the AL East, which diminishes any hopes at a playoff berth.

This season the Blue Jays are legitimate. Proof is in their record, which is 16-4 over their last 20 games vs. the AL East teams. It must be frustrating.

So, making it harder, for the teams like the Yankees must be a distant second.

The Yankees are fighting to get in the playoffs, to defend their title and that takes winning inter-division series. In an important game, having Phil Hughes is on the mound is an advantage.

Hughes is settled in again, after the stress of the “Hughes Rules” seemed to simmer down. Thus far, Hughes’ 2010 totals are a solid 15-5 record, pitching for 140.0-plus innings, with 116 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.90.

In his last start, Hughes earned his 15th win of 23 starts against the Detroit Tigers. A first inning home run to Miguel Cabrera, who is the best hitter in baseball, was the only bump. Hughes struck out six, walked zero and went six innings.

Blue Jays send youngster Brett Cecil to square off against Hughes. Cecil is a strong throwing lefty with a 10-6 record over 131-plus innings. Cecil has struck out 95 batters and has an ERA of 3.90.

Cecil has faced the Yankees twice this season and has a 1-1 record, with an ERA of 1.29.

Prediction

This is a close call.

Hughes has to locate perfectly against a Blue Jays line-up that features seven bats with 13-plus home runs.

Cecil has killed AL East opponents in 2010, posting a 2.13 ERA and a 6-1 record over eight starts.

Both pitchers will get a no-decision, but the Yankees will the win 4-2 and take the series.

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After losing the first game 3-2, the New York Yankees need to win Tuesday night against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center.

The Tampa Bay Rays have caught up to tie in the standings, and the Boston Red Sox are still very much alive.

Translation…inter-division games can kill a team’s chances for playoff berth, so the Yankees cannot lose this series for starters.

The Blue Jays are making things difficult against all AL East teams. Toronto is not making the playoffs this season, but in any other division, my bet is circumstances would be different.

In all honesty, handing the ball to RHP Dustin Moseley is risky because he brings no stability on the mound.

Moseley has fared better because Yankees bats have backed him by scoring runs. This will be essential once again, as Moseley is no match for the home-run hitting Blue Jays.

Toronto’s Jose Bautista has demolished the Yankees in 2010, hitting six homers and 12 RBI with a .511 on-base percentage. Against Moseley, the slugger is 0 and 4, striking-out once and walking one time as well.

Still, Moseley in his last start against Toronto gave up nine hits, five earned runs, two home-runs, walked one, managed two strikeouts and a game ERA of 6.14.

Moseley has made five starts since Andy Pettitte hit the DL, pitched 29 innings, allowing 16 earned runs, seven home runs, with 14 strikeouts and 10 walks.

Problem is Moseley has only had three strikeouts, while allowing four home runs and eight hits in his latest two outings.

The Blue Jays are countering with LHP Mark Rzepczynski, who is even more inexperienced than Moseley, making his fifth start for Toronto.

Rzepczynski is 1-1 over four starts in 2010. He mirrors Moseley with a ERA of 4.76.

On the season, in 22.2 innings pitched he’s allowed 12 earned runs, two home runs, but has struck out 19 batters.

His last start was awful as Rzepczynski has zero strike-outs, giving up 5 hits, with three runs scoring before getting pulled in the fourth inning.

Yankees need to watch for Rzepczynski’s change-up, as that is his strongest pitch but only if he can execute it.

PREDICTION

Yankees need to run on base-pads against Blue Jays catcher Jose Molina. This is not easy, but the Yankees know Molina and the Blue Jays don’t focus on runners as much as they should.

Hint: Brett Gardner can cause chaos.

With Derek Jeter back in the line-up, the Yankees will win 6-1.

Moseley will get the win over Rzepczynski, but this is a close call.

Yankees know how to win when they need to, and this is against any team.

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What a rare opportunity for rookie pitcher Ivan Nova to make his mark in New York Yankees pinstripes, by making his Major League debut tonight vs. the heavy-hitting Toronto Blue Jays.

Getting called up from Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is every rookie’s goal, but to start against another AL East ball-club, in middle of a tight pennant race is a lot of pressure. Can Ivan Nova do his job?

The Yankees obviously have a lot of trust in Nova’s abilities. He has been an ace in Triple-A with a 12-3 record and 2.66 ERA.

Look for Nova to throw a newly acquired slider. The Yankees hope is the 23-year-old righty can throw a lot of strikes to keep the team in first place within the division.

The Toronto Blue Jays will counter with another youngster, 26-year-old Brandon Morrow.

On August 9th, Morrow threw 137 pitches, posting 17-strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays, just missing a no-hitter, which would have been the second in Blue Jays history. Morrow did record his first complete game and shutout, which is a huge accomplishment for the young righty.

Morrow has made three starts vs. New York in 2010, in which he is 1-0, allowing 11 earned runs, three home runs, four walks and striking out 24.

On the season, Morrow has a 9-8 record, posting a 4.45 ERA, allowing only 10 home runs, with 153 strikeouts over 131.1 innings pitched. He has to get his walks rate down which is currently at 60 in total.

Morrow will be extra careful with Jorge Posada and Brett Gardner who have hit him well this season. Also, any pitcher facing Robinson Cano is aware that he has been a monster with the bat.

MY PREDICTION:

Nova vs. Morrow will be a no-decision, and the Yankees will win 5-2.

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In sports or life, as an individual or as a team once you become a champion is beyond satisfying.

After many failures through dedication and hard work the sense of relief must be surreal.

Getting back there again surely loses it’s sense of urgency, that is why repeating is harder than becoming one in the first place.

The Yankees are the most winning franchise in all of sports. No other teams can really compete financially, historically, or geographically. The Yankees popularity spans worldwide, and MLB stadiums everywhere fill-up if they’re in town.

Beating the Yankees is an accomplishment on it’s on, even if it is just a regular season game. Teams put forth efforts that go unseen, but come out vs. the Bombers.

It inevitably makes the task of repeating actually much harder and the road to repeat truly tests each player’s individual character.

Certain situations and individual performances will hinder the outcome of 2010 more than others. Here are 10 that are almost crucial in winning the AL East Division:

1. Steal more bases overall. Keeping the opposing pitcher distracted is key for any team, but the Yankees need to run more. Brett Gardner’s value has soared because he is such a pest on the base-pads. Curtis Granderson can be a base-stealing machine, along with the young legs of Carlos Pena, Francisco Cervelli and the old legs of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez can cause utter confusion for opposing teams. Just look at the Tampa Bay Rays as this is the team’s specialty.
2. Since the addition of RP Kerry Wood to the bullpen, the Yankees middle relievers have been dominate. Joba Chamberlain, Phil Coke, Sergio Mitre have resonated confidence which is essential for the team’s survival. The return of Alfredo Aceves just adds to the most underrated group of players in baseball.
3. AJ Burnett has to pitch with more consistency. Burnett is not being asked anything more than what he has shown in the past, aka. 2009. It is no secret that Burnett is a hothead and mentally can get in a funk. No one is trying to change Burnett because I believe his craziness is vital to his overall successful. This season, Burnett can’t keep the scale level. When Burnett implodes, it drives him to be better. Great performances can no longer heavily outweigh Burnett’s frustrations.  
4. The 2009 season was full of walk-off wins for the Yankees, but this is 2010 and it’s just not happening anymore. Driving in runs in the first three innings seems to dictate more wins. It means the bats have to come out swinging harder than in the past from the get-go. 
5. The 25-man rosters expand in two weeks to 40, meaning that non-contending teams will be bringing up rookies to test their potential. This means virgin pitchers will be on the mound and odds are the Bombers will get shutdown. This is unacceptable, embarrassing and that is a pathetic reason to get eliminated from the post-season. Harsh, but in the AL East one game might be the deciding factor in the end. Maybe the younger players need to be mixed in the line-up differently, who knows but figure it out ASAP.  
6. Even with less than eight weeks left the Yankees motto about the importance of winning series should stay the same. It displays consistency, keeps the team driven and hard working. Sweeping to slumping mentally challenges any team and makes the job of winning just that much harder.  
7. Alex Rodriguez should stay out as long as he needs to get healthy, same sentiments go for Andy Pettitte. We need these two 100%, rather than 85% and back to the DL they go. Without A-rod has caused problems in the batting line-up, but at this point in the season it shouldn’t dictate and so far it has not in the two games he has missed. This team can win, the Red Sox and Phillies have both dealt with a lot worse this season and are both still in the mix. This should not be any different in regards to the Yankees current situation.
8.  Skipper Joe Girardi is a great manager. Does he over manage at times? Absolutely and it drives fans crazy, but only when it doesn’t work out. Fans need to back Girardi more, but Joe also needs to listen to his gut sometimes. This kind-of a change is least likely to happen because Girardi did lead then to glory in 2009, so something must be working. It would be appreciated if Girardi could take a stance on innings limits, because at this point it is quite unclear. Just don’t mess-up Phil Hughes because Joba has clearly suffered due to the uncertainty of these ‘rules’. Ok, this is more of a personal pipe dream from a confuse fan, but hey everyone can dream.

The late great John Wooden said it best:

 “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” – John Wooden

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