Joe Girardi to join Cubs broadcast booth for two series

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi is returning to the broadcast booth.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports that Girardi will be the color commentator for Marquee Sports Network‘s coverage of two upcoming Chicago Cubs series. He’ll do so for a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, and then when the Cubs visit Miami — Girardi resides in Florida — from Sept. 19-21.

It’s a natural landing spot for Girardi, who attended Spalding Catholic High School in Peoria, before playing collegiately at Northwestern. Girardi was a fifth-round pick by the Cubs in the 1986 MLB Draft, and spent parts of seven seasons over two different stints with the team during his playing career.

Girardi has plenty of experience working in media, having had stints with the YES Network before and after his one season managing the Florida Marlins in 2006. Girardi has also served as a game analyst for FOX and studio analyst for MLB Network previously.

The Phillies dismissed Girardi on June 3, replacing him on an interim basis with his long-time right-hand man Rob Thomson. While the Phillies were 22-29 under Girardi and in danger of falling out of the postseason race altogether, they have gone 43-22 under Thomson. Entering play Wednesday, the Phillies are 1 1/2 games ahead of the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card spot in the National League.

Still only 57, it’s possible that Girardi’s managerial career is over. If so, he’ll finish with a 1,120-935 (.545) record, having guided the New York Yankees to a World Series title in 2009.

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