By Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi spoke with reporters after it was announced he would join the MLB Network as an analyst Wednesday

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Ronald Martinez | AP

Quote: "The biggest thing for every manager is you have to figure out what your niche is and then you have to be able to delegate. Understand what your strengths are. I don't think you can micromanage."

Takeaway: Girardi had been asked the biggest challenge facing Aaron Boone in his first season as Yankees manager. At first, Girardi danced around the question a bit. Then he got down to businees.

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Quote: "That's a tough question for me to answer because I don't know Aaron Boone that well. I don't know how he's going to handle everything. There's a lot that comes with being New York Yankees manager. Obviously, he's a bright man, played baseball a long time. He understands the game and has been around it a long time."

Takeaway: Thought there might have been some relationship between Boone and Girardi. Boone was constantly around the Yankees as an ESPN analyst. It wasn't uncommon to see him hanging around the batting cage while the Yankees took batting practice. He would chat with Girardi from time to time, too.

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Quote: "I had one year under my belt when I took the job. It wasn't like I had a long reign of success of being a manager. I think general managers are more willing to do that now. The feeling is the job has changed a little bit now."

Takeaway: Girardi was asked if he was surprised the job went to Boone, considering his lack of managing and coaching experience. Girardi had spent just one year as the Marlins' manager before taking the Yankees' gig. Still, with all the experienced candidates out there, it seemed a little surprising the Yankees didn't opt for an experienced mind for the young team.

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Quote: "I was looking forward to coming back, but it didn't come to fruition. … I had discussions with other entities, (but) I thought MLB was a really good fit for me. That's who I am. I love this game."

Takeaway: Girardi talked to a few places about TV gigs. Wonder if the YES Network was one of them, and whether he might have thought that to be too awkward since he had just been booted from his job.

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Quote: "I understand I could think about this for a long period of time, but it doesn't do me any good. I need to move on with my life. I've probably been through all those moments, so now I'm focusing on what's next … and just move on."

Takeaway: Girardi says he's done worrying about why he wasn't retained as Yankees manager. Doubtful that's an easy thing to shake. It was Girardi's identity for a decade.

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Quote: "I think it's possible. Obviously we got to see (Miguel) Andujar a little bit last year, and Gleyber (Torres) unfortunately got hurt. A lot of people thought he would be up a little bit last year … They're both talented kids and I believe they will both be long-time big leaguers."

Takeaway: Girardi danced around whether Andujar and Torres — two top Yankees prospects — are ready to start on Opening Day. The Yankees have holes at second base and third base, where Torres and Andujar, respectively, could fit. Not sure why Girardi didn't try to give a definitive answer here. He's getting paid for his expertise.

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Quote: "I think they're going to be very good. We finished up last season really strong, went through some injuries in the middle of the year and treaded water for a while. I think it's a very talented club. Health is an important factor in being successful but if they're able to remain healthy I think you're going to see them in the postseason."

Takeaway: Not a shocker: Girardi thinks the Yankees — the team he brought to Game 7 of the ALCS last year and added Giancarlo Stanton — will reach the playoffs.

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Quote: "I would like to, yes."

Takeaway: Girardi wants to manage again. Wonder what he'd consider a good fit, though. Hard to imagine him managing just for the sake of it. And he probably doesn't want to go to a rebuilding situation, considering all the success he's had. He's been linked in the past to the Cubs' job, but Joe Maddon seems firmly entrenched there. White Sox? Girardi's from Chicago.

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Quote: "That's a tough question for me to answer because I'm not there now."

Takeaway: Yikes. Girardi's job is going to be a studio analyst. If he's not going to answer questions because he doesn't have inside knowledge regarding a team — in this case, the Yankees — this isn't going to go well. He's being ask for opinions, not facts, mostly.

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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.