Marlins Catcher Defends Girardi

Says Girardi Didn't Abuse Young Pitchers.

From Joel Sherman (hat tip to David Pinto):

Two years ago, under Girardi, [the Marlins] probably felt they were building toward something. They felt at least as good about their young rotation — maybe better — than the Yankees do today. But after that season, none of the youngsters have been the same, as they have coped with injury or a serious plummet in their effectiveness.

In many ways, this is the only serious matter that remains between Loria and Girardi. At times, Loria has sniped that Girardi was most responsible for the ramifications for Florida's pitchers. Girardi has never publicly rebutted any direct salvo hurled from the Marlins front office, but he has defended his handling of that young staff, saying he took great care not to abuse the neophyte arms.

Loria yesterday dismissed speculation of more antipathy between the two.

"I am not going to talk about that," he said.

But it is a subject that has not died easily. Matt Treanor, Marlins current backup catcher for Girardi and now, said, "You know I am going to get into trouble even talking about this stuff." The implication was the front office would not like it.

However, Treanor, first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla all praised Girardi's season managing the Marlins, describing him as passionate for the game, caring for the players and — yes — protective of the young pitchers.

"I don't think it was cause and effect," Treanor said. "I never saw anything that anyone was abused on the mound. Joe is not that type of guy."

This is a major concern of mine in regards to Girardi. With the future of the franchise riding on players like Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy, the last thing the Yankees need is for Girardi to destroy their arms. Hopefully if he did make any mistakes handling the young Marlins pitchers he learned from it.