Girardi Complains About MLB Scheduling

From CBS:

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn’t in a great mood after yet another game was postponed in Cleveland.

Play between the Yankees and Indians never began Thursday night, and the tarp was still covering the infield when the game was called at 9 p.m. The teams also were rained out on Wednesday night, cutting a four-game series in half. The Yankees won the first two games, outscoring the Indians 25-7.

“I don’t think you can come to cold-weather cities (in April) if you’re only going to go there once,” he said. “I think you’ve got to stay within your division first.”

“I know teams want night games, and I understand that,” he added. “But if you would have had a day game today, it gives you a longer window to play.”

...

“I mean, it’s snowing in Minnesota and the Mets are there. I don’t know who can make the best snowman,” he said.

No makeup date was announced. However, both teams have an open date May 13 and it’s possible they will play a doubleheader. This was New York’s only scheduled visit to Progressive Field, but the Yankees will now be coming back to Cleveland.

“I don’t think there’s anything else you can do,” Girardi said.

Girardi sort of has a point, but New York isn't so great in April, and neither is Boston or Baltimore. So unless he wants the Yankees to only play road games in Tampa, Toronto, and AL West cities until the weather gets better, there's really nothing MLB can do.

Some Sunday Links

Haven't done a link dump in a while, figured I'd start today:

- Richard Justice calls the Yankees trio of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte "a timeless classic" in this article for MLB.com.

- Joel Sherman says that Mariano was what separated the Yankees from everyone else. I would have to agree.

- After CC Sabathia sim game today, he's set to make his spring debut on Friday.

- Boone Logan threw off a mound today after dealing with elbow soreness.

- Sweeny Murti says the Blue Jays haven't proved anything yet and even they know it.

- Here's the upcoming plan for Mariano and Jeter as they both return from injuries.

- Steve Serby did his Sunday Q&A with Goose Gossage. As you might expect, Mariano was one of the main topics of conversation.

- The Daily News' Mark Feinsand has a new podcast which debuted today.

- Andrew Marchand thinks Ronnier Mustelier may be the Yankees new contender at third.

- If you're looking to grab Yankees tickets for the upcoming season, SIH has you covered.

... Oh, and the United States is trailing Canada 2-0 in the 3rd inning, in what is a win-or-go-home game for both teams at the WBC.

Alex Rodriguez Might Accept A Trade

(UPDATE) Alex Rodriguez is once again not in the lineup for today's rescheduled game 4.

I was busy at work all day yesterday so I was unable to post, but if you missed it, there was a ton of talk about Miami being a possible destination for Alex Rodriguez if the Yankees do try an unload his contract this offseason. Well, today we have this report from Bob Nightengale that says if the situation was right, Alex, who has a full no-trade clause, may accept the deal:

Take a good, long hard look at him.

This will be the last time you'll ever see Alex Rodriguez in a New York Yankees uniform.

We might have already seen him play his last game for the Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees, desperate for offense, and set to play in an elimination game Wednesday night, benched their greatest and most expensive star for the second consecutive game.

Though Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers was postponed by rain, the Yankees already tipped their hand and had him on the bench, leaving A-Rod humiliated.

The Yankees are making it loud and clear they want Rodriguez out as quickly as possible.

Rodriguez, his pride and ego damaged beyond repair, is now telling close friends that he won't stand in the way.

Rodriguez, who has a full no-trade clause, won't ask to be traded, a person familiar with Rodriguez's thinking told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

...

He will welcome a trade, the person says, but it must to be to another big-market club. Hint: He won't be going to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The most likely choices would be the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

First, let me say that A-Rod has been awful this October. However, so has 90% of the starting lineup so really, why are we still blaming everyone's favorite scapegoat?

To me, this whole situation was made much worse by Joe Girardi, and his benching of A-Rod for the last two games -- though he can still make up for the game 4 benching today if he has any clue. There are reports of a fractured clubhouse, and that he's completely lost the team, which only makes this 0-3 feel that much more insurmountable.

The decision to bench A-Rod is only made worse by his replacement, Eric Chavez. Chavez has been virtually invisible in his plate appearances this postseason and also made that costly error in game 3 that might have cost the Yankees the game and a chance to get back in this series.

Does this mean I think A-Rod would have gone 4-for-4 with a homer off Verlander? No, but I do think A-Rod could get his swing going if given the chance, especially away from all the boos in the Bronx. There's no reason to further embarrass the guy and disrupt the clubhouse for a replacement that has also done nothing this series.

No matter what the outcome, the thing that sticks out to me the most is how poorly the Yankees and Girardi have handled this mess. If you think about how good we all felt about this team after that four run 9th on Saturday it's amazing how quickly things have changed.

Sure, there is still more baseball to be played and mistakes could be corrected. Maybe A-Rod is in the lineup today, gets a couple hits, and the Yankees actually win a game in this series. Or maybe, and much more likely if you ask me, things just get worse, the Yankees get swept, and this really is the end of A-Rod in New York.

Girardi Believes Joba Will Pitch This Year

From Roger Rubin:

With reliever David Robertson and outfielder Brett Gardner close to beginning minor league rehab assignments, Joe Girardi is asked daily about their progress. On Saturday he brought other, unexpected, rehab news: reliever Joba Chamberlain is throwing pitches from halfway up a mound. And Girardi believes the righthander will return and contribute for the Bombers this season.

“I believe he’ll be back,” Girardi said. “I am no doctor, no rehab therapist, but just knowing Joba I believe he’s going to be back for us this year.”

Chamberlain was working his way back from Tommy John surgery when he suffered a freak right ankle injury in March. It was called an “open dislocation” where the bone was exposed and there was considerable bleeding, although he claimed both of those aspects were untrue.

The righthander is using a small brace on the ankle and isn’t yet throwing 100%. Girardi said Chamberlain’s mobility isn’t to the point where he can run a sprint, but still can do mound work. He will have difficult tests to pass if he is to make good on his spring training vow to play this year.

“I think his arm is going to be fine,” Girardi said. “I think it’s going to be can he tolerate the pounding you go through as a pitcher — having to cover the base, when you land (and) when you push off? Those are the hurdles he’s going to have to clear.”

Why does Girardi believe Chamberlain will make it back? “Most people I wouldn’t have, but (with) Joba I did,” he said. “When it comes to pain thresholds and a lot of things I’ve seen this kid get through, not many people have done it.”

We'll see what happens, but to me this is just blind optimism from the manager.

Pettitte & Girardi On Pettitte's Return to the Mound

Garcia To Start On Saturday

Following tonight's loss in Arlington, Joe Girardi announced that the Yankees will have their normal rotation after Thursday’s off day and will not be skipping Freddy Garcia. It was widely assumed that the Yanks would skip the struggling right-hander with the Tigers in town this weekend, but instead Garcia will get the ball on Saturday, with Nova pitching on Friday and CC finishing off the series on Sunday. If the Yankees had skipped Garcia, he would likely have pitched on Monday against the Orioles, a scenario that seems to make a lot more sense than the one Girardi decided to go with.

Girardi on Why He Overmanaged Yesterday's 1st Inning

From Chad Jennings:

Girardi said intentionally loading the bases in the first inning was because of the matchup and because of the opposing starter. CC Sabathia had great numbers against Carlos Pena, and Girardi expected a low-scoring game against James Shields. “Sean Rodriguez has hit (Sabathia) hard,” Girardi explained. “And it’s not something I’ll do a lot in the first inning with CC, but as I said, Shields has been pretty tough on us. … I felt good about CC getting him out, but it didn’t work.”

If you're wondering, here was CC's take:

“I knew I had some success off him, but like I said, it’s a lefty so I knew if I make the right pitches then we get out of it. … It was a lefty, so I felt like it was the right move.”

The problem I had with the move (before the home run happened by the way) goes beyond batting average against and any kind of stat. I just feel that you don't manage games in April like it's October. It's far too early in the season for this kind of crap.

Also, and probably more importantly, CC had no command in that first inning and putting him in a situation against a power hitter who has hurt the Yankees in the past, with no margin for error, was just asking for trouble in my opinion. Pena can also hit a fastball and that was all he saw that at-bat, also due to CC's lack of early command. Luckily, it's only game 1 of a very long 162-game schedule and pretty much meaningless.

Could Pineda Open the Season in the Minors?

According to George A. King III, it's definitely a possibility:

Paperwork might determine what the Yankees pitching rotation looks like, and it's not out of the question Michael Pineda could start the season at Triple-A.

Wednesday, for the second straight day, manager Joe Girardi mentioned minor league options and how they may factor into the four-arm competition for the three spots left after CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda.

"That's a possibility,'' Girardi said about a hurler being sent to the minors to start the season. "Some of the guys have options if that's what we need to do. But if it makes us a better team putting them in the bullpen we might do it.''

Phil Hughes has one option remaining, as does Ivan Nova, and Pineda has all three options left, so they can be sent out with fear of being lost. Hughes has 4 years and 113 days of service time. When he gets to five years (in 67 days) he can't be reassigned without permission.

Pineda makes his third exhibition start Thursday against the Nationals and the Yankees will be looking closely to see if the large right-hander's velocity starts to climb.

The article did go on to mention that options might not even be an issue because the guy who doesn't earn the rotation spot could always be added to the bullpen. But options aren't the entire story either.

When 23-year-old Pineda arrived in camp and admitted he was 10 pounds above the 270 he ended last season, the Yankees weren't too concerned because they really didn't know him. Now, they are staying the course when it comes to arm strength, an issue with Hughes last spring that led to a nightmare of a season and may have been the reason he missed significant time with an inflamed right shoulder.

"Some guys are a little bit slower coming along than others,'' Girardi said. "We haven't had him in spring training to really know how he is. We don't want him to conserve but we also want him to be ready to throw 95 to 96 when he is doing it. I don't want him going out there and just airing it out just so he can hit 95, 96 on the gun.''

Girardi is taking into account Pineda's age and one year of big league experience that consisted of a strong first half last season and a drop off in the second.

"You have to see how a guy does and how he responds,'' Girardi said. "This is not a kid who is 27 or 28 years old. Some of these springs are uncharted for him, too. As long as he is going in the right direction, that's the important thing for me.''

It's very early so I wouldn't make THAT much of this. Girardi is probably just covering all his bases, it's spring training, it's what he has to do.

Garcia and Hughes to Battle for 5th Spot in Rotation

From Dan Martin:

With one less choice to make now that A.J. Burnett is a Pirate, Joe Girardi’s decisions become clearer.

Yesterday, the manager indicated that Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia would likely battle for the final spot in the rotation and the batting order and bullpen will look a lot like they did toward the end of last year.

“You hope everyone is throwing well and that you have to make a tough decision,” Girardi said. “You go with an open mind; CC [Sabathia] is the Opening Day starter and go from there. All these guys are expected to be starters. Phil Hughes pitched well in both areas, but we envision him as a starter. Once again, we have a six-man rotation and we’ve got to whittle it down to five.”

Hughes is running out of chances quickly, so it would be great to see him step up and win this spot. That said, as a betting man I wouldn't lay a dollar on that happening.

Girardi: I Expect Jorge To Be On Postseason Roster

From Dan Martin:

Jorge Posada didn't just get the game-winning hit to clinch the Yankees' AL East title on Wednesday, he may also have given manager Joe Girardi more to think about when he puts his postseason roster together.

"It definitely helps," Girardi said of Posada's pinch-hit heroics. "I don't have a 100 percent [decision], but I expect him to be there."

Posada said he was pleased to hear his manager speak with that kind of confidence, because his spot in the postseason is anything but certain.

"I was hoping I was there," Posada said before starting at first base and going 1-for-5 in the Yankees' 15-8 loss to the Rays last night at the Stadium. He also struck out with the bases loaded in the eighth. "It's their decision and I'm glad it sounds like I'm going to be in it."

But Posada wasn't ready to place all the credit on that one single.

"I hope they have more to go on than [Wednesday] night," Posada said. "I hope I've shown them something this year."

I have no problem with him being a member of the postseason roster, whether this year's performance deserves it or not (it does not). DH him vs. lefties and see what you can get out of him. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ended up having a solid postseason.

Congrats To The Greatest Closer Ever

Here's what The Captain had to say about Mo's 600th:

“I think people will realize it when he’s no longer here,” Derek Jeter said. “Yankee fans have been spoiled, baseball fans watching him, us as teammates. You don’t see this. We don’t take him for granted, but I think a lot of people may, because he comes in, you assume it’s over, and the only time you talk to him is when he comes through.”

...

“We’ve been close for a very, very long time. I know how important it is to him to come here and do his job. He takes a lot of pride in doing his job. And he’s done his job better than anyone else… I think that if you ask him, we’re trying to win. We’re trying to win the division, I think that’s probably the first thing on his mind. If the game calls for him to come in, pretty sure he’ll do his job again.”

A-Rod:

“Just to think about every game Mariano has ever pitched has been a meaningful game, and he’s either been in first place or second place, so the pressure you have to add to that. It’s just like Jeet. You’re doing it at Harvard with the Yankees. Every one of those saves meant something. Every one of them. Some of them were against our teams, whether it was Seattle or Texas, and I knew what an incredible competitor he was and what a weapon he was, even when he didn’t pitch. Pretty amazing… He’s at a point in his career where everything he does is groundbreaking. Every save from here until the end is going to be a new record — his own.”

And Girardi:

“It’s a gift, a gift that he has. And he has used his gift to the best of his ability, and has given Yankee fans and baseball a lot to cheer about, and to be proud of. And he’s a great guy too on top of that. He’s a humble guy and you’ll never see Mo walk with his chest up.”

OK, Forget About That Rotation Decision

Apparently Joe Girardi wasn't telling the truth when he said a rotation decision would be made today. That's because after the game, Girardi said that the decision would be postponed.

Apparently he liked what he saw out of Hughes and AJ in Boston and is going to stick with a six-man staff for at least one more time through the rotation. Girardi also said that he spoke to the players today and that helped postpone his decision.

Here are a couple quotes from Girardi via Jon Lane:

“We liked what we saw from our guys in Boston,” Girardi said. “We thought Hughes threw the ball better than the numbers indicated. We liked what A.J. did and I want to see him build on that, another time through with the different mechanics and see what happens. There’s no rush to make this decision.”

...

“I’m real curious. I love what I saw from A.J. in Boston,” Girardi said. “What makes it more incredible to me is here’s a guy fighting for his spot. There was discussion about how he might come out of the rotation and he had a tough August. [He decided] you know what? I’m going to try new mechanics for the first time against the Red Sox. That takes a lot of guts.”

Rotation Decision Made, But It's A Secret

From Josh Thomson:

The biggest story to come out of Joe Girardi’s press conference this morning had nothing to do with today’s game. Girardi told the media that a decision has been made on which of the Yankees’ six starters will be pulled from the rotation, but he won’t make the announcement until after today’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I’ll probably have it for you after the game,” Girardi said. “I just have to make sure that I tell everyone involved.”

While anything can happen, the expectation is that the decision will come down to pulling either A.J. Burnett or Phil Hughes from the rotation. The odd man out will head to the bullpen.

What's with the cliffhanger, Joe?

Anyway, Hughes is probably the one headed to the pen. A.J. pitched better than Hughes his last time out, has a bigger contract, and has already shown Girardi and the Yanks that he can be an effective reliever.

Girardi on Burnett: He's Gotta Pitch Better

From Mark Feinsand:

"There are no locks," Girardi said Sunday of Burnett, who lasted only 1-2/3 innings Saturday against the Twins before storming off the mound while shouting profanities. "You've got to pitch. You've got to perform. It's been a game that's based on performance. You've got to perform."

Asked specifically about Burnett's contract and the perception that he's getting a free pass because of it, Girardi tried to quash that theory.

"The reality is that he needs to pitch better, plain and simple," Girardi said. "We're in a six-man rotation right now because we're forced to be in a six-man rotation, but the reality is that he needs to pitch better."

Burnett will start Friday in Baltimore, as the Yankees will continue with a six-man rotation for another week thanks to Saturday's doubleheader.

"It's a big start for all of our guys," Girardi said. "We need him to bounce back."

...

"You can look at the numbers and say they're kind of similar to what was going on last year. Is it the same? I don't know," Girardi said. "The bottom line is you've got to right it. Our job as a staff, as a manager, as a player, our job is to get him right. We're going to work at it."

With Hughes suddenly finding his form, Burnett is the obvious odd man out when Gacria comes back. Hopefully, this isn't just talk from Girardi and they do in fact bench Burnett if he doesn't turn things around in his next few starts.

Posada To Bench, Chavez To DH For a While

Hallelujah! Girardi Considers Moving Jeter Out of Leadoff Spot

From Mark Feinsand:

Derek Jeter was in his customary leadoff spot Wednesday night against David Price and the Rays, while the red-hot Brett Gardner occupied the No. 9 position.

But with every game that Gardner continues to swing a scorching bat and Jeter struggles, the idea of moving the speedy Gardner into the leadoff spot becomes more attractive.

"He's going so well, it's something I'll definitely consider," Girardi said. "We'll just wait and see what happens."

Moving Gardner atop the lineup will be the easy part for Girardi. Figuring out where to slot Jeter? That would be a challenge.

...

"He hasn't got a ton of hits," Girardi said. "He's had some good at-bats and he's gotten some hits. He had a big hit in Toronto for us, but collectively we haven't necessarily had a lot of this on this road trip. We've had a couple of big games, but we haven't had a ton."

...

"There's some different things that we could do," Girardi said. "We definitely could play with it. I think you think about it more when you have pieces missing. Without Alex in the lineup, it just makes it different, so you think about it a little more."

...

"I think if you're going to make a lineup change, you try to inform everybody, everyone that it affects so that they're not shocked when they show up at the ballpark," Girardi said. "I have respect for these guys and if I'm going to do something, I'm going to prepare for it."

As uncomfortable as that conversation with the Captain has the potential to be, Girardi said he wouldn't hesitate to make a move with Jeter if and when he feels it's necessary.

"I think if you ever have a situation where you have to move a player that is of substantial status - and that was not expecting a move - that you'd sit down and talk to him before you ever did it and tell him your thoughts, his thoughts, and be respectful about it and tell him what you're thinking," Girardi said. "I have to do what I feel is best for the team. When you look at a lineup, you look at how it works together, not independent of one guy. No, I'm not afraid to have that conversation."

This is a move that should have happened last season so at least they're finally openly considering it.

Girardi Unsure About Soriano's Role When He Returns

From Alden Gonzalez:

Tuesday was the day Rafael Soriano made his first rehab appearance since landing on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation on May 17. But it wasn't the day Yankees manager Joe Girardi would say with any certainty that Soriano will reclaim his job as setup man upon returning.

The way Girardi sees it, there's no need to jump the gun.

"Look, I'm not saying what I'm going to do or what I'm not going to do," Girardi explained prior to the second game of a four-game series against the Rays. "The biggest thing is I have to get this guy healthy and know how he's throwing the baseball. If he's throwing the baseball the way that he's capable of, I've got a great thing going, because I have two guys that can do the same job. And that's a great problem to have."

...

When asked on Thursday in Toronto if Soriano would be his setup man when activated, Girardi said: "Let's just see. Let's just get him back first."

Five days later, the manager's thoughts essentially remained the same.

"We have to see how he's throwing and how he's feeling before I can make any determination," Girardi said. "The big thing is we have to get him back healthy and throwing the way that he's capable of. We'll just see what happens. But we have to get him back first."

For now, I think D-Rob has earned the right to keep the setup role. If Soriano comes back and shows he can regain his form from the last few seasons, then it becomes a decision that has to be made, but until then I'd have Soriano in the 7th, D-Rob in the 8th, and of course, Mo in the 9th.

Girardi: Gordon Will Start Tomorrow

After their second straight 12-4 beating of the Rangers, Joe Girardi announced that Brain Gordon will start for the Yankees tomorrow afternoon vs. the Rangers.

"[Gordon's] had an outstanding season in Triple-A for the Phillies," Girardi said after his team's win Wednesday. "It is his day to start, he's actually on his regular turn. Seen a little film on him, not a ton, but a little bit. Seems to throw a lot of strikes, has good command, has a curveball, slider, changeup, and he's a veteran guy. I think he's almost 33 years old, and so we had Noesi up tonight, and he's more built up than Hector because of the way we had to use Hector."

Good luck, Brian. Maybe he can be this year's Aaron Small.

Ortiz To Girardi: "Take it like a man"

From ESPN:

"I don't care what Joe Girardi says," Ortiz said to a New York writer. "Take it like a man. I'm done with that."

Ortiz said he did not flip his bat Wednesday so he could avoid being on the "national news."

"I don't want to have you guys asking me the same questions. I got almost 370 bombs in the big leagues and everybody wants to make a big deal because I bat-flip one of them. (Expletive) that (expletive), man. If I have to make that video on my (expletive), let's see how many bat flips I got on this (expletive). Good night."

What a clown.

Girardi Not a Fan of Ortiz's Bat Flip

Apparently, Joe Girardi wasn't too please with David Ortiz's bat flip after his fifth inning home run last night (video here). Here's what the skipper said after the game:

“I didn’t really care for it,” Joe Girardi said after the Yanks’ 6-4 loss to Boston. “I don’t know if he was upset that he missed some pitches earlier. You know, I’ve got a young kid [Hector Noesi] on the mound. I didn’t know if [Ortiz] was upset that he came in hard on him.”

Ortiz responded:

“I mean, it’s not my first time, it’s not going to be my last time,” Ortiz said when he was informed of Girardi’s comments. “Big deal. I enjoy the game. It’s not like I do it all the time. It’s part of the excitement, you know? … What can I tell you?”

“if [Girardi] was on this side, he would have enjoyed it.”

There always seems to be a line players aren't supposed to cross when it comes to celebrating a home run. At this point in time, the game and the players within it allow sluggers to pose for SportsCenter and stare at their homers as they leave the yard. Years ago this was a punishable offense. Nowadays you have to take your celebration to the next level to really piss of a team.

So, did Ortiz go passed that line of acceptability last night? I think he did, and obviously, so did Girardi. And between that, losing a fifth straight to Boston, and almost losing your first basement to a knee injury, I can't image this was one of Girardi's better nights.

Who knows what he will do if anything, but if I'm Girardi I know what I'm telling Burnett before tonight's game, and involves a fastball aimed right at David Ortiz's knees.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you feel Ortiz crossed the line with his bat flip?