“It stunk,” Zimmer said.

“Somebody said on the bench when it happened that Girardi looked like he was angry. Now I took it that he was angry because his man got hurt — not because anybody did anything wrong. That’s the way I took it, knowing Girardi. And somebody on the bench said he thought Girardi was mad because he bowled him over. I said, ‘No, I don’t think so. That’s not Girardi.’

“Then when I pick up the paper this morning, I was dumbfounded. He blocked the plate. What happens if our man slides in with the plate being blocked and breaks his leg? … I am surprised the way Girardi said what he did. The plate was blocked, and our guy bowled him over. That’s the way to play the game. I mean, I’m talking about a guy who is like a son to me. But I can’t believe he went after it the way he did, because that’s not Joe Girardi — and being a catcher on top of that.”

http://tinyurl.com/2kxv4u

As for retribution, I say forget about it, let it go…it was a stupid kid trying to make the team but if Maddon wants to play his team in this fashion in regular season. Bean them! How many fastballs to the back have Jeter & A-Rod taken over the past few years with no payback?!

Don’t want to get run over, you don’t block the plate.

Don’t want to get hurt, you don’t block the plate.

It is the catcher’s choice whether or not there is a collision. Quit blaming the runner for doing what he’s supposed to do.

I don’t know the protocol about running over catchers in spring training, nor did I see the play. Johnson is a young prospect who had an apparent breakout season in 2006 but was awful last year. Whether he is trying to make an impression or simply was playing hard, there is no reason for Girardi to complain, but of course he has to make a point for his team. Similarly, Maddon has to defend his player, which he did.

Incidentally, there was no other incident in the sense suggested. A Rays player slid hard. The player he hit simply said it was a good play and he had no problem with it. Fans looking for retribution are being stupid.

Like Doreen, I’m sick and tired already of the snide comparisons and attempts to lessen what Torre accomplished here by the constant comparisons to how Girardi handles things now. Why can’t people just admire what Girardi brings to the team withoug having to bring down Torre to do so. Yeah, he had his faults, but he had some great Yankee moments and some fine attributes as a manager. Baffles me that people can’t let their bitterness towards him go. Torre has moved on, why can’t some Yankee fans?

Baseball is a big part of my world, by ‘my’ team is neither the Rays or the Fish.

As I said, after watching the video, I agree that the Rays player shouldn’t have run him over. But the Yankee catcher probably shouldn’t have blocked the plate as aggressively as he did either. It’s just Spring Training right?