Girardi: “That’s the decision I made and I have to live with that decision”
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No surprise that much of the Joe Girardi and A.J. Burnett press conferences focused on the never-ending saga of who will be the starting catcher for the Yankees in Game 2. One thing is for sure: Girardi knows the gravity of his decision but said he’s confident in his choice and will “have to live with” it.
In terms of news value, there wasn’t much; the closest thing was when Girardi wouldn’t commit to catching Jose Molina with Burnett for the rest of the postseason, saying that the Yankees would cross that bridge if and when they come to it. Here’s the audio.
Burnett did his best to deflect the issue on to himself, repeatedly mentioning that he’s had success with Posada (as well as Molina) and saying that he’s the one who is ultimately responsible for whether he pitches well or poorly – not the guy behind the plate. Here’s his audio.
UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: Just something I noticed as I was researching a column for tomorrow: The last time the Yankees started a catcher other than Posada in the playoffs was Oct. 7, 2005, when John Flaherty caught Randy Johnson.
How’d it work out then? Johnson allowed five runs and nine hits in three innings and the Yankees lost to the Angels, 11-7 (check out the box here). Obviously Girardi is hoping for a better result this time.
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on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 3:18 pm by Sam Borden.
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iTunes
Chad Jennings
Josh Thomson
We are so far superior to the Twins, it isn’t even fun beating them. I actually feel kind of bad. They are a nice, scrappy team with no money. Good fans, good organization.
I’m trying to get this postseason audio thing ironed out.
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You need your own audio blog. lol
MR.OCTOBER,
I wouldn’t question his passion to win. Kim Jones mentioned something very touching yesterday, that Jorge cried last year because he was going on the DL. I always thought he was a team player. Others may beg to differ, but he’s a leader, & a true Yankee. I have the greatest respect for him.
Today is the 53rd anniversary of Larson’s perfect game? Wow– the WS was played so early back then. When was the ALDS? August?
They have lots of money. Their late owner was very wealthy. They choose not to spend it. I feel sorry for their fans, but that’s about it.
Wait until Mauer leaves and ends up with the Yankees or Sox.
Mr. Oct -
Goes with what I was saying – that passion and intensity combined with the high probability that he’ll be a manager. It’s something to look forward to.
Mike
‘When was the ALDS? August?’
I’m hoping you’re being sarcastic
Sam,
Thanks for that. I was wondering what that little smile and laugh was about.
As for Girardi, it’s really nice to see him manage with confidence and conviction. Good sign of leadership as far as I’m concerned.
And I agree with Jones, AJ done good.
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repost:
pat,
Thanks for that. It was sooo good to see CMW in the dugout. Really great.
Last night, someone from Taiwan was saying he (don’t remember if it was the fan or CMW) would rather stay with the Yankees and do his rehab and what not.
We can shelve this discussion until the winter, but I hope they can work something out.
There was some Matsui talk yesterday, too. I know people want to leave that spot open for Jorge and the other vets, but how can you let Matsui and his 28+ homeruns walk? You know he’ll go to another AL team (Seattle? lol) and how are you going to replace his production?
Mike there was no ALDS back then. Just a championship series of East vs. West in each league, then the Fall Classic.
I like Mauer, but I really think it’d be something if he stayed with the Twins. He grew up in Minny, that’d be something special to be with a team who you grew up watching.
Andrew, not even an East vs West. There were no East/West. Best record in each league played in the WS.
Only went to divisions in the 70’s
Correction, first E vs W was in 1969
Yeah I’m dumb, I will use youth as my excuse, young and stupid raised in a loosey-goosey era of 3 rounds of baseball playoffs.
“Only went to divisions in the 70’s”
GB needs to give a history lesson.
Divisional play (AL East) started in 1969
Before that it was just AL winner vs. NL winner
Mike October 8th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Today is the 53rd anniversary of Larson’s perfect game? Wow– the WS was played so early back then. When was the ALDS? August?
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lol
Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist October 8th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Mike there was no ALDS back then. Just a championship series of East vs. West in each league, then the Fall Classic.
Naw, the first Championship series was played in 69. The best record would win the Pennant then go to the World Series.
loosey-goosey is right, but nowadays also a COLD goose playing in late October!
We could get November baseball again this year, as well, thanks to the beloved World Baseball Classic.
personally I think the smile on the throw/pitch comment is from the fact that AJ was historically a great thrower but not a great pitcher and something he spent significant time working while pitching with and learning from Doc.
m
I thought at one time if they had to choose between Damon and Matsui for next year, the choice would be Damon.
Because of all the clutch hits Matsui has had I’m not so sure.
I’m glad the decision isn’t mine.
We WILL get November baseball. Fourth game of WS is set for Nov 1
Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist
October 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Yeah I’m dumb, I will use youth as my excuse, young and stupid raised in a loosey-goosey era of 3 rounds of baseball playoffs.
****
Its definitely not your fault. We youngins were raised in a very loosey goosey time like you said
Without Posada the Yankees are sitting at home.
Get a clue all you haters
“During his answer, he mentioned how he used to watch postseason games with his wife and say how great it would be when he “get a chance to throw in the postseason.”
As he told the story today, he quickly corrected himself. “I mean pitch in the postseason,” he said, and smiled. Why? Because technically he has already thrown in the postseason – his first post-surgery long-toss session came on the field at Yankee Stadium during the Florida Marlins workout before Game 1 of the 2003 World Series.”
Sam,
It sounds like this might be a reference to A.J. being a “pitcher” and not a “thrower”. As you may recall, this topic came up when he first joined the Yakees–he discussed what he had learned with Roy Halladay and how was no longer a “thrower” like he was when he was with the Marlins, instead he had matured into a “pitcher”. Just a thought.
pretty amusing “article” on orlando cabrera’s terrible Bo Jackson impersonation…
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....mlb,194747
tk, great minds think alike…Greater minds do it 3 minutes faster! j/k
m
Not opposed to seeing Matsui back in the pinstripes for the right price and the right job description.
As far as his HR and RBI though, we were saying the same thing about replacing Giambi and Abreu’s production last year just about this time and they found a way to work that out this year.
No one is irreplacable.
not only did things change a bunch in 1969 (Divisional play) -
two years later in 1971, the first World Series game at night was played.
Yes boys and girls, before 1971 all World Series games took place in the daytime.
Sounds like good stuff – can’t wait to catch this for myself later. Joe’s right – he will suffer the consequences if this decision hurts the Yankees.
LOL Kay was just talking about how AJ, when he was with the Marlins (talking to Andrew Marchand), got so annoyed with Billy the Marlin that he threw a ball threw the back of a moving van and broke the glass. AJ told Tyler Kepner earlier this season that he wished they would reshow that clip via blooper reels at YS (they cut it out apparently when AJ signed).
AJ’s been wanting this for a long time – he’s still upset that he didn’t get a chance to pitch in 2003. I hope he pitches well …..for the team’s sake and for his sake.
“We could get November baseball again this year, as well, thanks to the beloved World Baseball Classic.”
It’s not even in question.
Game 4 of the Series is on Nov 1st.
DT – OPPC member (blood type – Positive)
October 8th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
not only did things change a bunch in 1969 (Divisional play) -
two years later in 1971, the first World Series game at night was played.
Yes boys and girls, before 1971 all World Series games took place in the daytime.
****
Wow. So basicially EVERYONE complained about day games
i didn’t once hear girardi mention anything about posada lacking the ability to catch the ball and throw the ball or call a game.
what he said was sometimes catchers and pitchers click for unknown reasons.
he said this is one game at a time.
girardi doesn’t sound anything like the morons on this blog who say he can’t frame a pitch. or block a pitch, or call a game.
so far all the players and management involved are saying all the right stuff.
i still believe it was a situation that the team could have avoided by having posada catch burnett whenever possible.
girardi is a rookie playoff manager.
he’s answering a whole lot of questions he wouldn’t have to be answering if he simply paired burnett and posada earlier.
HAHA ORLANDO CABRERAS BO JACKSON IMPRESSION!!! THATS GREAT!
IT LOOKED LIKE IT HURT!
I got goosebumps just now at the memory of Derek Jeter’s iconic Mr. November homerun
pat,
True dat. But I don’t know if we can survive losing both Hideki’s and Molina’s bats.
Helton reminds me of Det. Lupo (sp?) from Law & Order.
Flaherty gets on my nerves.
He acts like he was one of the best players. Sometimes he does give good insight, I’ll give him that. Then, there are times I’m iffy about him.
Just to play devil’s advocate for a second-
Doesn’t everyone usually criticize Girardi for being TOO by the book and never following his gut?
He is obviously just going with his gut here. I am going to trust his intuition and hope this all turns out for the best. I really think its going to be okay.
On that note- 26 hours and 15 minutes until Game 2!!!!!
After Jorge’s performance behind the plate last night, the only place he deserves to be tomorrow night is on the bench. Sit in the corner Jorge, see you in game 3..maybe this time you’ll hustle
WHen did they finally get lights at Wrigley? It was even after that, wasn’t it? And when they started have night playoff games everyone wondered how they would handle Cubs home games and how they’d all have to be in the day time, etc. But the Cubs just never let it get to that. What good sports they were!
new thread
Guys:
Just checked with another reporter and you all may be right. I took out the reference to that anecdote from AJ because I’m not sure of his exact meaning. Either way, I think he did the right thing by trying to take the focus away from the catcher situation; that’s what a good teammate would do.
“Jorge’s performance behind the plate last night”
So because he’s a human who made a mistake, on that particular one night, he deserves to be benched?
Did you forget how long he’s been playing. Give the guy a break.
“Wow. So basicially EVERYONE complained about day games ”
you had to play hooky to see the World Series on TV.
most kids would just sneak a 9-volt transistor radio to school.
(now you can ask – what is a 9 volt transistor radio?)
here ya go – http://blog.makezine.com/P1010001_5_4449.jpg
back then if you wanted to steal music you didn’t use Napster, you got on your bike and rode to the music store and shoplifted a 45 rpm.
Molina needs to be kept as sharp as possible, too, because if the Yanks play the Angels, they will be running. Whether we want to admit it or not, Posada’s arm stinks at this stage of his career.
Hokiehill, thanks for that link. i noticed the ‘attempt’ last night. funny stuff!
Sara says:
“After Jorge’s performance behind the plate last night, the only place he deserves to be tomorrow night is on the bench. Sit in the corner Jorge, see you in game 3..maybe this time you’ll hustle”
Amen. I’m a Posada supporter. But after his game last night, he deserves to watch from the bench. Stop pouting and wake-up!
“Hokiehill
October 8th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
tk, great minds think alike…Greater minds do it 3 minutes faster! j/k”
Good one! So we’re on the same page like A.J. & Molina?
whatever girardi thinks is the right way to go is fine with me. he’s done a great job coaxing production from damon, matsui, swisher and melky/gardner all season.
this is just the kind of move joe torre would never make.
besides, a p’d off jorge in the other games is a good thing.
John in Ohio, this was discussed in the last thread…look up the stats on % of guys thrown out by Posada and Molina and you may adjust the tune your singing.
Jorge deserves a lot more credit than you chumps are giving him this year. Yeah he had 2 passed balls but CC did have a monster performance last night. If he had pitched poorly it would have been Posada’s fault but if he pitches well he gets no credit.
The bottom line is that it’s silly either way. Jorge typically plays solid defense and has thrown out the same % as Molina this season. Compare his batting average v Molina and it’s no contest who is the better player.
Molina has been huge for us the past 2 seasons and I’m all for Joe putting him in if he thinks that’s best for the team, but you guys all need to get off of Jorge’s jock and chill with the hating. The Sox could use a few more fans and Pete a few more commentors if that’s your style.
“you had to play hooky to see the World Series on TV.
most kids would just sneak a 9-volt transistor radio to school.”
My fifth grade teacher, a Mets fan, brought a tabletop set to school in October ‘73 so we could listen to the first few innings of the weekday NLCS and World Series games. The school made her stop after game 2 of the WS. Sheesh.
Hey guys, remember me? I’m lonely here in Boston…..
Girardi is still PO’d that Jorge took is job.
Any way, Jorge played a crappy game last night, didn’t he? One of the worst I’ve seen him play.
But, Jorge needs to start, no matter the pitcher. Girardi KISS – keep it simple stupid.
seems to me that girardi handled himself pretty well there, and that he was fairly forthcoming. i’d say he’s making strides and growing into the managerial position…
as an aside, i just want to say how wonderful it is to get audio like this. as a lifelong yankees fan (my father was born and raised in the bronx, and blessed with a mother who spent weeks if not months hunting an apartment with a view of the rightfield stands!) who now lives in japan, this audio really takes me into the locker room, makes me feel such a sense of immediacy, and being there. keep up the great work!
Oct. 7, 2005, when John Flaherty caught Randy Johnson.
The last game I’ve been to and it was something to see RJ in trouble and 55 thousand people chant “We Want Small”. None louder than me