Pregame notes: Girardi handles issues in-house
Posted by: Josh Thomson - Posted in Misc on Jul 18, 2010 
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With George Steinbrenner’s unique methods a major topic of discussion this week, it was easy to contrast how he probably would have dealt with A.J. Burnett yesterday to how Joe Girardi handled it. The Yankee manager said he was disappointed with Burnett but stressed the importance to move forward, knowing he needed the most out of Burnett from now until October — and maybe beyond.
Girardi said this morning that although it appeared his response was tepid, it doesn’t always mean it was so in private. He believes that keeping team-bases issues in-house allows him to maximize his players’ performance.
“My job is to get the most out of our players,” Girardi said. “How we do things behind closed doors is how I choose to do them knowing my players. How I do them in public might be different than what I do behind closed doors.
“I’ve never felt that it’s advantageous to talk about what we do behind closed doors and what takes place or to air out a player in public. Players know when they screw up most of the time. They do. Some managers may choose to do it a different way, but that’s the way I think I get the most out of my players. We deal with situations in-house.”
As I mentioned in the previous post, Derek Jeter did not offer an opinion on Burnett’s outburst, saying only that Burnett apologized and the club had moved on.
Earlier, Jorge Posada said he didn’t originally know why Burnett had left the game. He has exploded in frustration before but normally takes it out on something other than a door.
“It happens,” Posada said. “I usually use my equipment.”
Girardi said his outbursts were typically verbal rather than physical. He threw a pool stick once when he was 8 through wall paneling in a pool room his dad had built. That taught him he probably shouldn’t throw things, he said.
• The Yankees don’t really have a long man for today’s game, Girardi said. Chan Ho Park and Boone Logan are probably both available for two innings. He also could push David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain for more than three outs if need be. Javy Vazquez will also throw his bullpen later than normal in case he is needed in a unique situation, like a long extra-inning game.
• Sergio Mitre threw successfully yesterday. The club will monitor how he feels today and assess where it stands after the game. It seems like he could be a go for Tuesday.
• Alfredo Aceves threw on flat ground yesterday successfully. He will continue his throwing program.
• Jeter said he hadn’t spoken to Yogi Berra but had heard Yogi will be OK. Posada said he hoped to get in touch with Berra today by phone.
Well, I agree with Joe handling things in house………..and if he got on AJ in private, than I’m fine with that. I never liked how George would call players out in public; I just never found humiliation a good way to inspire players to do better.
Betsy-
With all due respect and you know that I’m usually pretty civil to you lol, I would trust SJ’s views of the inner workings of a big league clubhouse more than you considering his experience around the game. I’m sure the players are a little bit upset about AJ’s stunt but I doubt that chances their views on him in the long run. He’s a competitor who was struggling and acted stupid. We’ve all done it whether in life or sports. He will be quickly forgiven if he hasn’t already and that forgiveness will onlly quicken further if he can get it turned around from here on out.
Oliver, I thought I was the only one who remembered that Eiland said that about Phil. He does tend to be very honest about his pitchers………
Tyler, should I be grateful that you are civil to me? What does that mean?
I don’t care if you believe SJ or not – it doesn’t bother me.
I have no idea what SJ’s experience around the game is, but I venture to guess things would be a tad different if AJ had broken his hand.
Betsy-
I never said that. I was just prefacing my opposite view so you didn’t get upset haha.
And Jack Curry and Kim Jones don’t know clubhouses? They were in there yesterday!!
Just because they say something critical about a Yankee, doesn’t mean they are wrong. They have more credibility than anyone on this blog.
“I have no idea what SJ’s experience around the game is, but I venture to guess things would be a tad different if AJ had broken his hand.”
Of course they would. Even Jeter wouldn’t be so forgiving under those circumstances. The team said that they have moved past it and I think that we should as well. What’s done is done.
Tyler, why would I be upset with you? I don’t get upset with opposing opinions; I get upset when I get attacked and talked down to for my opinions – and that is what SJ does. I have no desire to take his crap anymore.
I’ll guarantee that Burnett’s standing in the clubhouse is a Hell of a lot stronger than Chamberlain’s.
Laura, that’s fine – but although I still love AJ personally, I’m still upset with him. The players can move on (if they have), but I don’t have to.
Not doubting things are different at all. I’m sure their is still skepticism around especially if he gets shelled early on against KC. How will he react? In a sense, he will have to earn some respect back with how he handles adversity as he showed he can be very childish and immature in that sense. However, you are quicker to forgive your teammates than others. If he did apologize to the team, then it is water under the bridge. You can’t keep yourself concerned with that or you are going to go on a nice losing streak with the distraction. You trust him like you did in game 2 of the World Series last year to bounce back after the bad game 5 against the Halos and you go out to battle.
# Broker July 18th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
And Jack Curry and Kim Jones don’t know clubhouses? They were in there yesterday!!
Just because they say something critical about a Yankee, doesn’t mean they are wrong. They have more credibility than anyone on this blog.
I’m sure the mood in the clubhouse would have been different if they won the game. Can’t judge the clubhouse after the team got its ass kicked. At the same time they are just reporting what was said. Who cares.
The funniest part is that AJ thought people would believe that he cut his hand tripping on the stairs. Not even Carl Pavano can do that.
Eiland using the Phil Jackson approach of getting through to stubborn players.
Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) July 18th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Laura, that’s fine – but although I still love AJ personally, I’m still upset with him. The players can move on (if they have), but I don’t have to.
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You’re right you don’t have to and I’m sure many fans won’t (myself probably included) which is perfectly fine. But as a player you can’t hold a grudge against the guy you got to be united or you are going to find yourself quickly looking up against the Red Sox and Rays. The one thing that has been constant the past 2 years has been chesmitry with the additions of Swish, Grandy, and even AJ and Damon a few years back. You gotta keep that going and trust each other.
“I’ll guarantee that Burnett’s standing in the clubhouse is a Hell of a lot stronger than Chamberlain’s.”
That isn’t exactly saying much. Josh Beckett probably has more standing in the Yankee clubhouse than Chamberlain…..
get attacked and talked down to for my opinions – and that is what SJ does. I have no desire to take his crap anymor
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The real SJ is away. This guy is an impostor. Most of the negative crap comes from the impostor, IMO.
Laura, I can still be angry at A.J. because of a petulant child that cannot let things go.
Interpretation complete.
Tim-
He probably just couldn’t think of a better excuse at the heart of the moment. He was embarrassed. What is a logical way that he could have cut his hands in the middle of the ball game? Making a PB&J?
# mick July 18th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
AJ , at the very least, is immature.
No crime in that. Just doesn’t fit well on a championship ballclub.
If he were with the Royals, so be it, but not here.
If you think Jeter condones it, think again.
He despises it, but is mature enough to act like a Mgr/Capt. and move the team on.
Pointing it out as a fan is not wrong and calling it psychobabble is nonsense.
Everything in here is psychobabble.
LIsten to Eiland, is that psychobabble, he says the same things you hear here. Here, here!
“Laura, that’s fine – but although I still love AJ personally, I’m still upset with him. The players can move on (if they have), but I don’t have to.”
Very true, but why disrupt your enjoyment of AJ’s future performances by brooding over this? This is not his first mistake and I guarantee you that it won’t be his last. In the grand scheme of things, it was bad, but not horrible. A broken hand would have been horrible.
It’s your call, but I’m 100% sure you’ll be happier if you just move on.
Joba is hard to read lol. I was as attentive as anybody in the dugout at Old Timers’ Day it seemed but he is just hard to read. Has 3 fantastic outings where he’s blowing guys away and then bam, he lets the inning get away from him and 3 runs score. Mechanics and focus.
Tyler, I’m not suggesting that the Yankees shun AJ or that they would come close, but how does anyone know that they won’t privately think differently of him? I’m sure he’ll still have a good relationship with his teammates, but as to real respect? The players won’t ever reveal their true feelings, but I’m sure they don’t feel the same way about AJ.
is not his first mistake and I guarantee you that it won’t be his last. In the grand scheme of things, it was bad, but not horrible. A broken hand would have been horrible
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Whether he broke his hand or not is not the issue.
The fact that he exposed himself and teammates to that possibility is where the problem lies.
I think, in the grand scheme of things, this is very minor.
And I’m going to scold Josh here a bit. I can’t recall seeing a Breaking News heading like that. Certainly not for something this minor.
On the scale of “crimes” ball players have committed, this is so manini.
“If you think Jeter condones it, think again.”
No one said or believes that Jeter condones it. Jeter has shown in the past that he will put up with just about anything if he thinks a guy will help them win. Look at Alex’s first few years with the Yankees. The Yankees need AJ to win. As long as that’s the case, Jeter will put on his public face and say whatever he needs to say to get the team focusing on what’s important….winning.
relationship with his teammates, but as to real respect? The players won’t ever reveal their true feelings, but I’m sure they don’t feel the same way about AJ.
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They certainly don’t love him in the way you do.
They need him. You just have a crush on him.
ugh another game with Dewayne Staats! I can’t stand this guy. I wonder how Steinbrenner watched the games in Tampa. Did he have a private feed?
On the scale of “crimes” ball players have committed, this is so manini.
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Unless he actually broke the hand, right?
People would be thrilled if he broke his hand. They say the stupidest things anyway. They’d be happy not to see his struggles & inconsistencies. Oh, then they could go back to yammerin’ about how he can’t stay off the DL.
Numbers looking ugly for the Yanks today.
8-0, Rays will win.
No one on this blog has a clue as to what AJ’s teammates think about him or what occurred so why doesn’t everyone stop speculating and giving their two cents which probably have nothing to do with the truth. I’m with they Yankees ..it’s a dead issue.
On to the game and cheering Andy on to #12 …
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
“He threw a pool stick once when he was 8 threw wall paneling in a pool room his dad had built.”
threw wall paneling?
Why are so many people hanging onto the AJ thing? It’s over, get a life, and move on.
Re: A.J. (“Burnout”) Burnette:
Its too bad that the yanks couldn’t land Cliff Lee, because a perfect a perfect follow-up trade would have been Burnette to the Philly’s (since they need pitching) for Jayson Werth (Since the Yanks need a stick. It I were the yanks, I would have paid part of A.J.’s contact just to get it off the Books.
What a waste!! He receives a long term contract for big bucks and is little more than 1 500 pitcher over his career. And what’s more he’s a head case, which the yanks don’t need. The best thing he does is throwing pies in team mates faces after they bail him out.
Back up the truck and say good bye to him.