Pregame notes: Girardi open to starting Posada with Burnett
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Sep 27, 2010 
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Late last season, A.J. Burnett got on a bit of a roll with Jose Molina as his personal catcher, and so Joe Girardi kept the pair together in the playoffs. This season, Girardi has kept Burnett paired with Francisco Cervelli, but those two have not found the same sort of sustained consistency.
This afternoon, Girardi said he’s considering using Jorge Posada to catch Burnett in the playoffs. It’s under such heavy consideration, Girardi planned to have Posada catch tonight’s game before last night became such a grind.
“In the back of my mind, before we went through last night, I was probably going to start him tonight,” Girardi said. “But with the long game, getting in at 3:30 in the morning or 4 o’clock, I just felt that it was probably in our best interest not to. Originally I had plans to start him.”
Posada said he actually expected to start tonight. He had talked to the coaching staff about the possibility and was hoping to be in the lineup. He wants to catch Burnett in the postseason, but he also seemed to respect the idea of sticking with a hot hand.
“If he has a good game today with Cervelli, you have to respect that move,” Posada said.
Girardi more-or-less said Burnett will have one more start this weekend in Boston. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that Posada will catch that game. Girardi said he would want Posada to catch Burnett in the regular season before pairing them in the playoffs.
“I think that would be important for us to do that,” he said. “That’s something I was looking forward to doing, but the way we played last night, it didn’t make a lot of sense.”
• Mariano Rivera and Dave Eiland went to work this afternoon to correct a slight mechanical problem that the Yankees believe is causing some command problems. “He’s on the side of the ball a little bit, so it’s not a huge deal,” Girardi said. “They’ll get it figured out quick.”
• Girardi said Eiland noticed the mechanical issue while studying film. Rivera said he’s physically fine, just hasn’t gotten the results lately.
• Right now, CC Sabathia is still scheduled to start tomorrow. Will that change if the Yankees clinch tonight? “That’s something we’ll have to discuss,” Girardi said. “I hope we have to make that decision.”
• Girardi wouldn’t say whether Phil Hughes will pitch again in the regular season. “We’ll evaluate that again when we need to,” he said.
• Brett Gardner has been sitting quite a bit against lefties lately, and Girardi said that’s all to do with Curtis Granderson being hot. He wants to start Austin Kearns, and Granderson has been to hot to take out of the lineup, so Gardner has been the odd man out.
• Interesting note about Mark Teixeira, who’s started to hit a little bit in the past week or so. “I think he’s got that whip back (in his wrist),” Girardi said. He had talked about that he didn’t have quite that snap that he needed.” That’s obviously because of the bone bruise in his hand. As that’s healed a little bit, Teixeira has bounced back.
• Celebration if the Yankees clinch a playoff spot but not the division? “The division is very important to us and home-field advantage is very important to us,” Girardi said. “I left it up to the players, and if they want to celebrate, I respect that. However they want to do it, they worked very hard this year, and they should do what they want.”
UPDATE, 6:30 p.m.:Well, there were no more panic emails waiting for me today, instead only a series of “You screwed up the rotation!” emails. Hard to argue with any of those.
Obviously I goofed and typed A.J. Burnett when I meant Andy Pettitte for Wednesday’s series finale here in Toronto. I obviously haven’t had much of a chance to change it until now, but I’ll make the fix. Sorry for any confusion. If the Yankees were going with Burnett on one-day’s rest, I assure you I would at least give that news it’s own headline.
Anyway, here’s the Blue Jays lineup.
Travis Snider LF
Yunel Escobar SS
A.J. Burnett RF
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Andy Pettitte C
Adam Lind DH
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
John McDonald 2B
Associated Press photos of Posada and Rivera
Told you Mo was working on the side of the ball.
Actually, I think that tatoo on Phil is a cross…………….I’m surprised they let pitchers have tatoos on their pitching arms.
Aww, poor Mo; I hate seeing photos of him after he’s blown a save………….
IMO, Phil needs to pitch again before the post-season; it would be foolish to have him go into his start on something like 2 weeks’ rest.
I’d pitch CC tomorrow if the Rays win.
Thanks, Chad.
Gotta love how Girardi is leaving it up to the players on how to celebrate.
Someone mentioned on RAB if the Yankees go deep into the playoffs, Hughes could go over 200 IP? That’s significant.
A lot depends on how they line up, how we finish in the division, and how well they think Phil will be on long rest.
m,
You are a serious RAB reader today. Considering leaving us lohudders???
“If they were playing the Angels, then we’d have reason to worry
”
Red Lobster – HAHAHAHA! Since we only need 1 win, that’s not exactly true. But in any case, it’s hilarious! Scio scia! Scio Scia! Scio Scia! Scio Scia! SkyO SkyA SkyO SkyA!!
And on the talk of Alex’ shirt. Let’s just call Alex’s style of shirt the “sexy shirt” because that man looks good in anything he wears! Bazinga!
CC has said that he would prefer to make his playoff start on regular rest. If he pitches tomorrow then he would either have to pitch out of the bullpen this weekend or go in Game 1 on 7 days rest….I don’t think he starts tomorrow.
Man, this year has been more about managing players and their age over anything else. As much as we’ve picked on Girardi this year (especially lately) I am sure there is a lot we don’t know going on about age-related injuries and preventative medicine.
Posada cant catch after a late game? Are you kidding me? I honestly think that to win it all this year, “catching lightening in a bottle” will be an understatement.
IL go out the window in the post-season because it’s another month, but the Yankees should be very careful with Phil. Keep in mind that young pitchers often struggle the year after shouldering a heavy workload and we can’t afford to have that happen with Phil next year.
“This afternoon, Girardi said he’s considering using Jorge Posada to catch Burnett in the playoffs. It’s under such heavy consideration, Girardi planned to have Posada catch tonight’s game before last night became such a grind.”
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Great news. Stay on that train of thought Joe.
LGY,
No, I haven’t been there in a while until last night.
Everyone here must’ve been emotionally exhausted it was a ghost town.
And even today, it’s a little slow, so I’ve been flipping back and forth. But I have never once posted there. I think they would eat me alive.
Ken Burns “10th Inning” is on PBS tomorrow and Wednesday night. Set your DVRs.
Jorge absolutley should catch Burnett in game 4 of the ALCS and Burnett shouldn’t pitch until then….
Exhausted isn’t the word – utter relief is more like it.
Pat, thanks for the reminder; I will definitely DVR it.
Nick in SF, Pat M., SAS And Doreen as well as anyone else familiar with the area I’m looking for pizza burger and other dining suggestions for both Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ. We will be going there for two weeks. I’ve already got two:
In and Out Burger and Bobby Q’s
Thanks,
Keith
Hughes has a gingerbread man on his arm?
No way m. They are all bark, no bite over there. You could handle it, but don’t because it has been weird seeing you report all these things from RAB
At least they’ve pried open the possibility of Posada catching AJ in the post season. They need to pair those two up during the boston series to at least evaluate how it goes.
I think Posada should catch Burnett in the postseason. I understood it last year because Burnett pitched much better to Molina. He really hasn’t pitched great to Cervelli this year. So might as well put Jorge in there.
I can see Rivera calling it a career if his struggles carry over to October, which is not out of the question……Hope I’m wrong about this, but he hasn’t looked real sharp even before the Texas trip…..3 out outings only….
Joe should do more than consider it – he should do it
Pat M, I don’t see it at all…………….he says he’s physically fine. Players don’t retire just because they hit a bump in the road; I think I’d faint dead away from shock if he did that.
Oh and nice to see you back here……………..Phil did himself proud last night!
Mo looked pretty good making Adrian Beltre look silly last night. Something’s going on – the idea that his mechanics are off seems hard to believe given who we are talking about and what his mechanics are. But even robots break cogs sometimes.
I think his arm may be fatigued and that’s causing him to change the way he throws the ball.
Betsy, I didn’t expect you or most people to see it that way to be honest……I’m catching a lane , see all in October
A.J. Burnett RF
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Andy Pettitte C
Andy catching and AJ in right huh?
“I think Posada should catch Burnett in the postseason. I understood it last year because Burnett pitched much better to Molina. He really hasn’t pitched great to Cervelli this year. So might as well put Jorge in there.”
I agree. AJ is so inconsistent you might as well have Posada’s bat in the line-up.
The slump isin’t the concern…. the timing of it is.
Just like with Andy… MO doesn’t have much time to correct whatever is wrong.
Hey, Pat M!
I’ve thoughts of him retiring, too. But only if they win!
Andy, of course, is back for one more.
GO ORIOLES!!!!!
Tis the season when my allergies start to kick my butt. Well I guess spring and fall.
Will try to stay awake for the game, especially for the celebration afterward (Yankees and lohud’s)
GO YANKEES!!!!
The less complaining you do, the better our guys will do. The more you complain, the worse they will do. So if they lose the rest of the season, blame nobody but yourselves!!!
I really don’t think Girardi will let Posada catch AJ in the play offs. I think he is just saying that so Posada doesn’t get mad. If they were thinking about it then he should/would of started catching him a month ago.
With Mo, nothing a few side sessions and the excitment of the postseason won’t cure.
I have a feeling the Showalters are going to come up big for the Yankees the next 3 days.
Catching a plane…..My point about Rivera is not only how he’s losing / giving up leads, it’s the amount of pitches that it taken him this month……..It’s possible that after 20 or so pitches he’s getting tired…….Will he bounce back in October, most likely….However it’s no longer a lock down situation if it’s his 3rd outing in 5 days…..I doubt he’s close to being 100 %….No sacralidge intended
Thank goodness, I thought you were on the freeway.
Don’t disappear until October, you’ve been missed.
Chad, I think you need to get a good night’s sleep tonight. Hopefully it will be after getting a lot of champagne poured on you.
Pat M.
I would have to see it happen first.
Pat M – and none taken. Safe trip, wherever you’re going.
LGY, he definitely has his soldiers in place to play them tough! It’s going to be a fun watch.
interesting stat from tony massarotti from the boston globe:
” Since the trading deadline, the Yankees are 26-22, the Rays are 25-22 and the Red Sox are 24-23.”
http://www.boston.com/sports/c.....hts_o.html
it has been a strange year with these three teams barely over .500 for the last 45 games or so.
Don’t know why anyone would want to catch AJ. Talk about needing a full body ice bath after that. Expect passed balls and a bruised Posada. Let the young boys take AJ Jorge.