BUNGLING JOE STRIKES AGAIN

My sons tell me I am too negative about Joe Girardi.  They point out that the Yankees are six wins from a World Championship, and that Girardi must receive some credit for this achievment.

I must respectfully continue to disagree.  If the Yankees win the World Series, it will be in spite of Girardi, not because of him.  Today’s disastrous loss to the Angels provided a showcase for Girardi’s incompetence.

The game was lost in the 6th innings.  Andy Pettitte had a 3-1 lead.  He did not have his best stuff, but he was handling the Angels’ punch and judy lineup.  With two out, Andy had a man on first and a 2-2 count on Vlad Guerrero.  For reasons passing understanding, Girardi found it necessary to come out to the mound IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AT BAT!   Remember, this is Andy Pettitte, the Yankees most experienced pitcher, a man who has been pitching in the post season since 1996.  What could possibly have been so important that Girardi felt it necessary to go to the mound and break his pitcher’s concentration???

Well, he succeeded.  Andy’s concentration was broken, and he served up a home run ON THE NEXT PITCH.  At that moment, the game was effectively lost.

But Girardi wasn’t done.  Instead of letting Joba Chamberlain start the 7th inning, he let Andy face one batter, then brought in Joba in mid-inning.  With a regular relief pitcher, this approach might have been acceptable, but Joba has been a starter most of the year.  After Girardi jerked him around the last two months of the season, it’s a wonder Joba knows what he is.  Anyway, Joba promptly fell apart and gave up the go ahead run.

In the bottom of the 8th, Matsui led off with a walk.  Girardi promptly pinch ran with Gardner.  Now at this point, the Yankees were losing 4-3, so there is a reasonable argument for putting in the faster runner.  But then Girardi ran Gardner on 0-1, the obvious place to do it.  So obvious that Mike Sciosia easily anticipated the move and pitched out.  Gardner was a dead duck.  Posada homered on the next pitch, tying the game instead of giving us a one run lead.

Worse, the Gardner move meant that there was no one in the five hole to protect Arod.  As a result, Sciosia was able to walk Arod intentionally with two out and nobody on in the ninth.

Finally, in the last inning, David Roberston got two quick outs.  For reasons unfathomable, Girardi abruptly pulled Robertson and brought in Aceves, another right hander.  Aceves had nothing, and immediately gave up two hits and the game.

What can we conclude from today’s debacle?  Two things.  First, Girardi personally threw away this game.  If the Yankees go on to lose this series, Girardi will bear direct responsibilbity for starting the team’s demise.

But second, Girardi cannot manage under pressure.  When things get tight, his insecurities kick in, and he feels compelled to try to control events.  Instead of trusting Pettitte in the 6th inning, he had to come out and meddle.  In the 8th inning, he had to substitute Gardner, with no thought of how it might affect Arod later in the game.  In the last inning, he had to tinker, even though Robertson was cruising.  Like Bobby Valentine, he always makes one move too many.

Girardi manages tight.  He can’t handle pressure.  He does not trust his players.  His bungling may cost the Yankees a chamionship.  If they do prevail, it will be in spite of Girardi and not because of him.

View gormanb's Profile      Subscribe via RSS