THE EDUCATION OF JOE GIRARDI

Over the past few weeks Girardi has been repeatedly slammed for what has been described as chronic mismanagement, including but not limited to: consistently over-managing; misusing the bullpen; recklessly pinch-running for star players without any consideration for the consequences; and other crimes against humanity.  Indeed, a good amount of this criticism has come from this blog (though not from the authors of this post). 

But the last two games have shown instances of Girardi learning from his mistakes, and showing restraint where he has recently shown panic.  A prime example is the bullpen.  Girardi’s use of the bullpen in the first two rounds of the playoffs was riddled with pitching changes with his best relievers based on shortsighted individual pitching matchups – with many of these changes taking place mid-inning, and after the previous pitcher had obtained only one or two outs.   The result: when these close games went into extra innings, all the best relievers were already used and out of the game, after throwing only a handful of pitches each. 

Tonite’s performance, however, showed a more measured approach.  Andy Pettitte hurled 6 strong innings, handing the bullpen a 3-run lead.  Girardi went with Joba in the 7^th, and Marte in the 8^th, and did not pull either of these pitchers even when the pitching matchups may have favored such a change.  The only mid-inning pitching change he did make was in the 9^th, when Hughes, after getting a quick out, gave up a homerun to Ruiz.  But with slugger Matt Stairs due up next, Rollins on deck, and Utley and Howard lurking soon thereafter, it was important to close this game out before the Phils could amass any more momentum.  And there’s no better dose of Yankee reality than Mariano Rivera.  Girardi made the right move. 

Girardi is also pulling the proper levers with the position players.  For instance, starting Hairston in Game 2 for Swisher, in which Hairston got a key hit, allowed Swisher to take a break and clear his head.  All of this led to a dynamic performance by Swisher in Game 3, wherein he hit a key double, and a solo homerun, to help propel the Yankees to victory. 

In short, rather than repeating the mistakes of the last two series, Girardi is making adjustments in his management style, and appears to be finding a rhythm.  The Yankees, thanks in no small part to Girardi’s steady management in this Series, now find themselves up 2-1 in the Series with Sabathia slated to pitch in Game 4.

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