Let me introduce Joe Girardi. Girardi is, as you can see, the new head coach for the New York Yankees this season. Girardi was also a player, a catcher, that played for 14 years in the major leagues I might add. An incident occurred in Spring Training last Sunday. There was a play at the plate in the Yankees game against Tampa Bay. Elliot Johnson, an infielder for the Devil Rays was hustling to try and beat out a throw, and in the process lowered his shoulder and took out catcher Francisco Cervelli for the New York Yankees breaking the catcher's wrist. Johsnon is a member of the 40-man roster. What this means is that he's technically on the team, but not necessarily on the major league roster. He's trying to make the ball club. The day this all went down was his 24th birthday.
Joe Girardi didn't like the actions that Johnson took. Spring Training is looked at as practice games to some because the games don't have any impact on the standings in the regular season. Girardi thought that this was over the line, and that it was uncalled for, implying that these games are "practice" and shouldn't be played at 100 percent Pete Rose had this to offer:
"There's one way to play the game of baseball and that is to win. If you try to win and you are within the rules, that's the only way to play ... I don't know why Joe Girardi would get mad; he's a catcher and that's what happens."
I completely agree. Girardi has no right to argue the fact that Elliot Johnson was giving 200%, and is trying to earn himself a spot on the permanent roster. Tisk, tisk Joe.
On a side note, how about Tommy Lasorda arguing a foul ball call today? #2 can still get down to business.
Related question today is: Joe Girardi caught a perfect game in his career. The pitcher, David Cone. The team? Well that's the question.
1 comment:
Dude...try to keep the posts about the Yankees to a minimum. Yankee is a swear word in my house and talk of the "team which shall not be named" only happens if negative connotations are included.
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