The contrast could not be more obvious between what the Yankee manager did and then didn't do in the very next starts of two of his pitchers whom he had mistreated.
Joe Girardi should have been defied by his starting pitchers in 2 of last 3 games when he cost them wins. Thursday, September 14, 2017
Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees (78-66), removed starting pitchers CC Sabathia and Jaime Garcia in the 5th inning with the Yankees leading, thus costing them the opportunity to be the winning pitcher. Starters must go at least five innings to get a win. Relief pitchers can get a win by simply showing up. In both cases a relief pitcher got a win handed to him on a silver platter after the starter pitched by far the most innings of any Yankee pitchers in those games.
Yeah, I know, kill the win. But the reality is that most baseball people still value the win awarded to a pitcher each game. Starting pitchers desperately want that win no matter what they say to not seem selfish.
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Against Minnesota, the team closest to the Yankees in the wild card race:
Garcia:
Monday, September 18, 2017
Start Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Attendance: 30,425
Venue: Yankee Stadium III
Game Duration: 3:16
Yankees 2, Twins 1
Garcia struck out (SO) all three batters in the first inning and nine through four innings. Aaron Judge homered in the bottom of the first. Yankees 1, Twins 0 through four.
First two Twins singled in the 5th, one advancing to third on Judge's error. Where is Girardi? He had pulled Garcia for less reason in Garcia's previous start. The next Twin grounds out driving in an unearned run. Tie game 1-1. The next Twin grounds into a DP.
But wait, Garcia is still out there to pitch the 6th inning. Did Girardi go home? The Twin leading off lines out to deep LC. Still Girardi leaves Garcia in. Brian Dozier, the best Twin HR hitter, is allowed to bat against Garcia. Dozier grounds out to SS. Joe Mauer lines a single to RC. Finally, Girardi replaces Garcia with David Robertson. In the bottom of the 6th the Yankees score the winning run and Robertson gets the win. Garcia still has none as a Yankee.
Sabathia:
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Start Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Attendance: 30,218
Venue: Yankee Stadium III
Game Duration: 3:30
Yankees 5, Twins 2
Yanks led 3-2 through 4 innings. In the 5th Sabathia retired the Twins in order. Easy for Girardi to leave Sabathia in. Yanks increase the lead by one in the bottom of the 5th: 4-2.
Sixth inning: out, single, single. Go ahead run at the plate: Eduardo Escobar, who lines out to second. Girardi sticks with Sabathia. SB. IBB to Byron Buxton. Bases loaded. Lefty Eddie Rosario batting against lefty Sabathia. Rosario flies out to deep left, leaving the bases loaded.
Girardi replaces Sabathia to start the 7th inning with Chad Green. Sabathia gets the win (12-5).
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So, how come there was not a comparable amount of media attention to Girardi backtracking completely from his actions and statements from the week before?
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