Overdoing it!

Angels celebrate their Game 3 win

Hey Joe... I know you want to prove you're Smarter than a 5th Grader... (Shameless Plug for a show seen on PIX11)... But you're overdoing it... What?? Overmanaging!! Joe Girardi's use of the bullpen has been in question earlier in these playoffs but the Yankees won every other game so the questions could be dismissed as nitpicks. But in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Angels Girardi managed the Yankees into a loss... Let's cut right to the chase. Phil Hughes worked a scoreless 9th in a 4-4 game. Move to the 10th. The Yankees didn't score in the top of the inning so Hughes came out to start the bottom of the inning. He promptly allowed a leadoff double to Jeff Mathis. And that was Hughes' last pitch. In came Mariano Rivera. I can't argue that move. Now, Rivera didn't make it easy... throwing the ball to left field on a bunt play. Thankfully Johnny Damon was there to back up the play or else the Yankees would have lost the game right there. Rivera did wiggle his way out of the inning.

Now... the Yankees bat in the top of the 11th. There are 2 outs, nobody on and the Rivera was next at bat. Why??? Girardi lost the DH earlier in the game when he made an outfield switch so that's why the pitcher had to hit. I would have never taken the DH out unless he was injured... But be that as it may... it was done... Instead of letting Rivera hit and most likely end the inning so he could pitch the bottom of the 11th, Girardi sent up Francisco Cervelli to pinch hit. For me, this was not a second guess, it was a first guess. The next half inning... to me... was much more important than that 2 out at bat. I would have let Rivera hit for himself. Cervelli struck out. So we go to the bottom of the 11th.

David Robertson started the inning. He got the first 2 outs so he made my Rivera point seem moot. But then Girardi lifts Robertson for Alfredo Aceves... 2 out and nobody on in extra innings??? Why not leave him in? Aceves promptly allowed a single to Howie Kendrick (who missed the cycle by a double) and then the game winner to that Mathis guy again. Girardi let the Angels back into the series.

In the postgame, Girardi said that he was only going to give Rivera one inning because he had gone 2 and a third in game 2. Uh, Joe, wasn't there an off day on Sunday? The Yankees had a chance to take a stranglehold, 3-0 lead in this series and they blew it. You're conceivably saving him for the next game. What if you're up 12-0 in game 4... or down 12-0 in game 4?? Is Rivera going to pitch? NO! Game 3 was right there for the taking. Of course the possibilities are endless, he could have stayed in the game and allowed the game winning run himself, but at least you go down firing your best weapon. Now the Angels have some confidence back and they'll be a pain in the neck the rest of the way. Chime in Yankee fans... Did Girardi goof?