Silverman: Girardi Showed Plenty Of Guts With A-Rod Benching
Girardi's detractors have to give the manager full marks for making the decision, executing it and doing it in such a manner that didn't cause angst in the clubhouse.
Watch CBS News
Girardi's detractors have to give the manager full marks for making the decision, executing it and doing it in such a manner that didn't cause angst in the clubhouse.
The Tigers and Yankees face short turnarounds for Saturday night's series opener, with Cabrera and Rodriguez in the spotlight for far different reasons.
Alex Rodriguez started the Yankees' biggest game of the year on the bench. After being pinch-hit for in Games 3 and 4 against the Baltimore Orioles, the $275 million third baseman was removed from the starting lineup for Game 5 on Friday.
Most of us have a slice of sadism in us, so giving at least a little grin while A-Rod flops around the batter's box like a marlin is understandable. But we've now reached redundancy, overkill and adolescent behavior. Let's leave that to those more qualified.
It all comes down to this: a do-or-die Game 5 at Yankee Stadium. New York has to like its chances with Sabathia on the mound.
A-Rod is suddenly expendable. And moveable. Not good. We'll see what happens this afternoon in Game 5 -- he could look back on this series as the beginning of the end.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Formerly fearsome hitters Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez could both be sacrificed in a drastically different Yankees lineup Friday.
With midnight approaching, the Baltimore Orioles' bats awoke one more time. Now they have a last shot to finally overtake the New York Yankees.
I heard Yankees fans whine about Russell Martin, Joe Girardi, Ichiro Suzuki and, well, everyone but the sainted captain at shortstop. I had to roll my window down a foot in case of car (and fan) sickness.
Joe Girardi must finish the job. He took the first step when he put Alex Rodriguez (.083 in the series) on the bench in the ninth inning on Wednesday night and had Raul Ibanez pinch-hit for him. He must now leave him there.
The celebrations have passed -- and Game 4 will provide a fresh challenge for Rodriguez and the Yankees.
Joe Girardi, so often criticized for relying his trusty stats binder, just had a feeling. And it worked. Boy, did it ever.
"I trust our guys," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I'm with them every day. I'm with their approach every day, and it's important that they trust me."
We're told that pitching wins World Series titles. Yet we refuse to listen when we find a proper punching bag, preferably swathed in pinstripes and No. 13 bulging from his back.
With every swing and miss, memories of A-Rod's amazing run during the Yankees' championship season in 2009 fade even further.
I know you're feeling the anxiety during these games. It's okay. That's what you're supposed to feel. It's October baseball.
He has to give a lineup change serious consideration. It's not about ego at this point. It's about surviving and advancing. Chavez could launch a homer or two over the right-field porch, and there's little doubt that Ibanez would hit the ball hard.
There's nowhere for A-Rod to hide -- Joe Girardi isn't ready to drop him in the batting order. As the Yankees' No. 3 hitter, he's going to have to start carrying his share of the load.
Cano's hot streak lit a fuse for his teammates. Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki all were hitting the ball with authority over the last two weeks.
In every game the Yankees lost, they looked old and slow. In September, those old guys played with veteran savvy and experience. So, which is it?
Get ready for some more edge-of-your-seat baseball. This is the fun part.
The Yankees' big bats continue to struggle in clutch situations.
When the thunder and lightning doesn't happen -- it may not against the better pitchers they'll face in the ALDS -- it would be a comfort for Girardi to know that the Yankees can still generate some high, crooked numbers without leaving the yard.
This hasn't been the smoothest of seasons for C.C. Sabathia. He's still coming through when it counts for the New York Yankees.
Despite the defeat, the Yankees have to like their chances to win the division — their final 10 games are against three teams with records below .500.
