Mariano Rivera is back with the team, as we await official word for them to cancel this game. Seriously, it's torrential rain out there. I don't know why they haven't called it yet. Even if it stopped right now, the field would be too wet to play. They opened the gates to fans, and usually they'd have a large crowd as soon as the gates opened. The weather's so bad that Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter each went to the concession stand -- seriously -- to get an ice cream cone. Trust me, they're not mingling with the Fenway fans normally. There'd be a brawl with some drunken Sawx fans.
As for serious matters on Rivera, he is considering surgery to repair calcifications over the AC joint in his right shoulder. He has seen two doctors, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Altcheck, and has been told he can either try to treat it with cortisone injections or have surgery. Surgery is more of a sure fix but there is always some inherent risk, even in a relatively minor surgery.
Rivera sounded like he is leaning towards the surgery, though that's not official. Either way, he should be ready for spring training. He may even pitch on Sunday to try to save a win for Mussina. He has been pitching with this all season, he said, but did not tell anybody about the shoulder pain until Wednesday.
As for yesterday, Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman had planned to reveal the shoulder issue. But Mariano called Girardi in the 4:00 hour yesterday, shortly before Girardi met with the media, and asked Girardi not to mention the shoulder pain, as Rivera wanted to address us directly today. Girardi tried to follow Rivera's wishes, but then word got out about his shoulder and Girardi was still trying not to mention the shoulder issue.
Today Rivera got mad at reporters for calling Girardi a liar. He said he was watching the postgame and he was very upset. Girardi, however, apologized for the way he handled it. He said he knows he needs to be better at addressing injuries and that is a goal for next year.
Brian Cashman was asked about his status. He said he hasn't made a decision yet about returning, but that it will not drag on.
If the Yankees play a split doubleheader Sunday, as seems likely, Girardi will let Mike Mussina pick which game he wants to pitch.
Mussina appeared amused by Jim Palmer's telling a Maryland TV station he had talked to Mussina and Mussina doesn't think he'll pitch in 2009. Mussina said he's not leaning any way.
Comments (6)
I have much bigger concerns about Girardi than his novice clumsiness with the media.
When he has learned a great deal more about who should play and when, and the order in which they should bat (on a level of sophistication above leftyrightyleftyrighty), and when to bunt and when not, and when and how to use the hit-and-run, and how long to wait to sit regulars for bad play or lack of hustle, and most especially how to gather up a bunch of giant egos into one big joint effort -- that will be plenty of time to focus on his callowness in terms of making media contact work for the team.
I was in favor of hiring Girardi as Torre's replacement and I still think he's smart, hardworking, and ambitious. The question that is still unanswered in my mind is whether he can be flexible enough to recognize and learn from his mistakes.
If the answer is yes, then we should see recognizable changes next season in the areas I mentioned above.
Diane: I believe Girardi has the smarts to learn from his mistakes or a player of his talent would not lasted as long and caught for 3 WS teams. He makes adjustments as he learns. Give him time and a lineup that will not decompose before his eyes with no bench to pick up the slack. He did accomplish piecing together a bullpen of rookies and was able to keep their appearance and innings pitch quite reasonable. No arms fell off.
How many guys on he team can actually bunt Jeter and Damon. Melky can't and Gardner is OJT with bunting. The team is not blessed with blinding speed so he did the best with what he was given. IMHO
I never wanted to see Joe T. go at all, but I don't believe Girardi is at fault for any of what happened this season. He handled he bullpen better than Torre would have (had better choices to work with) but I think a healthy or even halfway healthy Yankees team would be in the playoffs.
Obviously Girardi is not at fault for the injuries, but to say that he is not at fault for anything at all that happened this season -- for the games that were lost because the wrong guys were played or the wrong decisions were made in-game or the team was simply not functioning as a team -- boggles the mind.
My hope is that Girardi himself will NOT take the attitude that none of it was his fault, and will learn from experience and perform significantly better next year. I think he has it in him to become a good manager -- but not if he thinks he did great this year.
Diane: honestly, what on earth would make you think Joe thinks he's done "great" this year?
I've seen no evidence of that. Not from him, not from anyone in the organization. From what I can tell from here, to a man, they all seem extremely disappointed, if not heartbroken--in themselves and each other.
Don't know what that means exactly for next year; but it sure doesn't come off as pride or satisfaction right now, if that's what you mean.
DC, I was responding to Jim A's statement at 21:03 that he doesn't believe Girardi is at fault for any of what happened this season with an expression of my hope that Girardi himself would not take the same view. A bit tongue in cheek there, but I guess that didn't come across... sorry about that part...