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Managerial moves scrutinized in ALCS

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The Associated Press

Published: October 26, 2009

NEW YORK - When Joe Girardi has big decisions to make, he consults his thick black binder.

In his first postseason as New York's manager, he's been checking that book full of baseball data a lot. Some say too much.

At this time of year, when the moves of experienced postseason managers like the Angels' Mike Scioscia and Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel are scrutinized as much as a contestant on "American Idol," Girardi has taken considerable heat for a handful of curious decisions in his first playoffs as a skipper.

"As I've said all along, every move is not going to work out. That's the bottom line," Girardi said Saturday, before Game 6 of the AL Championship Series between the Yankees and Los Angeles Angels was postponed to Sunday by rain.

"That's the human element of it. You prepare yourself for moves to work out," he said. "We had a lot of moves work out this year but we've had moves that haven't worked out. And that's why we haven't won every game."

He's come close, though. The 44-year-old Girardi became only the second manager to win his first five postseason games before the Yankees dropped two of three in California, taking a 3-2 lead back to New York.

In the playoffs, Girardi has made moves based on matchups listed in the book rather than by feel, used pinch runners liberally and even benched Jorge Posada - the player that replaced Girardi in the Yankees lineup in the late 1990s - in favor of light-hitting Jose Molina when A.J. Burnett starts.

"You're under a microscope, and you understand that being here," Girardi said. "You understand it to a certain degree as a player. You understand it to a certain degree when you watch as a coach as you are working under Joe Torre. And you understand a lot better when you're actually sitting in that chair."

The rumblings that began in the division series, when he wore a path to the mound swapping relievers, grew to tabloid fodder after the loss to the Angels in Game 3.

Going to Dave Robertson in the 11th inning of Game 2 against the Twins with two runners on base and none out? No problem. The young reliever escaped the jam and the Yankees won.

The questions came after Game 3 against the Angels, though, when Girardi pulled Robertson after getting two outs in the 11th. Girardi was seen in the dugout flipping through his binder before calling for Alfredo Aceves - who gave up the winning hit.

"He's not just going with the hot hand," Posada said afterward. "He's going with the guy who's pitching good, going with the guy who's going to hit, just trying to win the game."

Girardi was then second-guessed after Game 5 for leaving Burnett in too long. The starter had thrown about 60 pitches but sat for the Yankees' long, six-run seventh inning. He allowed the first two runners to reach in the bottom half before being lifted.

The one person who is not parsing Girardi's decisions is the manager in the other dugout.

"There's not a guy around that knows the Yankee team better than Joe Girardi," Scioscia said.

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