Is Girardi Manager of the Year?

"One swing by Jacoby Ellsbury.

That's all it took Sunday night to remind the Red Sox are still the last team they want to see in the playoffs."

I think the Yankees and their fans want to see the Red Sox eliminated simply due to the rivalry, not due to strategic analyses of potential playoff matchups.


"You can talk about the challenge of facing Justin Verlander twice in a series with the Tigers, the prospect of pitching to Josh Hamilton and the powerful Rangers or the difficulty of trying to hit against the Rays' formidable staff, but no team has handled the Yankees this season the way the Red Sox have."

The Sox are injured and flailing.

I really think that Girardi deserves a lot of credit for handling the bullpen and navigating a six-man rotation, keeping them fresh for September and October.

As for a five-game or seven-game series, you just have no way of knowing what is going to happen. The Yankees could get swept by the Rays in the ALCS ... and, of course, the Yankees might not even make the ALCS.

The best strategy is to try to win every game ... balancing health concerns once the division is clinched ... and don't bother trying to manipulate playoff matchups.

The other best strategy is to beat Verlander.


"Nobody is suggesting that Girardi has plans to tank these last two games in an attempt to help the Rays get into the playoffs, but it wouldn't be the worst idea.

With the exception of Russell (I hate the Red Sox) Martin, you won't hear anybody drawing a paycheck from the Yankees publicly express their desire to keep Boston out of the postseason."

I actually think Girardi will tank the last two games.

Sometimes, the scrubs get a win, despite the manager's best efforts. Baseball is a funny game.


"Girardi is handling this as well as he possibly can. Sending out a lineup filled with September call-ups would be bad karma, an invitation for the baseball gods to set up a Yankees-Rays ALCS that could come back and bite the Bombers.

'We don't choose opponents,' Girardi said. 'We are given opponents, and we try to beat them.' "

Mike Lupica will probably blame the Yankees somehow if the Rays win the wild card, but most sane observers know the Yankees have earned the privilege to play it any way they choose. Screwing the Red Sox is just a bonus.