THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

If you read the many articles on the sports page and on line today, two things jump out at you: 1) Will A-Rod be traded? and 2) Who is playing for the Yankees today?  Interesting, yes, but not what you should be concerned with.We should be talking about what we expect out of the starting pitchers, analyzing their previous start and speculating on the various scenarios that might occur.

Let's start with the first subject. Speculation on the future of any player should be done when the player's team is eliminated, not while the series is in progress. It's not fair or proper to ask a player where he thinks he'll be playing next year, when he's still playing for his current team. This is the fault of the story-hungry media, not content with baseball stories, but only what stories will get the most headlines. They try to tie it into baseball: "You're not hitting, your team is losing, the manager isn't playing you, etc."  Then they pester him with questions that are embarrassing and inappropriate: "Are you mad at the manager? Do you think the front office had anything to do with this? Where do you want to play next year?"
How do you answer those questions and maintain any dignity? This is like asking a guy, "Well, how often DO you beat your wife?"
There is a game going on, fellas. Let's concentrate on that, okay?

Secondly, you have a core of players that have won consistently and put you in the final mix for a championship. Is this really the time to load your lineup with bench players and substitutes? Granted, the Yankee bench was probably the most productive of any team in the majors, but they are still the substitutes and relief men. Players go thru cold spells all the time, usually not for extended periods and certainly not 6 or 7 starters at the same time, but it can happen and it is happening. To play your secondary players at a time like this is not the way to go. One day off can be explained, but your core players got you there, give them the chance they deserve. If they win, fine. If they lose, at least you went down with your best players.
Pitchers are always told, "Don't get beat with your third best pitch. In a critical spot, challenge the hitter with your best pitch. If he hits it, then he's better than you, but you gave it your best shot.

Girardi is not giving his team it's best shot.

CP-