Girardi has last laugh on the second guessing pitching "geniuses"

[yellowcanine]

First of all I thought it was real hubris for so many commentators to be second guessing Girardi, a catcher, on how to use his pitchers, particularly Pettite (whom he as caught in the post season).

I mean, who else other than Andy Pettite do you want in game 6 at the Bronx? If the Yanks had rested AJ in game 5 the pressure would have been on to pitch him in game 6. Managing a pitching rotation in the post season is more than tallying up the days of rest. There is a big psychological factor and Joe Girardi knows that. The reason the Yanks were going with three starters is that with Wang out and Joba and Hughes in the BP they only have three WS quality starters. You make your plan at the beginning of the post season and stick with it at least until you get to an elimination game, barring injuries or illness. Otherwise you end up with mind games and second guessing that can sap the confidence of your pitchers. Yes A.J. blew up in game 5. But that had more to do with the good Philly hitters making the same adjustment that the Angels did and swinging early in the count at the fastball in the first couple of innings than rest. A.J is more likely to have a rocky start than Pettite, regardless of rest, which is exactly why you don't choose him over Pettite in game 6 against Martinez. (Remember when the rotation was set we did not know if the Yankees would be up 3-2 or down 3-2 in game 6) Other than sticking with the rotation plan another good reason to stay with Pettite in Game 6 was that he was the only one of the three whom you could count on to get Utley out. I snorted when I heard the ESPN and Fox commentators maintaining that the Yanks HAD to pitch around Utley. Well neither Pettite nor the relievers pitched around Utley. They went right after him. At least I thought it was Utley grounding into a double play and striking out twice and yes, walking once (unintentionally). That is not the box score of someone that got "pitched around". Pettite may have pitched around Utley in the 6th inning when he walked him or he just may not have been able to make his pitches anymore (ump wasn't doing him any favors either, imo). The fact that he gave up the HR to the slumping Howard tells me it was the latter.

[bigwillq]

1. 2009 World Series Champions!

:bounce: