GIRADI COSTS YANKEES GAME THREE

Yes, Alfredo Aceves was the pitcher of record, giving up two, two-out hits to Howie Kendrick and Jeff Mathis for the walk-off, but it was Joe Giradi, who once again over-managed and cost the Yankees the game.

Let's break it down:

He had brought Dave Robertson in to start the bottom of the 11th, and Robertson made easy work of Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales. Of course, in Giradi-land this means you must've failed because ,once again, there he was bounding up the stairs, inexplicably pulling Robertson for the lighter tossing Aceves. A weird, unnecessary maneuver that has followed a pattern for Giradi this post-season. A pattern of micro-managing that widdled the Yankee bullpen again down to nothing but Chad Gaudin for the second game in a row, this time with disastrous results.

You cannot manage like that! You can't just keep moving to a new guy in a tie game two days after playing in a 5 hour marathon. It's ludicrous! If I recall correctly, it was Aceves who gave up the run in the 11th of the last game as well! Dave Robertson has pitched very well for the Yankees, but Giradi trusts his binder of match-ups more than what he sees in front of him. To me, Robertson pitching to Kendrick was a no-brainer. Heck, I would've had him pitch the next inning if necessary as well!

But wait, there's more...

Earlier in the game, he pulled Andy Pettitte after getting an out in the 7th. We're not at the stadium, Joe, he's not going to get a standing ovation for his efforts here. Sure, he gave up three runs, but he wasn't pitching bad at all. Of course, it's the 7th inning so Robo-Manager has to bring in Joba, the current 7th inning guy Du Jour, who goes ahead and gives up a go-ahead run.

You can also argue that pinch-running for Matusi cost the Yanks an extra run in the 8th. Brett Gardner was once again called on to do the duties, but he went ahead and got himself thrown out. Had he kept Matsui in, Jorge Posada's follow-up homer would have netted two runs instead of one. It also eliminated Matsui from the order, a spot he could have come up in a couple of innings later instead of Jerry Hairston Jr., who struck out swinging.

Let's not even mention all his trips to the mound. Let these guys do their jobs, Joe!!! You knew that at some point all this micro-managing was going to lead to a loss. Well, here it was. Applause to you, Mr. Giradi. I hope you've learned your lesson, because if not, the Steinbrenners will not be happy.

I'll break down the rest of the game, plus the NLCS Game Four tomorrow, but this issue needed its own space.