Joe Girardi often gets criticized by fans and the press by how he manages the bullpen. In the playoffs last year, he made some questionable bullpen decisions and he sometimes gets a little obsessed with the mix and matching. But all the credit in the world should go to Joe for today's big win against the Rays. After Andy Petitte had to leave the game with a groin injury with one out and two on in the 3rd inning, Girardi had to go to his bullpen way earlier than he anticipated. He could have turned to somebody who could go longer, such as Chan Ho Park, but he made a gutsy move and called on David Robertson to get the final two outs. This was the right call; the score was still close at 3-2, and this was a huge game. If the Rays won, the Yanks would have had only a one game lead in the AL East. While Robertson walked the first batter he faced on a 3-2 pitch (he came into the game with the count 3-1), he got Sean Rodriguez to pop out to Derek Jeter, and then retired BJ Upton on a fly ball.
Of course, the game wouldn't have been won if it weren't for the great offense. But the great managing by Girardi in that inning was really the key to this 9-5 win.
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