What Joe Girardi Did Wrong in Game 2 of the ALDS

In second game of the 2017 American League Division series, Yankees manager Joe Girardi made some questionable mistakes. It looked like it was supposed to be a pitching duel with Cy Young front runner Corey Kluber against postseason veteran CC Sabathia. Kluber fell apart giving up six earned runs. By the sixth inning, the Yankees were up 8-3. With two runners on and one out, Girardi brings in Chad Green to face Lonnie Chisenhall. CC was over 70 pitches, but clearly still had gas in the tank and wanted to stay in the game. Green, with a two strike count, supposedly hit Chisenhall. The ball clearly hit the bat and went into catcher Gary Sanchez’s glove. Sanchez and Chase Headley were yelling at their skipper to challenge the play, but he did not. If he did, the pitch would be void and redone. Because of Girardi’s hesitance, Chisenhall was awarded first base. Now, Lindor comes up, hits a grand slam, and now it’s a one run game.David Robertson comes in, who pitched 3.1 innings in the Wild Card game, a career most. He gives up the game tying home run to Jay Bruce. Girardi later brings in Chapman, who pitchers 2+ innings, and Dellin Betances, who blows the game, with 2+ innings of work. Such use of relievers in the playoffs has been proved not good as shown in Aroldis Chapman’s arm discomfort in the 2016 World Series. If Girardi keeps on messing up these crucial games, his career as Yankees manager is in danger.