Joe Girardi Is Right in Getting the New York Yankees Ready for October in April

Joe Girardi's first priority is to lead the New York Yankees to yet another world championship, but to do that, he is getting his players in top shape for the October playoffs in April.

In 2010, Girardi started an inexperienced Ivan Nova in the next to last game of the season and followed him with Dustin Moselely in the last game. The Yankees lost both games as the Rays won the division by a single game.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman admitted that the Yankees didn't try to beat out the Tampa Bay Rays. It was more important for Girardi to prepare his team for October baseball.

This season, Girardi is resting Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and even Robinson Cano on occasion. Each will have turns as the designated hitter or even sit out a game. It is a wise move.

The Yankees are virtually assured of winning the division title. They are a lock to make the playoffs. Only if Girardi thinks that the Yankees might be beaten out for the division (by whom, realistically?) will he change his plans.

Jeter was the designated hitter in the second game of the season at Tampa Bay.

"Against lefties, I'm probably going to DH Alex or Jeet a substantial amount of time," Girardi said.. "This turf can be rough on these guys, especially early on in the season. It's a way to get Nuney [playing] before a month, like last year, as well."

Girardi had better hope that Eduardo Nunez becomes less erratic in the field, regardless of where he plays.

Until this season, there was only one wild card. The Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves each suffered monumental collapses last season that would not have mattered if there had been two wild cards.

The point is that making the playoffs is every team's primary concern. As Girardi demonstrated in 2010, having a prepared team, especially a rested pitching staff, going into the playoffs trumps winning the division.

Since the two wild cards will play one elimination game, winning the division has become more important, but at least for this season, Girardi can look ahead to October, rest some of his regulars, not consider any one game vital and get to the postseason with a prepared team.

Of course, the best laid plans of rodents and humans sometimes go awry, which is why they play the games, but even if the Yankees are seriously challenged, Girardi's approach give them the best chance of achieving their ultimate goal.