Spring Training Follies: Suddenly Wimpy Joe Girardi Bemoans Plate Collision

To many, the reaction was uncharacteristic of a Joe Girardi, who is perceived in baseball circles as a hard-nosed tough guy.  To a few, the reaction was justified.  It was, after all, just an exhibition game.

But to me, the reaction was hypocritical and a wimpy cop-out because the move was one the manager likely would have made when he was a player.

So what was the alleged offense in question?

Tampa Bay's Elliot Johnson ran over Francisco Cervelli, breaking the Yankee catcher's right wrist.

Girardi's "disappointment" was that the accident occurred during a spring training game.  His implication of course was that that you don't need to go all out and play at full speed during a meaningless exhibition match.

Try telling that to Pete Rose, whose infamous bowl-over of catcher Ray Fosse during an all-star game effectively ended Fosse's career.

Try telling that to Ray's manager Joe Maddon, who called it a "good hard baseball play."

And, perhaps with even greater difficulty, try telling that to baseball lifer Don Zimmer, who views Girardi like a son.  Zimmer felt "that's the way you play the game," and expressed surprise that Girardi would react like he did.

Look, spring training is a time to hone your skills and reinforce positive baseball habits.  You steal bases during exhibition games, right?  You bunt for a hit and use signs and try to win, do you not?

So why shouldn't you also practice a play that you will likely need to use during the course of a long summer?  Cervelli had the plate blocked, so Johnson did the right thing in knocking him over.

Why Girardi took exception here is baffling to many.

Part of the reason I like Joe Girardi and think he will be successful managing in a tough town like New York is his hard-nosed attitude.  This sudden wimpiness?

Say it ain't so, Joe.