Zimmer, Girardi disagree on hit
Don Zimmer likes Joe Girardi and even goes as far as to say the New York Yankees’ manager is like a son to him.
But when it comes to the home-plate collision in which Tampa Bay’s Elliot Johnson ran over Francisco Cervelli, breaking the Yankees catcher’s right wrist, Zimmer thinks Girardi is wrong for complaining about the Rays’ hard play in a spring training game.
Girardi said Sunday that Cervelli, who was injured Saturday, will be sidelined eight to 10 weeks.
“I can’t believe that he went after it the way he did. That’s not Joe Girardi,” said Zimmer, a former Yankees bench coach and currently a senior adviser with the Rays. Twice in the past week Tampa Bay runners barreled into catchers blocking the plate.
Girardi was a catcher in the big leagues and should know better, Zimmer said.
“You block the plate. If I slide into him and break a leg, nothing is said. Instead of breaking my leg I bowl him over and it’s not the right play?” Zimmer said. “Well, to me it’s the right play, spring training or no spring training. Play the game the right way. To me, our kid played it the way he thought it was right, and I think it was right.”
Girardi said the play was uncalled for in a spring game. He reiterated his disappointment before the Yankees left Tampa for Fort Myers to face the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
“It’s just disheartening. It’s spring training, I just don’t understand,” Girardi said. “I told all my players to play hard, but when you do something like that you take your chances that you will get someone hurt.”
Chavez may stay behind
Oakland manager Bob Geren still hasn’t decided if he will take third baseman Eric Chavez to Japan for the Athletics’ season-opening, two-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Chavez hasn’t played in a game this spring and was only recently cleared to resume scaled-down workouts less than two weeks after receiving an injection to help ease inflammation in his lower back.
It appears unlikely that Chavez would be ready to play against the Red Sox on March 25-26. He took batting practice for the third straight day and played catch on the side but has yet to run or do any fielding activities.
Oakland will embark on a 12-hour flight to Tokyo on March 19 which could also aggravate his back.
Clearing the bases
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton has a small herniated disk and slight arthritis in his balky back. … Chicago White Sox second baseman Danny Richar missed his fifth consecutive game because of back problems that have prevented him from performing simple baseball activities. … Bartolo Colon’s comeback picked up speed when he showed excellent control during his first batting practice session of spring training and was scheduled to pitch in a game Thursday. Colon has been impressive since Boston signed the 2005 A.L. Cy Young Award winner to a minor league contract on Feb. 25. … Randy Johnson will make his first spring training start today. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ left-hander is expected to pitch two innings against the Colorado Rockies, another sign of progress as he returns from back surgery. … Gary Sheffield missed his third straight spring training game with leg cramps but is expected to return to the Detroit Tigers lineup in a couple of days. … Sidney Ponson and the Texas Rangers agreed to a minor league contract. Ponson last pitched May 12 for the Minnesota Twins, who released him 10 days later. He was 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA in seven starts last season.