East vs. West showdown

ALCS.jpgBy Jon Lane
Yankees fans were able to party early when the Angels rallied off Jonathan Papelbon and eliminate the Red Sox Sunday afternoon. Alas, be careful what you wish for.

En route to their first World Championship, the Angels knocked out the Yankees in four games in the 2002 Division Series and have been a thorn in their side since. Three years later, the Halos took it to the Bronx Bombers again, this time in five games, and have frequently given the Yankees fits during the regular season, owning a 35-23 edge since 2003.

The teams split 10 games this year, the last a thrilling 3-2 win September 23 that secured the Yankees’ first series win in Anaheim since May 2004. But when the Yankees and Angels open the American League Championship Series on Friday, the Yankees own the all-important home field advantage; including the postseason they’re 59-24 at Yankee Stadium in ’09.

“It’s going to come down who is going to pitch best, who is going to hit in the clutch,” said Jorge Posada. “You know, home field advantage is going to help a little bit. I think that’s the key to this series, having four games at home is going to change.”

Another critical difference is the postseason resurgence of Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod batted .455 with two homers and six RBIs in the three-game sweep of the Twins. And before you point out he had similar success against them in ’04 before the playoff flame out that dogged him since Game 5 of the ’04 ALCS, consider that Rodriguez was .333-5-9 in 10 games versus L.A. during the season.

The recent and distant past will be moot come Friday, but it’s a different time, Rodriguez is a different person and both are different teams.

“We have a huge challenge in front of us,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “Before we talk about a Freeway Series [against the Dodgers] we’re going to have to beat an incredible team in the Yankees. These guys just don’t give up.”

_______________________

The teams meet in a rematch of the 2005 ALDS, when after winning Game 1 the Yankees lost the series in five games.

Active holdovers from that team: Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, Juan Rivera, John Lackey, Scot Shields, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders.

A snapshot look at the regular season matchup and respective team leaders:

Records
Yankees: 103-59
Angels: 97-65

Season Series: Series tied 5-5

Memorable Game
September 14: A night the Yankees beat the Angels at their own game and marked by Joe Girardi’s unorthodox decision to pinch-run Brett Gardner for Mark Teixeira in the eighth inning. Gardner slid into third on the front end of a double steal and raced home with what turned out to be the winning run on catcher Mike Napoli’s throwing error.

Old Friends
Jose Molina (played for the Angels 2001-07)
Bobby Abreu (played for the Yankees 2006-08)
Juan Rivera (played for the Yankees 2001-03)

Team leaders
Batting
Yankees: Derek Jeter (.334)
Angels: Erick Aybar (.312)

Home Runs
Yankees: Mark Teixeira (39)
Angels: Kendry Morales (34)

Runs Batted In
Yankees: Mark Teixeira (122)
Angels: Kendry Morales (108)

Wins
Yankees: CC Sabathia (19)
Angels: Joe Saunders (16)

ERA
Yankees: CC Sabathia (3.37)
Angels: Jered Weaver (3.75)

Strikeouts
Yankees: CC Sabathia (197)
Angels: Jered Weaver (174)

Saves
Angels: Mariano Rivera (44)
Angels: Brian Fuentes (48)

Projected Pitching Matchups
Game 1 (Friday, 7:37 p.m.): John Lackey (11-8, 3.83) vs. CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21)
Game 2 (Saturday, 7:37 p.m.): Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75) vs. A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.10)
Game 3 (Monday, TBA): Andy Pettitte (14-7, 4.11) vs. Scott Kazmir (10-9, 4.89)
Game 4 (Tuesday, TBA): Sabathia/Chad Gaudin (6-2, 3.43) vs. Joe Saunders  (16-7, 4.60)

ALDS Game 3 Lineups

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YANKEES

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: Andy Pettitte

TWINS

Span CF
Cabrera SS
Mauer C
Cuddyer 1B
Kubel RF
Young LF
Harris 3B
Morales DH
Punto 2B

Pitching: Carl Pavano

Putting a bow on one of the all-time classics

By Jon Lane
Sorry for the overdue wrap on one of the best games I’ve ever eye-witnessed in my years as a fan and covering baseball. Thanks to the game lasting four hours and 22 minutes, combined with wonderful New York City transit system – 20 minutes waiting for a subway and another hour-plus for the next Long Island Rail Road train, I’m back home amazingly before sunrise. Life of a suburbanite.

Where do I start? David “Houdini” Robertson. (Thank you, Nick Swisher). The youngster earned stars and stripes in Game 2. The planets were aligned on this night. Chris Shearn spoke with Robertson before the game.

Here’s what else came out of a game that’s now No. 1 on Swish’s list.  “This is my fifth year in the big leagues and I’ve never played in a better game than this before in my life – ever,” he said. “The inner confidence this team has … it’s a lot of fun to be playing for the Yankees right now.”

Indeed. This was an instant classic, writes Steven Goldman.

? Watching Chuck Meriwether butcher the strike zone was bad enough. Phil Cuzzi then joined Richie Garcia in umpire infamy. Garcia failed to notice Jeffrey Maier swipe a catchable ball from Tony Tarasco in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, which turned an out into Derek Jeter’s home run. Cuzzi, working left field Friday night, somehow didn’t see Joe Mauer’s blooper land a good three or so feet into fair territory and called foul ball. Mauer singled to open the 11th, but would have scored on Jason Kubel’s base hit to give the Twins a one-run lead.

“Next guy got a single. You can figure that out, I think,” said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on if the correct call would have changed the inning. When asked if MLB needs an extension of instant reply, he replied, “It’s not my call. We had six umpires out there. I think, right, six? Six umpires.”

Crew chief Tim Tschida, in right field for Game 2, was left to pick up the pieces, admitting that yes, we screwed up.

“Afterwards, like any close play, we went in and we looked at it, and it’s a clear indication that an incorrect decision was rendered,” Tschida said. “There’s a guy sitting over in the umpire’s dressing room right now that feels horrible.”

The Twins caught a terrible break with that blown call, and Meriwether was atrocious calling balls and strikes, but the men in blue weren’t at fault for the club leaving 17 runners on base. The Twins proved they had heart by rallying to capture the AL Central by winning an epic of their own Tuesday over the Tigers, but their inability to finish the job against the Yankees is mystifying. Minnesota is 0-9 versus New York in 2009, 2-8 all-time in postseason play and 10-32 in the Bronx since 2000.

? Alex Rodriguez tied the game in the ninth with a two-run bomb off Twins closer Joe Nathan. After going 0 for his last 19 with runners in scoring position in postseason games, A-Rod is 3-for-4 in the series. Not too bad for someone whose playoff failures were the butt of jokes and complaints, and frankly whose season was on the line upon learning he needed hip surgery.

“I feel great, not only with the game but in my life,” Rodriguez said.

? You can stop worrying about Mark Teixeira too. Hitless in his first six at-bats, Teixeira went 2-for-5, including that walk-off home run.

“I really thought it was going to be a double because I hit it with so much top spin,” Teixeira said. “I thought there was no chance it was going to get out. I was running so hard making sure I got two. Then the crowd started going nuts. I figured it was a home run.”

Teixeira and Derek Jeter, ironically the Yankees’ two MVP candidates, were the only regular players to not be the recipient of A.J. Burnett’s congratulatory pie to the face. Once the initial euphoria of Teixeira’s homer wore off, fans stood in anticipation of Burnett’s celebratory practice. They erupted again once whipped cream met Teixeira’s facial features.

“A.J. told me, ‘I finally got you,'” Teixeira said. “So if I was going to get one this season, I’m glad I waited until the postseason. It was fun.”

? Speaking of Burnett, he wasn’t on his ‘A’ game, but he doesn’t receive an ‘F’ either. Making his postseason debut, Burnett held the twins to a run on three hits in six innings with six strikeouts. He also walked five and hit consecutive batters in the fourth.

Pretty? No. Gritty? Yes. Joe Girardi said earlier in the season that he’s more proud of a start in which the pitcher has to grind it out without his best stuff than if he were to toss a complete-game shutout. If Burnett were to fail, it’s not because he can’t handle the pressure.

It’ll be interesting if Girardi sticks with the Burnett-Jose Molina battery if the Yankees get the ALCS. Why wouldn’t he? Jorge Posada came off the bench to go 1-for-3. He also may elect to take Cervelli to either Boston or Anaheim (the Angels are also poised for a sweep). The kid has shown he’s got game too.

“Cervy’s a great player, a young kid who understands the game,” Swisher said. “Molina started and Sato (Posada) came in – Sato got three at-bats and didn’t even start the game.  See? Skip knew what he was doing leaving Cervy on the roster.”

Okay, time for bed. I won’t be in Minnesota, but stay with YESNetwork.com for complete coverage of Game 3 Sunday night from our friends at River Ave. Blues. And while you’re at it, introduce yourself to My YES, our brand new social networking community.
 

Twins vs. Yankees: Game 2

By Jon Lane
First pitch: 6:07 p.m.

Pitching matchup: A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04) vs. Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03)

Forecast: Partly
cloudy.
Still a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, but
there’s plenty of blue sky and a perfectly cool and crisp late
afternoon.

Throwing out the first pitch:
Reggie Jackson. About an hour ago Chris Shearn conducted an exclusive
interview with “Mr. October” for a Stadium Spotlight to be posted
later. Also on tap are chats with David Robertson, Chad Gaudin and
Francisco Cervelli, and Shearn’s pregame Off the Wall Vlog.

Speaking
of Cervelli, he was taking ground balls at third base during batting
practice, telling my colleague Joe Auriemma it’s to “keep my hand
active.” He’s the third catcher on the Yankees’ DS roster for a reason.
You never know.

A bit of news: Dr. Marc Philippon, who
performed the hip surgery on Alex Rodriguez, told reporters he doesn’t
expect A-Rod to need another surgery this offseason.

Other pregame chatter: Joe Girardi discussed
the DH debate, the mood of the clubhouse in light of “Molina-gate” and
A.J. Burnett’s chances tonight. Ron Gardenhire also explained why Carl
Pavano has been great for the Twins. Yes, that Carl Pavano.

Tonight’s Lineups: Molina batting ninth

Back with much, much more later

reggie_250_100909.jpg6 p.m. Reggie, looking dapper wearing a fedora hat, jacket and tie, bounced a pitch to Jorge Posada. See, he got to catch?

6:14 p.m. Burnett
needs just 14 pitches to work through the first inning, ending with a
punch out of Jason Kubel after issuing a two-out walk to Joe Mauer. A
microcosm of good and bad A.J. – he retired the first two batters on
five pitches and needed nine to get through Mauer and Kubel.

6:32 p.m.
That’s two scoreless innings in the books for Burnett-Molina. With a
runner at second and two out, Molina draped his left arm around Burnett
to provide instructions. The next pitch Matt Tolbert grounded out to
second. There is something about Molina’s ability to reach Burnett,
knowing exactly what to say and how to say it. We’ll see if this keeps
up.

6:53 p.m. Burnett catches Mauer looking with a runner
on first to end the third, a nasty breaking ball that’s his best of the
game to this point. That was a .365 hitter he sent to the bench shaking
his head.

gomez_250_100909.jpg7:09 p.m.
The Burnett-Molina connection breeds great karma. 7:10 p.m. Matt
Tolbert’s single was to give the Twins a 1-0 lead … or so it seemed.
Nick Swisher caught Carlos Gomez rounding too far off second base and
he fired a strike to Derek Jeter, who tagged Gomez out right before
Delmon Young touched home plate. That’s the biggest play of the game,
but the Yankees have to get something started offensively. Nick
Blackburn has held them hitless through four innings, allowing only a
walk.

7:32 p.m. Burnett after five innings: no runs, two
hits, four walks, two hit batsman, five strikeouts – in other words
he’s been A.J. Burnett. He’s thrown 73 pitches – 25 in the fifth – but
is backed up by a deep and rested bullpen. Provided the Yankees solve
Blackburn, you’ll see Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera.

Theme of the game so far: Burnett/Molina’s and the Yankees’ ability to do damage control.

7:40 p.m. Robinson Cano ends Blackburn’s no-hitter at 4 2/3 IP with a single to center.

7:55 p.m.
Brendan Harris, of all people, triples to left to put the Twins on the
board, though a better left fielder makes the play. Burnett’s thrown 96
pitches after six, and David Robertson and Damaso Marte were warming
up. I’d be very surprised if he comes out for the seventh.

7:58 p.m.
Posada pinch-hitting and gets a loud ovation. Burnett’s night is done.
He gave it a ride to deep left center before Gomez caught it on the
warning track.

8 p.m. Meanwhile, it’ll be Joba Time in the seventh.

8:06 p.m. Huge spot for Mark Teixeira here. He’s 0-for-6 in the Division Series.

8:11 p.m.
Make that 0-for-7. Teixeira teases a grand slam and pops a 3-2 pitch to
left for the second out. What do you know? Huge spot for A-Rod here.

arod_250_100909.jpg8:13 p.m.
Mr. October Version 2009 delivers: RBI single to left scores Jeter,
ties the game at one and chases Blackburn. A-Rod is 3-for-7 with three
RBIs in the ALDS.

8:21 p.m. Twins 3B Matt Tolbert with a strained left oblique, day-to-day.

8:31 p.m.
Here’s why Phil Coke was brought in with two out in the seventh:
Lefties hit .195 against him and Jason Kubel was 0-for-4 with two
strikeouts. Make that 0-5, 3 Ks.

8:47 p.m. A Tweet from
WFAN’s Sweeny Murti: “I think this is setting up beautifully for a
Posada walkoff Bot 10, and AJ giving him a pie!”

8:54 p.m.
Brendan Harris, yes Brendan Harris, is 2-for-2 with an RBI as an injury
replacement. His hit-and-run single has runners on the corners with two
out and Hughes in trouble.

8:57 p.m. Ridiculous. The Twins grab the lead on a walk and two singles by their 7-8-9 hitters all with two out.

9:02 p.m. There’s hope Yankees fans: 15 walk-off wins and 28 in their last at-bat, including those three games in May.

9:09 p.m. Great play by Harris. He’s supposed to beat you with his glove, not his bat.

9:28 p.m. Teixeira ends an 0-for-7 slump by leading off the ninth with a single. A-Rod at the plate. Very interesting ….

arod_250_game_100909.jpg9:32 p.m. A picture and decibel levels are worth thousands of words. TBS cameras had a shot of Ron Gardenhire with a look that read, “You have got to be kidding me.” That run off Rivera in the eighth looms large, but the Yankees have new life.

9:49 p.m. Runners on the corners in the 10th. This is what happens when you walk the No. 9 hitter with two out.

9:52 p.m. Alfredo Aceves dodges a bullet. Mauer leads off the 11th if it gets that far.

10:03 p.m. Nathan throwing error, Brett Gardner hesitates, then takes off, still beats the throw to third. Unbelievable. Now they’re putting Jeter on to set up the double play. Gardy’s also pulling Nathan for the left-hander, Jose Mijares.

10:09 p.m. Buzzkill.

10:19 p.m. Twins in business because Damaso Marte stinks, but it could have been worse. Left field umpire Phil Cuzzi completely blew a call that would have given Mauer a leadoff double.

10:22 p.m. Bases loaded and nobody out, but Twins would have had the lead if not for Cuzzi.

10:26 p.m. After Delmon Young lined out to first, Gomez grounded to Teixeira, who threw to home for the force, and Harris flied out to center. Awesome performance by David Robertson, though he has Cuzzi to thank.

10:30 p.m. Teixeira walk-off HR ends an epic. He’ll get his first taste of pie. Back later with so much more.

Girardi on Matsui, clubhouse, Burnett

By Jon Lane
Key points from Joe Girardi’s pregame press conference:

On the debate of whether Hideki Matsui or Jorge Posada would DH:
“Matsui has been our DH most of the year and is familiar with that role. That is not a role that Jorge has done a lot in his career. If there’s a left-hander on the mound maybe you think a little bit different. But Matsui, I mean, he’s been great against left-handers, so it wasn’t much of a decision because of what Matsui has done in the DH role.”

On the temperature of the clubhouse given the talk about Posada’s reaction to sitting:
“Clubhouse is great. I watched the guys go through practice yesterday. They were loose; guys were having fun. They enjoyed being around each other like they always do, so I think our clubhouse is great.”

On why he believes A.J. Burnett will be successful:
“I’ve always found that A.J. has liked the big stage. I talked about his success that he’s had coming into here as an opposing player, the success before this year he had going into Boston, some of the games. We were 0-2 to start the year and he got our first win in Baltimore. I think A.J. likes it and I think A.J. likes pitching in this ballpark. That leads me to believe that he’s going to have a good game.”

_______________________

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire also discussed Carl Pavano starting Game 3, a potential elimination game:
“He’s been great for us, a veteran pitcher. The leadership you get from a guy who’s been there and done it has been very, very important. And then watching him go out on the mound, when he’s throwing the ball, how he works hitters and works the zone when he’s got his good stuff. He’s in and out and using all his pitches and can pitch backwards if he has to. That’s something that some of our younger pitchers need to learn to do, so he’s been very important for us.

Twins-Yankees Game 2: Lineups

yankees.jpgYANKEES (1-0)
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF
Jose Molina C

Pitching: A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04)

twins.jpgTWINS (0-1)
Denard Span RF
Orlando Cabrera SS
Joe Mauer C
Jason Kubel DH
Michael Cuddyer 1B
Delmon Young LF
Carlos Gomez CF
Matt Tolbert 3B
Nick Punto 2B

Pitching: Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03)

Game 2 scene setter

ALDS.jpgBy Jon Lane
First pitch: 6:07 p.m. at Yankee Stadium; gates open 3 p.m.

Pitching matchup: A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04) vs. Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03)

Forecast: Cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the evening; showers likely with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. (They could play through “showers,” but “thunderstorms” will force a delay and put everyone in one big I hate rain bad mood.)

If there’s a rainout: Game 2 moves to tomorrow night (TBD) and the teams lose the travel day. Games 3-5 will remain Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. If the series then goes the distance, the Yankees would be faced with a choice of starting Burnett on short rest, Chad Gaudin or Joba Chamberlain.

Throwing out the first pitch: “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson. Incidentally I heard a replay of Reggie’s appearance on “The Howard Stern Show.” His weekly Tuesday night show on Sirius 123 was plugged, but the rest of the details are for mature audiences only.

The big story: Joe Girardi’s decision to sit Jorge Posada and start Jose Molina.

Before Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS in Kansas City, Billy Martin made the most courageous decision of his career when he benched Jackson, George Steinbrenner’s $3 million man. It’s apples and oranges compared to Posada and Molina, but hang with me. Jackson was 1-for-15 in the series and numbers against Royals starter Paul Splittorff so poor that when asked, Catfish Hunter told Martin that Jackson “can’t hit him with a paddle.” That left Martin, who felt if the Yankees lost he would be fired anyway, to convince Steinbrenner and Gabe Paul why he had to bench Jackson.

Posada owns three World Series rings and was .285-22-81 this season, while Molina can’t hit even if attempted to put paddle on beach ball, so obviously this is different. But what’s similar is the manager’s guts. Ian O’Connor writes it’s E-2 on Girardi, but Sam Borden commends Girardi for making the requisite tough decisions.

There is something to chemistry between some pitchers and catchers. Andy Pettitte had it with Jim Leyritz – and not Girardi – in 1996, so did Greg Maddux with Eddie Perez. You can’t discount that Burnett went 5-5 with a 4.96 ERA and .270 opponent batting average in 16 starts with Posada and 5-2 with a 3.28 ERA and .221 opponent batting average in 11 starts with Molina catching, including 3-1 2.92 in his last six.

Molina showed a knack for keeping Burnett’s emotions in check and in a cohesive enough pace to not made desperate mistakes during crisis situations. And during the time of season where pitching rules all, you do whatever you believe is best to shut down the opposition, especially if Nick Blackburn suddenly morphs into Jack Morris. And it’s not like Posada won’t be available to pinch-hit or enter the game immediately after Girardi finds an opening. And it’s certainly not like the rest of the Yankees lineup can’t hit. Blackburn was 11-11, 4.03, so the odds are long that he’ll pull a Morris and good that the Yankees offense will knock him out early.

Of course, if Burnett is razor-sharp and the Yankees win, Girardi is a genius. If he’s blasted, Girardi is stupid, Burnett is a whiner, boos will be heard from Jersey and Posada would be given carte blanche to scream, “I was the problem?” Yankees fans, in a panic, will declare the series over and demand that Girardi is shown the door.

That’s the nature of sports. It’s also the nature of sports to stop debating, hang up the phone after your favorite sports talk station leaves you on hold for an hour, quit crunching numbers, and sit back and watch. It’s why the games are played. We’ll see if this issue is either buried quickly or linger like a thunderstorm of biblical proportions.

Memo to Mother Nature: Hold off on the showers until after midnight. Too much going on tonight in the Bronx.

Burnett: A faster pace with Molina

burnett_275_100809.jpgBy Jon Lane
A.J. Burnett was adamant about his defense of Jorge Posada during a dugout chat with reporters on Wednesday, and reiterated his success throwing to both Posada and Jose Molina. But he admitted to having a better rapport with Molina, which is why Joe Girardi – not Burnett – made the risky call to bench Posada and start Molina in Game 2.

“It’s more of kind of a ‘me’ rhythm,” Burnett said. “It’s being able to throw both heaters any time I want. And just working off of that. Four seam, two, seam. Just whenever, inside, out and not really worrying about calling it, kind of working a faster pace. He just keeps me going at a little quicker pace. We seem to click.”

Molina shrugged his shoulders and wondered why there was such a fuss over Posada’s disappointment in not being behind the plate and how he suddenly found himself in the middle of it.

“I always say and I will keep saying the same thing, the manager’s Joe,” Molina said. “He writes it down my name, I will play. I’m ready. If Jorge don’t like it that’s him, but you guys have to ask him about that not me. But Joe is the manager. He puts me in the lineup and I play.”

Thanks to Larry Fleischer for the quote. Girardi is also considering starting Brett Gardner in center field, but indicated he’ll probably stick with Melky Cabrera.

3:15 p.m.
Girardi’s been down this road before, having been asked by Joe Torre to take a seat in favor of Jorge Posada. Posada has too, but it was different in 2005 with Randy Johnson’s insistence of throwing to John Flaherty. What worked in September that season backfired in Game 3 of the DS when The Big Unit was rocked for five runs on nine hits in three innings.

That’s one reason why Molina dismissed any thought about certain pitchers responding better to particular catchers.

“You guys have to understand that the one who has the ball is the pitcher,” Molina said. “He’s the one who’s going to decide what he’s going to throw. We just suggest what the pitch could be. But when the pitcher has something in the mind, they’re going to throw it no matter what. I prefer a pitcher be 100 percent in his pitch than 50 (percent) in my pitch.”

Girardi left open the possibility that he may not remain committed to a Molina-Burnett battery if the Yankees advance to the LCS. But let’s face it: This may be the right move – you live and die by pitching in the postseason and if any starter is on his ‘A’ game on any given night, Ted Williams ain’t hitting him – but it’s also a huge risk. A bad start by Burnett and you know Posada will be seething and asking himself, “I’m the problem?”

“No, I’m not worried about it,” Girardi said. “I never saw Joe Torre fret about it. I never saw Bobby Cox fret about it when Javier Lopez didn’t catch Greg Maddux. I never saw them worry about it. You put the club out there that you feel should be out there that evening, and then you hope that your club makes plays and throws the ball well. And that’s what you do, so, I mean, that’s the decision that I made.”

3:24 p.m.
Burnett on what’s worked and why he’s not surprised Posada will be on the bench
“I figured he was going to catch because we had a good rhythm in the past handful of starts,” Burnett said. “I guess it’s a comfort level. It’s maybe having the same guy out there every day and not mixing it in and out. And just getting the feel of him wanting to know what I want to do on a consistent basis instead of having to come in and out and figure out what we’re doing. It’s the same game plan every day. Just sticking to it.

“I’m not surprised because what Jorge is to this organization and what he’s done in the post season. He’s the leader in this clubhouse. He’s the leader in the dugout. When he’s out there, even when he’s not playing, he’s very vocal and he’s very — he’s around all the time. So I imagine what — how he’s feeling, you know. But like I said, I figured it was going to happen just because of the handful of starts that Molina caught me. And I’m just going to worry about taking my starts tomorrow. Molina is back there, skip made the decision and there’s really nothing we can do about it.”

Molina on creating comfort and rhythm:
“You have to find the right words and time to do it,” Molina said. “If the guy is giving up a lot of runs, you know that’s not the right time to say something. So you hold off until whenever is the right time. You just gain trust. It’s just about trust.”