In a spring training game in the middle of last week, a rookie prospect catcher for the Yanks, Francisco Cervelli, was bulled over by Tampa Bay Ray’s player Elliot Johnson, at a play at the plate. I have to admit this is just baseball, and guys are trying to win a position on the squad. However, after reading more articles then I care to admit, I have developed a problem this, and I tend to take the side of the Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
If I may, I would like to place the evidence of this event before you, and let you decide for yourself. I have no intention on making your mind up for you. I will be the first to admit that I have flipped a little in my position from initially hearing these reports.
The facts(in no particular order):
- There was a play at the plate.
- The catcher had the ball, with the base runner barreling down at him at full speed.
- There was plenty of time to either; stop, slide, turn around, walk away, have a hot dog and an ice cold Bud Light…
- The runner lowered his shoulder and plowed right into Cervelli, leveling him on the spot, and seemingly knocking him out for a very short period of time.
- Four days prior to that Carl Crawford had a hard collision at the plate with another catcher.
- Cervelli proved why he was deemed the best defensive catcher in the organization by Baseball America Magazine, as he still hung on to the ball for the out.
- In the 7th inning he was hit by a pitch from David Price, on a 2-2 count.
- The Ray’s won the game 4-1.
- Cervelli was fitted with a cast for his broken right wrist recently, and will be out an undetermined amount of time.
Given the following situation it seems like it was just a hard play at the plate that didn’t work out for the Yankees. However, reading a little deeper, you find the following quotes (in no particular order):
- Joe Girardi — “I think it’s uncalled for. Spring training, you are going to get people hurt, and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt. It’s one thing to get hit by a pitch, it gets away, but, I don’t understand it.”
- Elliot Johnson — “His left foot was right there blocking the plate, and my options were either hook around and slide, I thought that would probably have taken too much time and I would have been out. The time that I had there, the instinct was slide and be out or hit him and see if I can pop the ball loose.”
That being said, I find it hard to believe that a play at the plate was going to be a deciding factor as to whether Johnson made the team or not. Also, I have played sports on a national level, and realize the importance of pulling up in exhibition for the sake of the sport, the teams, and the individual. If the Rays decide that their new name, and apparantely attitude, is going to impact this season, then let it impact this season, not pre-season. There is a time and place for everything, and this was not the time or place. If it were a regular season game, and something was on the line (even just your starting job) it would be understandable, and you would hear stuff like…”A hustle play,” or “Great play at the plate.” Instead, in spring ball, you are going to hear criticism, and have your manager, Joe Maddon to say this….uhhh coach?….anything?…. anything at all?
Exactly! This is why I have flopped a little on my decision. I can remember hearing the commands before the start of pre-season games, “play at 80% today, guys, No heroes out there today, save that for when it matters,” or “concentrate on fundamentals today, boys, NO CONTACT!”
As much as I would salute a play like that in the regular season, I cannot justify plowing over a guy who may not even be anticipating it in spring training. Not cool.
The last quote comes from Johnson: “Looking back at it, I’d have to say I’d probably do the same thing.”
The last word comes from me: Remember the importance of everything having it’s time and place. Wrong time, wrong place, and, oh, by the way, you are still out, and noone can take that play at the plate away from Cervelli! Nice play kid!
