Members of MLB’s drug testing team might want to rent a room at Yankee Stadium.
For the second time in a week the testing team was at the Stadium last night collecting urine samples from two members of the Yankees and Angels after the Yankees’ 4-1 victory in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Last Friday the testers hauled five members of the Yankees and Twins into the back rooms of the clubhouses for tests.
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Manager Joe Girardi was non-committal before the game and Jose Molina was vague afterward, but he will catch A.J. Burnett tonight in Game 2.
“We haven’t talked about it with our players, but what I can tell you is they worked very well the last time,” Girardi said before the game.
That was taken as an indication Molina will start tonight, something that was confirmed later.
PHOTOS: YANKEES BEAT ANGELS IN GAME 1 TO TAKE ALCS LEAD
In Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins with Molina behind the plate, Burnett allowed a run and three hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory. Those numbers outweighed Burnett walking five and hitting two batters.
Jorge Posada, who wasn’t happy about the benching but put winning ahead of starting, hit for Molina in the sixth inning, stayed in the game and went 1-for-3.
Going into the ALDS, Molina over Posada became a colossal story. But Girardi said a repeat of that wasn’t the reason he was reluctant to announce the battery yesterday.
“You would like to be able to talk to your players about what you are doing and I want our players to focus on [Game 1],” Girardi said. “I have not talked to Jose, I have not really talked to either one of them.”
Girardi planned to address the issue after last night’s Game 1.
“If he hasn’t told you guys he hasn’t told me,” Molina said.
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Early in the season when Posada’s arm strength wasn’t all the way back from shoulder surgery, Girardi used Molina late in games as a defensive replacement.
Though Posada’s arm is improved, Molina’s hose is stronger. So, would Girardi sub Molina for Posada in the ALCS against the run-happy Angels?
“We do have the option to do that because we are carrying three catchers,” Girardi said. “Now I don’t want to lose the fact that Jorge threw out a real important runner the last time [against the Angels]. I think you look at how the game is going and you go with what you think is the right thing to do. I am not saying I will or won’t do it.”
With a 4-1 lead in the ninth last night, Girardi stuck with Posada.
Posada nailed pinch-runner Reggie Willits attempting to swipe second on Sept. 22 in the ninth inning of an eventual 6-5 win after Willits ran for Kendry Morales after he opened the inning with a walk off Mariano Rivera.
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With Molina catching Burnett, Girardi has the option of using the switch-hitting Posada, who went 0-for-3 with a walk, as the DH against lefty Joe Saunders instead of the left-handed hitting Hideki Matsui, who was 2-for-3 last night with two RBIs and a walk.
“We are going to talk about that and see how (last night) goes,” Girardi said. “Both Jorge and Hideki have small samples against Saunders.”
Posada is 2-for-4 (.500) and Matsui is 1-for-1 with a homer and RBI.
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Hal Steinbrenner was on hand last night and was spotted in the hallway walking with GM Brian Cashman toward the Yankees’ clubhouse before the game. George Steinbrenner wasn’t slated to attend.
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Mariano Rivera rejoined the club after missing workouts Wednesday and Thursday to attend to a family issue. He recorded the final out in the ninth for his MLB record 36th postseason save.
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The decision to not add Brian Bruney to the bullpen after the right-handed reliever missed the ALDS, was made by Girardi with Angel switch-hitters in mind.
“We decided to say with [Damaso] Marte,” Girardi said of the lefty who faced two left-handed hitters (Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel) in the ALDS and gave up hits to them. “[Kendry] Morales is a guy you like to turn around and [Chone] Figgins is a guy you like to turn around and a day like today when Bobby [Abreu] follows Figgins, the scenario might come up.”
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When the Yankees didn’t carry Bruney and Freddy Guzman on the ALDS roster they sent them to Tampa to work out and stay ready if needed for the ALCS. Guzman was activated for this series and Eric Hinske was deleted. However, Hinske wasn’t sent to Tampa.
“I told him we are going to keep you here and keep you going because we want you ready in case something happens or for the next round,” Girardi said of the left-handed bat that was sacrificed for Guzman’s speed.