ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Girardi is cautious about over-using Mariano Rivera. He also understands that, at this time of year, every out is precious.
Yet, after using Rivera for 2 1/3 innings in Game 2 Saturday night, the Yankees manager expects to have his record-holding closer today if needed in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Angels at Angel Stadium.
“He feels good. … I expect him to be fully available [today],” Girardi said on a conference call yesterday afternoon.
Girardi said Rivera throwing 13 pitches to get the first four outs of his seven-out stint enabled him to remain in the game.
“There is always a little bit of a concern when you stretch a guy out a little bit further than you have during the course of a year,” Girardi said of Rivera, who hadn’t worked more than 1 1/3 innings. “But the bottom line is, he didn’t throw a ton of pitches [Saturday].”
Rivera threw 25 pitches in Game 2. Six times this year, he threw more than that.
“It doesn’t matter how long you go as long as you do it right,” said Rivera, the all-time postseason saves leader with 36.
“It was one of those games you had to do whatever it takes to win the game. If it takes for me to pitch two innings or two-plus innings, I’ll be there. I am OK. [Today] I will be fine.”
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Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of Joba Chamberlain getting busted for DWI in Nebraska.
Asked if his life had changed in the year, Chamberlain said, “My life is my life, that’s all I will say about that.”
Chamberlain joined Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia for a light workout at Angel Stadium yesterday.
Asked what the mood on the flight from LaGuardia to John Wayne Airport was early Sunday morning, Chamberlain was unable to provide a scouting report.
“I was sleeping, I don’t know,” he said.