BALTIMORE — Joe Girardi knows there is no championship trophy or pennant up for grabs in this weekend’s Subway Series — just bragging rights.
“You’ve got to walk around the city,” the Yankees manager said. “You don’t want to hear people ribbing you.”
The Yankees have had a long list of worries lately, from dismal offense (before last night’s 13-2 win, at least), to almost-as-bad defense, to Posada-gate, which overshadowed last weekend’s sweep by the Red Sox.
So, the series with the Mets has not been foremost in the Yankees’ minds. But they return home today after a short four-game road trip for the first of the two series this year with their crosstown rivals, knowing to expect a crazy atmosphere at Yankee Stadium.
Girardi, who spent yesterday afternoon watching some of the Mets-Nationals game in the clubhouse, said he has not dug into scouting reports yet, but was fully aware of how banged up the Mets are.
Although many feel interleague play has fizzled, Girardi remains a fan of the local rivalry.
“I think it’s always exciting,” Girardi said. “There’s a lot of passion from the fans when it comes to this series. . . . It’s good for baseball to see crosstown rivals hook up. It’s fun for the city.”
The Yankees have several newcomers who will play in their first Subway Series. Outfielder Andruw Jones said he never has “been through a rivalry” like this interborough one, but got a taste when he played for the White Sox last year against the Cubs.
“[It] was really intense, but it is more for the fans,” he said. “It’s probably the same thing in New York. It’s good for the fans. They should never take it away, because it’s good for baseball.”
Freddy Garcia will start for the Yankees tonight in his first Subway Series game.
“It’s like Boston-Yankees,” he said. “You can lose every game but if you win or lose those, people think about those.”
Additional reporting
by George A. King III
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