Yankees manager Joe Girardi isn't one to sugarcoat things.
New York's skipper was visibly "pissed" as he accused the Tampa Bay Rays of being incapable to safely pitch inside, ESPN reports. An irritated Girardi spoke to the media after a 6-1 loss to the Rays that saw three Yankees ejected and both benches clear. Five Yankees batters have been hit by a Ray in the past four games, while Yankees pitchers have not hit any Rays.
"If you are going to pitch inside, pitch the right way," Girardi said. "If you can't pitch inside, don't pitch inside. We are not pin cushions."
Jeter was plunked by Rays reliever Steven Geltz in the eighth inning, but what finally pushed Girardi over the edge was a warning to both benches by plate umpire Rob Drake. Girardi was incensed at the decision, believing it to be unfair, and started to yell at Drake and Geltz before being ejected.
Whether Geltz's actions were intentional or not is debatable. Jeter is currently suffering through an 0-for-26 slump.
"If you are going to pitch inside, learn how to pitch inside," Girardi said. "You pitch down in the zone. You don't pitch up. This is not practice. This is guys' livelihood."
Yankees pitcher David Phelps began the bottom of the eighth inning with a deeply inside pitch to Kevin Kiermaier. Phelps was immediately ejected and both benches cleared. No punches were thrown despite the heated tempers on the field.
After the game, Rays manager Joe Maddon acknowledged the frequency of hit batsmen was too high, but defended his pitching staff overall.
"I agree with everything he said, but to pitch inside correctly or incorrectly, that's not the point," Maddon said. "It is called baseball; sometimes hitters get hit. But I understand their frustration entirely. We are not going to apologize for it because it is part of the game. But I do get why he was upset."
Yankees third baseman Chase Headley, who missed four games after being hit in the chin by a 96 mph fastball on Thursday, argued that the Rays pitches shouldn't be in the majors if they still don't have control of their pitches.
"You shouldn't be in the big leagues if you keep doing that consistently," Headley said. "I mean, guys are throwing too hard with too good a stuff. Granted, I know that balls get away every now and then. I get it. It can't keep happening. If a guy can't control the fastball, he can't pitch in there. He can't be in the game. He can't be in the big leagues because guys' careers are at stake. You can't have it happen. Again, I don't think there is intent, but that doesn't change what can possibly happen."
