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April 11, 2008
New York's Joe Girardi makes his managerial debut at Fenway Park tonight. The new skipper just met with the local media:
*Yankees' Johnny Damon has been given the night off and Hideki Matsui will play left field.
*Shortstop Derek Jeter (thigh) is not in the lineup tonight and he's doubtful for the series. Girardi said Sunday could be a possibility, but the poor conditions expected at Fenway this weekend won't help the matter. Jeter is slated to stretch and throw today. He doesn't take sitting on the bench very well and Girardi said: "He's already driving me nuts."
*Jorge Posada (arm) will DH tonight. He's scheduled to play long toss today. Girardi said it's not out of the question that Posada could, at some point, play first base, but the club wants to make sure his arm is fine before taking that chance.
*Since Jeter is on the shelf, the Yankees recalled shortstop Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A Scranton. Girardi called him a traditional shortstop who looks comfortable and is playing great.
*Girardi recalled his time as a player and the wonderful atmosphere that surrounded this series. He remembers the high intensity and also said it's probably at an all-time high right now.
*Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is 1-for-his-last-22 but the Yankees aren't about to take him too lightly. "When great players are struggling," said Girardi, "they're going to turn it around quick."
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 4:36 PM | Permalink
