Joe Girardi Conspiracy Theory: Let Rays Win To Screw Red Sox?

by NowPublic Staff | September 28, 2011 at 08:28 pm

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Did Joe Girardi Let the Tampa Rays Win Just To Screw the Boston Red Sox Out of the 2011 MLB Playoffs. Conspiracy Theories Abound

September 28, 2011 was a night of incredible baseball. September 29 will likely be a day of incredible finger-pointing. No doubt some baseball fans, particularly Boston Red Sox fans, will be wondering just New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi was doing during the Yanks-Rays match that helped.

The Yankees blew a seven-run lead to give the Rays a dramatic win that sent them to the post-season. The winning run came off an Evan Longoria home run, minutes after the Boston Red Sox lost their extra-inning game to the Baltimore Orioles.

No doubt, some fans see the timing of the Longoria home run as a little too convenient. The theory goes that once Girardi realized that the Red Sox had lost, they took their foot off the gas pedal and let the Rays win.

Folks on Twitter ripped Joe Girardi's decision-making during the Rays-Yankees game, noting that he didn't bother to field his best players, especially closer Mariano Rivera.

"Let's remember the moment that really set this up in the AL: Girardi not using Mariano. Red Sox very likely alive if Mo pitches," said one Twitter user.

Of course, it makes sense for Girardi to rest his best players in a game that didn't really mean anything to them.

New York Daily News writer Mark Feinsand went back and forth with fans on Twitter. When one reader said that Girardi should have used his top pitchers in relief, Feinsand noted:

"Logan, Ayala and Wade blew the lead. All A-list."

"It's disconcerting that they gave up this lead. Main culprits: Logan, Ayala, Wade all on ALDS roster."

"Sigh. There is nothing suspicious about it. Girardi put in three of his playoff-bound relievers and they blew a huge lead."

He added sarcastically: "The two relievers that gave up the big homers tonight (Ayala, Wade) each had sub-2.00 ERAs this season. Clearly, Girardi threw in the towel."

He finished with: "To all of you insisting the Yankees tanked this game on purpose: Grow up."

Of course, it's important to note that the Boston Red Sox had every opportunity to win their game against the Orioles and face the Rays in a one-game playoff. If Jonathan Papelbon hadn't given up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, perhaps Girardi's decision wouldn't be under the microscope.