No Joe. Just No.

Despite it being only a week into the season, Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi has already made two questionable moves. The first came before the season started when he announced that Xavier Nady would start right field instead of Nick Swisher (a move that Swisher is making him regret). The second one came today in the 8th inning of the Yankees 6-4 loss to the Royals. With two outs and one on, the Royals called on a pinch hitter, Brian Pena. Girardi decided to remove RHP Jose Veras from the game for LHP Phil Coke, forcing Pena to turn around and bat righty.

Lets stop right there. Before even considering what happened after that move, think about this: Mariano Rivera was available. He’s pitched plenty of 4-out saves in his career, what’s one more to him. And even if Pena batted from the left side against him, Mo actually is better against lefties due to his nasty cutter. There really is no reason why Coke, the Yankees long-reliever, should’ve been in the game at all.

Well as soon as Girardi made the move, the Royals made him regret it. Coke came in with two outs, but promptly allowed 3 runs to score on 3 extra-base hits. That marked his second outing this year where he’s given up at least 3 runs. Not only did Girardi’s decision cost Joba Chamberlain his first “w” of the year, it cost the Yankees the game. Joe Girardi’s seat just got a little warmer.