Terry Francona and Joe Girardi Take Rivalry To New Yankee Stadium
May 5, 2009 – 11:54 am by Michael Bean
After decades of doing battle at The House That Ruth Built, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox take their rivalry to the new Yankee Stadium. Last night was the first of what will surely be many great games between the two historic rivals, with Jonathan Papelbon holding off the Yanks to preserve a 6-4 Red Sox victory. Both teams managers, Joe Girardi and Terry Francona, joined WFAN in New York prior to the series to talk about the rivalry and Boston’s recent success over New York.
Francona on the new stadium:
I wanted to get my first look at the new ballpark but unfortunately it was raining on me while I was trying to look around. But you know, it’s beautiful. I actually have great memories of the old ballpark though so I’ll probably be a little bit torn. The games at the old ballpark were so much fun, there’s so much history there. I’m sure we’ll start making some new history here in the new one.”
On the slumping David Ortiz:
“David still has that presence and we’re hoping that as cold as guys get, they’ll get just as hot.”
Girardi on managing one of the true lightning rods in sports, Alex Rodriguez:
“That’s the way it is and I knew that coming in taking this job. And the big thing is I care about him. I care about his family and his extended family and how it effects him and I will continue to keep a pulse on him and how he’s doing and how his children are doing.”
And is A-Rod perhaps going to return from injury by the weekend?
“He is probably going to get back earlier than we thought, it’s a possibility, so it just depends on how he goes coming out of these two [practice] games playing at third base.”
Listen here to Girardi on WFAN in New York
Listen here to Francona on WFAN in New York
Tags: Joe Girardi, Red Sox Yankees rivalry, Terry Francona, WFAN
