From the AP about the Cervelli incident:
“I can’t believe that he went after it the way he did. That’s not Joe Girardi,” said Zimmer, a former Yankees bench coach and currently a senior adviser with the Rays. Twice in the past week Tampa Bay runners barreled into catchers blocking the plate.
Girardi was a catcher in the big leagues and should know better, Zimmer said.
“You block the plate. If I slide into him and break a leg, nothing is said. Instead of breaking my leg I bowl him over and it’s not the right play?” Zimmer said. “Well, to me it’s the right play, spring training or no spring training. Play the game the right way. To me, our kid played it the way he thought it was right, and I think it was right.”
Girardi said the play was uncalled for in a spring game. He reiterated his disappointment before the Yankees left Tampa for Fort Myers to face the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
“It’s just disheartening. It’s spring training, I just don’t understand,” Girardi said. “I told all my players to play hard, but when you do something like that you take your chances that you will get someone hurt.”
I guess the contexts (catcher vs. baserunner) and the varying mindsets of the coaches and players dictate the outcome of such an event. There really isn’t an inherent wrong move here, although I still agree with Girardi and think that an aggressive play like that in ST is rather uncalled for. The Rays’ organization, including Zimmer should express their regret about it and just move on.
Also, PA (LoHud) is reporting that Cervelli will likely be out for 8-10 weeks and he could opt for surgery in order to speed up the healing process.
