Joe Girardi Sure Quotations

We are going to lose some close games, but fans have to be sure that we'll bring our best game every night.

He said 'I think I need to come and play.' I respect that. I'm sure he's on cloud nine.

He's a little bit behind. We've just got to make sure we don't rush him. He's still got a ways to go.

He's a little bit behind, but we've got to make sure that we don't rush him. He's in a little different boat than all the other pitchers here, but we said all along that we weren't going to rush our pitchers. We're not going to abuse him. We're going to evaluate him later down the road.

He's a little bit behind, but we just have to make sure we don't rush him. He still has a ways to go. It's almost like day one for him for spring training.

He's been there before, so he's going to work in the outfield a little bit, and then we are going to work him in a game. I want to make sure he's comfortable out there before I just throw him out there.

It all points to how he progresses over the next six weeks. Obviously we want him to get his at-bats. We've said it all along -- we believe he is going to be in the lineup somewhere. We're just not sure where. But he's got the best instructor you can have. We'll see how much progress he makes over the next six weeks.

We're not exactly sure who's going to be our starting five, but he's had two really good outings.

We're just being protective. He was OK to play today. But we're going to make sure that he is OK during the regular season. He will catch Saturday.

The Yankees, usually they have one of the 25-man roster they're not sure who they're taking. We have like two that we know we're taking. It's about as opposite as it can be.

You obviously have to be productive to be in the lineup every day. We want to make sure he is productive the entire year. It's tough to ask a guy to catch 120 games a year when he hasn't done it before. He's just not used to that, getting beaten up and fatigued.

A big part of my job is making sure these guys understand they belong in the big leagues and they can do it. That's going to be my message, that just because you're young doesn't mean you can't play. I expect you to do it just like you did in Double-A and Triple-A. It's the next step up, but if you make your pitch it's a good pitch.

A big part of my job is making sure that these guys understand that they belong in the big leagues and they can do it.

It's tough to ask a guy to catch 120 games a year when he's never done it before. We believe he'll be more productive if he doesn't catch six days a week.... We want to make sure he's productive the whole year.

It's not as quickly as we would have liked, but you have to remain patient and make sure he's healthy before we send him back out there. I know it's not as quick as he would like. He's a little miserable. The leg didn't respond the way he wanted it to.

I want to make sure he is ready, that he's where he needs to be when he gets there so he doesn't get hurt.

So far he's been everything as advertised. He's pitched well. He's been great in the clubhouse. I really appreciate the way he tries to lead and his work ethic. I'm not sure Matt knows that I watch so closely.

I just want him to be himself. Don't try to do too much -- because I'm not going to let you do too much -- because it's my job to make sure that he doesn't get away from what he does and who he is.

I'm sure this will be a day he will remember. And this will be a day he will move on from and learn from. He's a special kid, though. He will bounce back. I'm not too worried about Hanley.

I know that Jeffrey and Larry will do the best they can to get me the best product on the field. We're not exactly sure what the team is going to be, but I know they're going to give me a winner.

I'm not sure what he'll do, ... but I know Joe will be professional about whatever he does and will be a gentleman like always.

If you know what turf toe is like, it's miserable. We just want to make sure he's healthy.

I don't make much of pitching in Spring Training. We want to make sure he is healthy and he is in shape. I don't think it's rough on him. I think he feels it's an honor to be there. He wanted to be there, that's why he went. This is an honor to play for your country.

I don't make much of pitching in spring training. We don't worry about it. We want to make sure he's healthy and gets in shape and then he'll be dialed in once it's time to start.