On Friday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi expressed his displeasure at how Alex Rodriguez was hit by Brad Penny in the final game of the three-game series against the Red Sox.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one in New York that felt that way. According to a report from ESPN.com, the Yankees called the commissioner’s office to ask that Penny be suspended for what they felt was an intentional plunking.
“It seems like there is always the feeling that if someone intentionally throws at someone they are going to be suspended,” Girardi said. “I don’t care for it. I don’t care for hitting him in that situation. That’s my opinion. I’m not 100 percent right, for sure, that he threw at him on purpose. That’s my feeling. That’s up to the commissioner’s office.”
Meanwhile, as Girardi was firing verbal darts at Boston, Red Sox owner John Henry and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira were exchanging some words of their own.
After the Red Sox owner tweeted “the MT Curse?” following the Sox’ eighth straight victory over the Bombers this year, Teixeira fired back at the 59-year-old Henry.
“How old is Mr. Henry?” Teixeira said. “There is no reason for me to get into any war of words with some 70-something-year-old man. It doesn’t make sense.”
Afterward, Henry seemed somewhat apologetic for his comments.
“But seriously, that’s all theatre,” Henry said. “[Teixeira] is certainly one of the best players in the game. Tremendous hitter, great first baseman. A great sign for the Yankees. And he has a great sense of humor.”
Teixeira, on the other hand, did not exactly back down.
“Everybody knows the Yankees paid the most,” Teixeira said. “This is a business. It was a family decision and a business decision. They can have their opinions — that’s fine. I made the best decision for me, and it’s worked out great.
“I met with 12 teams. If 11 owners want to take shots at me, that’s fine.”
