Joe Girardi Press Quotations

The mood has been fresh every day. They've been able to put the past day behind them. Our guys are so youthful and energetic. The one thing we've been trying to impress on them is that nobody's looking over their shoulder. We don't want them to feel like every at-bat could be their last.

He's been a starter most of his career, but in Chicago, because of the depth in their rotation, he pitched out of the bullpen. He has looked very good in Spring Training. He is in the mix, along with a few other guys, but he continues to impress us.

He's done nothing but impress us. Every time out, he's gotten nothing but outs. He's down in the zone. His innings have been as easy as anyone's here.

Some people always say (managing the Yankees) is an easy job because of all the players you're given. But that's not an easy job, because you're managing personalities, the press ... there's a lot to manage there and Joe's really good at it.

The bullpen guys are going to have to grow up just like the starters, just like our shortstop, second baseman, first baseman, right, center and left fielders probably. It's OK. Just because a guy is young doesn't mean he can't play. It just means that no one in the public besides maybe farm directors and the press know who they are. They can still play. There's a reason that they are top prospects.

I love the way he's worked. I've been very impressed and proud of the way he's playing. He's communicating with other players. He's done everything you can ask a player to do.

It's a pressure situation every day for these kids because they see they're competing for a job.

We will look to expose the weaknesses of other clubs, ... I love putting pressure on the defense, because I remember as a catcher what it was like and what pitchers go through to try to stop the running game.

We're youthful and we need to put pressure on the other teams.

I've been reading press clippings about what I can do and what I couldn't do for a long time. That's just the nature of the business. ... Forecasts are forecasts. It's forecast to rain today, probably, but that doesn't mean it's going to. What matters is what we think about ourselves.

One of my fears was that with young guys trying so hard to impress us that they are not going to say if they feel something. My fears kind of came out.

I was impressed by how the young talent was able to succeed at such a high level, ... That's a credit to the organization. First of all, the players who they're drafting, and then the quality of the people in the Minor Leagues who are raising these players up. And then, the manager, Jack, getting the most out of them.

I think this takes a little pressure off of them. And it's going to take a lot of pressure off guys who haven't done it before.