Quote: Manuel can’t afford Three Shots
Jerry Manuel, prior to today’s game, when asked on-air by SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt if Luis Ayala is ‘the guy,’ i.e., the team’s closer, said:
“Yeah, right now he is the guy, unless he has some tremendous setbacks and we have to make an adjustment. The thing you have to realize, in this short of period of time, you can ill-afford to give a guy three shots. Where, during the season, I’m gonna give you three shots at it and if you don’t do it I’ve got some one else. Here, I can’t afford three shots. In saying ‘he’s the guy,’ that doesn’t mean two days from now he is still the guy – if you understand what I’m saying. So, that’s kind of where we are in that evaluation process. That’s why it’s so difficult to name a game this late, because if something goes wrong you can’t afford to stay with him for any period of time.”
Manuel also told Burkhardt that he will begin playing Fernando Tatis over Nick Evans, because, at this point in the season, he needs to go with experience and because he is a bit better defensively.
By the way, speaking of the pen, Manuel told reporters that he would be willing to use John Maine as a relief pitcher if he returns this season, according to the Daily News.
