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Girardi Finds Excessive Roughness Unacceptable
Elliot Johnson (Tampa Bay Rays) collides with catcher Francisco Cervelli (New York Yankees) at home plate while trying to score during the 9th inning of a spring training game, breaking his wrist.
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March 9, 2008 (FPRC) -- Elliot Johnson, a Tampa Bay Rays player, crashed into Francisco Cervelli in the 9th inning, fracturing his wrist. Already dealing with the team's share of injuries, Yankees Manager, Joe Girardi was furious, saying that the move was unnecessary. Cervelli said that he didn't believe the play was dirty and feels it's just part of the game. Girardi wasn't as forgiving about the incident and said that he would expect that sort of rough housing during the season but not at Spring Training. Rays manager Joe Maddon brushed off the incident, citing that it's all part of the game. Cervelli just returned from breaking his right hand in winter ball.
Elliot Johnson reportedly got several compliments from his teammates on the play and said he'd do it again if given the chance. Johnson says that even though he's not out to hurt anyone, he's main focus is to score the run. Johnson said that he hopes Cervelli is ok and doesn't lose his position on the team because of the incident. Even though Johnson doesn't admit to any wrongdoing, he indicated to reporters that he could understand Girardi's point of view about it being inappropriate to crash into a catcher during spring training.
Even though Girardi understands that the teams play aggressively but discourages that sort of conduct if done excessively. The Rays had a similar incident when Carl Crawford slammed into Astros catcher Humberto Quintero, forcing him to drop the ball. Astros Manager, Cecil Cooper didn't seem to have a problem with the incident and said that his team would have done the same thing.
Cervelli is considered a top defensive catching prospect. The Yankees signed him out of Venezuela in 2003. He hit .279 for Tampa last season and was ticketed for Double-A Trenton. It's unknown if his condition warrants surgery at this point and it is unclear as to how long he'll be out of commission.
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