Mariano Rivera made a point of talking to Phil Hughes about relief pitching in the playoffs. Rivera, who was in Hughes’ setup role in 1995 and 1996, has often talked with young relievers about mental toughness and having a “short memory.”
“To me, it comes from the best,” manager Joe Girardi said, “a man who has had more success this time of year than anyone.”
Rivera, in his first postseason as closer, gave up a homer to Sandy Alomar Jr. to blow a save against the Indians in the division series, which the Yankees went on to lose. He came back to get the final out in three consecutive World Series.
“One of the great things about having the veterans we have on this team, they’re not afraid to speak up,” Girardi said. “Mo’s not afraid to speak up.”
Hughes, who stabilized the Yankees’ bullpen when he assumed the eighth-inning role in June, has yet to have a clean inning in the postseason. He gave up the tying and winning runs in Game 5 on hits by Vladimir Guerrero and Kendry Morales.
“Hughesy missed on a fastball,” Girardi said. “His overall command wasn’t bad, but he missed to Vlady.”
Staying with hot, cold hands: Mike Scioscia had Jeff Mathis, who has been swinging a hot bat, back in the starting lineup Sunday against Andy Pettitte in Game 6 of the ALCS. Mathis and Mike Napoli share the catching duties, anyway.
Scioscia has been staying with his regular lineup throughout the postseason, sticking with slumping players like Chone Figgins, who remained in the leadoff spot despite an .065 average in the playoffs.
“Things can turn quickly,” Scioscia said. “As far as what Chone brings, there wasn’t anybody on base more than he was in baseball this year.”
Girardi, too, stayed with his lineup, including Nick Swisher (3-for-31) in right field. Swisher, looking to regain his mojo, did regain his Mohawk, the hairdo he sported early in the season.
Saving CC for Phillies? Girardi gave no thought to skipping Andy Pettitte and starting CC Sabathia, who would have been on regular rest, for Game 6. The Yankees were trying to finish the ALCS without using Sabathia a third time, saving him to pitch Game 1 of the World Series. If there is a Game 7 on Monday, Sabathia will start and would be out of the World Series mix until Game 3.
“Our focus is not necessarily on that,” Girardi said, “but you would love to set up your rotation the way you want.”
Confident catcher: Although the Angels had momentum on their side heading into Game 6, the confidence of Yankees catcher Jose Molina isn’t shaken.
“We’re going to win,” said Molina, who won a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002. “Whether it’s in six or seven [games], we’re going to win.”
The Angels won two of the three ALCS games played in Anaheim, taking one in extra innings and then rallying in the seventh inning to win a dramatic Game 5. Now the series is back at Yankee Stadium.
“We love to play here,” Molina said in Spanish. “Coming back to your home is always nice.”
Tough town: The Yankees won a baseball-best 103 games during the regular season in Girardi’s second year as manager and is on the cusp of the World Series. But when the New York Daily News took an online poll of what should happen to Girardi if the Angels come back to win Games 6 and 7, 47 percent of respondents said he should be fired.
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Game 6 of the ALCS did not end in time for this edition. The Yankees led the Angels 3-2 through 7 1/2 innings. For the result, go to chicago tribune.com/sports