ANAHEIM, Calif. — Because A.J. Burnett and Jose Molina have worked well together in two postseason starts, Joe Girardi is expected to use Molina to catch Burnett tonight in Game 5 of the ALCS at Angel Stadium.
However, that doesn’t mean Girardi will nail Jorge Posada to the bench for the early part of the game.
Explaining that Hideki Matsui had more experience as a DH, Girardi used Matsui in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins when Molina started, and in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Angels. In each game, Posada replaced Molina behind the plate.
Girardi mentioned the experience factor yesterday when asked if Posada, who hits Angels starter John Lackey very well, might be used as the DH tonight. However, Matsui couldn’t have looked worse in Game 4 Tuesday night when he went 0-for-5 and struck out three times (twice looking).
The switch-hitting Posada is a team-leading .414 (12-for-29) against Lackey. Matsui is at .286 (8-for-28).
“That is something we will talk about,” Girardi said. “The one thing we have talked about in that situation is Matsui — he’s DH’ed a lot more than Jorge has. There are some things that we have to look at. We’ll talk about it.”
Carrying third catcher Francisco Cervelli makes the plan easier to think about than if Posada and Molina were the only catchers.
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Posada said.
Asked why he handles Lackey, Posada said, “I don’t know. I know he is a tough pitcher and I have a lot of respect for him.”
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Derek Jeter was still hacking and talking with a nasal tone but, as usual, he insisted he was fine after yesterday’s workout.
“I noticed in on Monday and he was pretty sick,” Girardi said of Jeter. “He was still pretty sick [Tuesday]. I am hoping that he feels better but it didn’t seem to affect him Monday in his first at-bat [homer]. That’s just the type of player Derek is, he is tough.”
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Through four games, the Yankees have held the Angels in check on the basepaths. Not only have the Angels only attempted three steals (two successes), they haven’t been taking two bases on singles.
“I think if you look at our left-handers, their ability to slide step. A.J.’s fairly quick to home plate and we have gotten leads on them,” Girardi said. “I think there are a number of things.”
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Dwight Gooden, on hand at last night’s Knicks-Nets exhibition in Newark, said the Yankees are headed for their 27th World Series championship.
“I don’t see anyone stopping them right now,” Gooden told The Post at halftime. “They’re clicking on all cylinders. You got to have pitching, and they have it.”
Additional reporting by Marc Berman.