Joe Girardi sets the bar high to measure Yankees’ success

Joe Girardi issued a prologue or epilogue to the postseason a few hours before Tuesday night’s wild-card game against the Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Asked if the season would not be successful without a victory in the do-or-die game, Girardi said, “Well, I think that’s for everyone else to determine. For me when we — like last year when we didn’t advance to the playoffs — it was very difficult for me. When you lose in a playoff game and you don’t advance to the next round, it’s very difficult for me.

“So my opinion might be different than someone else’s. I put the uniform on to win the World Series. That’s why I put the uniform on, and that’s my goal. Some people might look at it different. Have we had some players that have had some great years and done some great things? Absolutely, and the growth has been tremendous in our young players. But you put all this work in to win, and there’s only one team that’s going to be happy.’’

Girardi believed the Yankees had the advantage by playing the game at home. “Well, I think you think about your club, it’s built for your ballpark, and you’d rather play it at home because you’re more comfortable with it. The infielders understand the infield more, the outfielders understand the dimensions of the outfield more. So, of course, you want to be at home. And hopefully that 51-30 [home record] means something today.’’

Twins manager Paul Molitor tried to downplay the Yankees’ recent three-game sweep of his team at the Stadium. “I don’t think our guys are dwelling on that or are untainted by that,’’ Molitor said.