Alex strikes out 4 times in 4 hole
ST. PETERSBURG – Alex Rodriguez had a chance to lobby for more playing time, finally getting his first start Saturday after more than a week on the bench. It didn’t go very well. A-Rod went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, taking the dreaded Golden Sombrero in the Yankees’ 6-3 loss to the Rays.
“I had a chance to make my case tonight and I didn’t do a good job of that,” Rodriguez said. “He had me off-balance all night. I swung at balls and took strikes. (Rays starter Drew) Smyly has been pretty tough on me.”
A-Rod went into the game 2-for8 with six strikeouts against the lefthander. He was hoping to build on Friday’s ninth-inning pinch-hit single, but he went down swinging in each of his first two at-bats Saturday, took a called third strike in his third trip to the plate and swung at strike three in the ninth against closer Alex Colome.
“The second half it’s been a struggle, and it was a struggle tonight for him,” Joe Girardi said. “I don’t know if it’s rust, or what it is. He hasn’t hit like he did last year. I’m trying to get him going and we’ll just see what happens.”
Tampa Bay is starting another lefty, Blake Snell, on Sunday, but Girardi declined to say whether ARod would be in the lineup.
“That’s not my decision to make,” A-Rod said. “I didn’t do myself any favors tonight, that’s for sure.”
Before the game, Girardi said he believes A-Rod can still get hot this season, though the irregular playing time could make it tough for the 41-year-old to get into a groove at the plate.
“I understand the situation, but to get more at-bats, you have to be productive, and he’s getting an opportunity,” Girardi said
When asked about the Catch-22 situation A-Rod finds himself in – how do you become more productive when you rarely play? – Girardi decided he’d had enough with the topic.
“When I don’t play him, I’m questioned; when I play him, I’m questioned,” Girardi said. “Anyone who wants to do it can do it next time.”
THE MITCHELL REPORT
Bryan Mitchell (toe) threw a one-inning simulated game Saturday, the second time he’s done so as he looks to return from the injury that knocked him out during the final days of spring training.
Mitchell will throw a bullpen session Monday, then do a two-inning simulated game in the middle of the week. He could begin a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after that.
“I think right now at this point it’s just like going through spring training again,” said Mitchell, who suffered the injury in the final days of spring training. “I just have to get the reps in; you do the sim games, then real games in spring training. It’s just pretty much the throwing progression now.”
WHAT’s THE DEAL
Brian McCann’s name was the latest to surface in trade rumors Saturday, so it was curious when the catcher was not in the lineup Saturday night against the Rays.
Girardi said he was going to sit McCann one day this weekend, and given that both games are against lefties, he said he simply chose Saturday.
As the Braves’ reported interest in McCann continued to make its way around, the catcher said he hasn’t paid any attention to rumors.
“I’m trying to win baseball games; that’s all I’m worried about now,” McCann said. “Baseball’s hard enough. Focus on playing and winning.”