Yanks not alarmed with Carter’s K rate
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Chris Carter arrived with a reputation for striking out at an alarming rate, so Joe Girardi isn’t stunned the right-handed hitter is whiffing in more than half of his at-bats.
“I have seen it before,’’ the manager said of Carter, who led the NL in whiffs with 206 last year with the Brewers when his 41 homers were tied for the most in the league. “I think he is a little off and we are trying to get him back on track.’’
Entering Thursday’s game against the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park Carter had struck out 20 times in 37 at-bats and he whiffed in two of four atbats during the 5-5 tie.
Carter’s strikeout average of .537 (22-for-41) dwarfs a batting average of .122 (5-for-41).
Signed to a $3.5 million deal to provide a righthanded bat to face lefties and play first base, Carter’s miserable spring and Greg Bird’s sizzling performance could result in Carter becoming a fulltime bench player, a role big power hitters don’t of- ten thrive in.
“As long as you stay through the process it will work out. I felt good today,’’ said Carter who singled in four at-bats.
Since it was learned Didi Gregorius would be out until at least the early part of May with a right shoulder injury Girardi has started Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade and Pete Kozma at short. That leaves Ruben
Tejada and second baseman Starlin Castro as the only two names mentioned as possible replacements for Gregorius who haven’t started a game at short this spring.
Girardi said he plans on giving Tejada time at short and might use Castro on the other side of the bag just to be prepared if he needs him there.
“We are going to talk. I am not sure who is scheduled there. Castro going over there really depends who we take, but it is probably worth getting him over there,’’ Girardi said of his most experienced shortstop on the roster. “I don’t think it’s such a big deal for him.’’
Torreyes, who can play second, short and third, started at third Thursday and went 2-for-3 with a towering homer to left.
The right-field competition between Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks might go to the day before Opening Day and each outfielder had a solid game Thursday.
Judge went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Hicks had one hit in two at-bats and drove in a run with a double. He also made a sliding catch on Mallex Smith’s fly ball in the third inning.
“Both had good days and that is a good thing. We will figure that out, too,’’ said Girardi.
Girardi wasn’t surprised to hear Masahiro Tanaka thought he “was all over the place’’ Wednesday after shutting out the Phillies across 5 ¹ /3 innings.
“We all have gotten accustomed to that. He expects perfection and he is going to strive for it every time he goes out. He could find something wrong in a perfect game,’’ Girardi said of his Opening Day starter who is 3-0 this spring and hasn’t allowed a run in 18 2/3 innings. “I know he made some mistakes with the fastball that he is working on, but I was happy with it, I didn’t have a whole lot of complaints.’