A-Rod admits to “terrible” ABs
TORONTO — Alex Rodriguez agrees with those who have watched him lately.
“I felt terrible,’’ the ice cold Yankees designated hitter said after Sunday’s 31 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, when he went 0for3 (all strikeouts) to extend his slide to 3for34 (.088). “Everyone goes through it. It will be good to get a change of scenery.’’
Rodriguez admitted to chasing too many pitches out of the strike zone before Friday night’s game, when he went 1for5. He didn’t play Saturday.
Sunday, he copped to chasing in his firstinning atbat, but otherwise said: “I feel fine. Sometimes they make great pitches.
Rodriguez figures the slide is part of the sixmonth season.
“Keep working hard, 500 to 600 atbats it goes up and down like the stock market,’’ said Rodriguez, who has gone 65 atbats since last homering on July 27 in Houston. While there is a chance
Michael Pineda could reenter the starting rotation Friday night against the Indians at the Stadium, the Yankees weren’t ready to commit to that Sunday.
“It all depends how he feels and based on our need,’’ Joe Girardi said when asked about Pineda, who pitched three innings for DoubleA Trenton on Sunday in a minor league rehab start, allowing two runs on four hits. He didn’t walk or strike out anyone and threw 42 pitches, 30 for strikes.
Girardi’s plan is at some point to insert a sixth arm into the rotation to give the other five pitchers an extra day of rest. The manager has announced CC Sabathia, Nathan
Eovaldi and Ivan Nova for the upcoming Twins series at the Stadium, but nothing beyond that.
Jacoby Ellsbury was 0for19 when Girardi gave the leadoff hitter/ center fielder off last Wednesday in Cleveland. Ellsbury watched two hours of videotape that night and it appears to have helped. After going 2for4 with a homer Sunday, Ellsbury is hitting .389 (7for18) in the four games since sitting out.
“I think he feels comfortable at the plate and is swinging the bat better,’’ Girardi said. “We have said those two guys at the top are really, really important.’’
Brett Gardner went 1for4 and is batting .333 (7for21) in his last five games after going 4for35 (.114) in his previous 10 games.