Scout: Gardy showing speed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brett Gardner won his first Gold Glove last season and he appears to be better this year.
“His body looks livelier. He has always been a tough kid and he looks like he is healthy. He is one of those guys who get banged up and still play,’’ a scout who has followed the Yankees lately said a day after Gardner went toward the left-field line for a ball and easily threw out the Royals’ Jorge Soler at second base with a perfect throw. “He looks stronger and there is a lot more life to his body. He is a center fielder playing left field. He still has centerfielder speed.’’
Gardner, who went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs here Wednesday, said he was pleased to hear an outside voice say his body showed more life but said it wasn’t a dramatic increase.
“Maybe a little bit. I feel I am playing well and covering ground,’’ Gardner said.
Girardi said Gardner will sit Thursday night ver- sus lefty Danny Duffy. Aaron Hicks played center Wednesday in place of Ellsbury and went 2-for-4 with a homer. He will start there again Thursday.
The Yankees have scored at least seven runs 17 times this year and lead the majors in that category. The 16 hits by the Yankees matched a season high. They are 23-9 in the last 32 games. It’s their best 32game stretch since June 11July 18, 2012 when they also went 23-9.
Alex Rodriguez will be the analyst for Fox Sports 1 Thursday night. It will be the first Yankee game Rodriguez will work.
“The biggest thing as a broadcaster is you have to tell the story through your eyes,’’ said Girardi, who worked for YES in 2004 and 2007. “The way that you understood the game.’’
The Yankees entered Wednesday night’s action leading the AL in homers with 58, but Girardi likes having more speed.
“We are more athletic than we have been,’’ Girardi said. “It’s easier to score runs.’’