Yankees backup catcher Austin Romine has played behind the plate in three games this week, but the decision wasn’t solely based on pitching matchups — it’s also because starter Brian McCann is in a deep funk.
The 32-year-old veteran has battled through an 11-81 (.135) slump, dropping his season batting average to .207, on the cusp of the notorious Mendoza line.
While McCann has owned a fair share of strikeouts, manager Joe Girardi hasn’t necessarily seen an issue in McCann’s swing and plate approach, leaving the Yankees’ skipper wondering what the matter is.
“He has had some struggles,” Girardi told the New York Post. “I don’t think I can put a finger on it. He is just not getting a lot of hits. I don’t see much different mechanically.”
Since hyperextending his left elbow on June 1, McCann has driven in only six runs, and has hit .186 (8-43) against lefties and .213 (29-136) against righties.
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Mark Teixeira will make two rehab starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre next Tuesday and Wednesday, and is expected to be activated from the disabled list on June 24 versus Minnesota, according to Meredith Marakovits of YES Network.
Mark Teixeira's @Yankees return inches nearer as he continues to recover from a right knee injury. #YANKSonYEShttps://t.co/ApUYvOFvzK
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 18, 2016
“Everything is good so far,” Teixeira said to the New York Post.
Teixeira has been sidelined since June 3 after suffering torn cartilage in his right knee against Baltimore.
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Yankees’ left-handed reliever Andrew Miller knows that his name has been floating around in trade rumors, and he’s admitted to surfing the web for the latest gossip.
“I’m not immune to checking trade rumors because I want to see,” Miller said to NJ.com. “There’s no doubt that the Yankees’ goal is to compete and win every year and (management) is going to do everything they can, but it is what it is.”
The 31-year-old southpaw has been the Yankees’ most dependable piece in the bullpen, with a 1.26 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 28 games this season. With $18 million guaranteed in the next two seasons, Miller has emerged as a potential trade piece this summer, as his contract doesn’t include a no-trade clause. But Miller is focused on his job, and not the word of mouth.
“If that means I’m coming or going … I don’t know I can’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m just worried about getting guys out when I get put in the game.”
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While Pete Rose was crowned the ‘Hit King’ in the States with 4,256 career hits back in 1985, Yankees’ ace Masahiro Tanaka was at a loss for words to describe baseball’s new universal Hit King, Ichiro Suzuki.
“I think it’s just a spectacular accomplishment,” the Japanese star said via his translator to NJ.com. “I don’t think there will be many players even in the future that will be able to accomplish what he’s accomplished.”
Between playing nine seasons in Japan and 16 in the majors, Ichiro reached a combined total of 4,257 hits on Wednesday night.
