Yankees manager Joe Girardi may have limited control when it comes to executive power, but the lack of production from his players in the first half of the season hasn’t slipped his mind.
Prior to Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers, Girardi spoke with WFAN’s Mike Francesa, addressing New York’s legitimacy as a playoff contender with the trade deadline impending.
“I understand those questions and, right now, we have not proved that we are,” Girardi told Francesa. “The only way to change people’s minds is to go out and do it,” Girardi responded.
The only one that has gone out and produced is veteran right-fielder Carlos Beltran, who has surprised most with a team leading 19 home runs, 53 RBI, and .294 batting average. But the 39-year-old showed his delicacy on Tuesday night, exiting the game in the first inning with a tweaked right hamstring. Girardi expects Beltran to be out at least two games after MRI results came back negative.
But another dilemma revolves around designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, who has been restricted as a platoon hitter against left-handed pitchers by Girardi on Monday.
“A-Rod’s meant a lot to us,” Girardi said about the 40-year-old, who entered Wednesday batting .219 with only 27 RBI. “This is hard on all of us in a sense, but we’re trying to DH Carlos more to keep him in the lineup more and Alex has had his struggles against right-handers, so we made a decision that that’s what we’re going to do. Nothing has to be permanent, but people have to produce.”
Aside from the offensive woes, Girardi also spoke about Aaron Judge’s recent power surge, and the struggles surrounding pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Severino. You can listen to the entire conversation below.
