'I want to play': Greg Bird responds to criticism made by apparent Yankees insider

Greg Bird's spring and summer have been besieged by injuries and setbacks, but now the 24-year-old first baseman is dealing with gibes apparently made by someone in the Yankees' front office. On Friday morning, New York Daily News writer Bill Madden reported on Bird's mysterious foot injury, with an unidentified "Yankees insider" reportedly expressing some irritation with Bird's lack of progress, while also questioning Bird's commitment to return to action. “You really have to wonder what’s with this guy,” the insider said of Bird. “You’d think with [Aaron] Judge and [Gary] Sanchez, the guys he came up through the system with, doing so well up here he’d want to be a part of this. Apparently not.” Bird, who hasn't played in a major league game since May 1, responded to Madden's report before the Yankees' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday afternoon. "I want to play," Bird told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "I've always wanted to play since I can remember. I love baseball. For me, I'm doing everything I can to get back. That's pretty much all I know. I love it and I want to play with these guys. I would hope people see that but obviously I've just got to take care of what I can take care of." Yankees' manager Joe Girardi also commented on the story. "I don't think I'd be too happy about it because I think only the player knows," Girardi told Hoch. "I'd be a little upset about someone questioning my desire, my integrity." On Monday, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that Bird may undergo exploratory surgery to determine why he's still feeling pain in his ankle, which according to diagnostic tests, indicate that Bird's bone bruise has healed. The possibility of Bird playing in New York during the second half of the season remains unknown. If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at thanslin@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.