TAMPA — Joe Girardi always is an optimist. A pitcher gets shelled four straight outings and the Yankees manager believes the fifth will be better. A nine-game losing streak is a game away from being stopped.
Yet, when it comes to what Alex Rodriguez can contribute to the 2015 Yankees, Girardi is more of a realist.
“We are hoping he can provide some offensive punch to our lineup,’’ Girardi said after watching Rodriguez go hitless in two at-bats during Monday’s situational intrasquad game at George M. Steinbrenner Field against a pitching machine. He grounded out and popped up.
“I know it’s a tall order, we know that. He is 39½ years old and two hip surgeries, but I don’t ever count anyone out.’’
Girardi left out that Rodriguez, 40 on July 27, has played 44 games in the past two years and none last season, when he was suspended for being involved in the Biogenesis mess.
Still, the Yankees owe Rodriguez $61 million for the next three seasons and are looking to see if he can help support a lineup that is drowning in question marks.
On the day camp opened, general manager Brian Cashman and Girardi said the real evaluations begin in the final two weeks of the exhibition season. Still, it’s hard to ignore what Rodriguez is doing daily.
Is he moving better than he was a week ago? Is the bat speed increasing? Can he at least be a backup option at third and first base?
“I think you look at the progress he is making, day to day, week to week,’’ Girardi said. “How his at-bats look on Day 10 as opposed to Day 1. Some guys come out swinging really great, but it’s usually the really young guys.’’
When the Yankees open the exhibition season Tuesday against the Phillies in Clearwater, Rodriguez won’t make the short trip. Girardi said Rodriguez will play Wednesday against the Phillies at GMS in the home opener and be the designated hitter.
“He will get two or three [at-bats],’’ Girardi said. “Depending on how many he gets and how long the game is.’’
The game will be televised by YES, and judging by the warm reaction from the sparse crowds at the workouts, Rodriguez could be the main reason people tune in.
A lot has changed for Rodriguez since the last time he played in a big league game. He threatened to sue MLB, the Yankees and the Players Association. He knows the Yankees have no desire to give him a $6 million milestone bonus for hitting six more homers and tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time home run list. And he has become the face of PED usage.
However, one place Rodriguez’s life hasn’t changed, according to Girardi, is with a uniform on.
“His work and his approach are fairly the same as it used to be, the rounds he takes and what he wants to accomplish,’’ Girardi said. “Alex was never the guy who was looking to put on a show. He wants to get his work in and that’s what I see him doing.’’