Alex Rodriguez is still limited to revisiting his high school quarterback days, flinging a football around Yankee Stadium to keep his arm strength up as his fractured left hand heals, but he is showing signs of improvement after an X-ray yesterday.
“It’s definitely better,” manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Rangers 3-0 last night. “The brace will come off. He’s not quite ready to swing, but he will start doing strengthening exercises, so that’s a good sign for us.”
Rodriguez was encouraged by how his hand felt yesterday even before the exam.
“So far, so good,” Rodriguez said prior to the game as he jogged off the field.
Although they have done fine without their regular third baseman since he was hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch July 24, Girardi still understands what a difference Rodriguez makes in the lineup.
On Monday, when asked about the way he set up his batting order, the manager explained some of his moves by saying, “We’re missing a pretty good right-handed bat that makes a difference.”
Eric Chavez, Jayson Nix and Casey McGehee have filled in admirably, with McGehee getting the start at third last night and going 2-for-4. But the Yankees don’t want to push their luck. And for as productive as Chavez has been, he remains fragile, evidenced by his unavailability for three games in Toronto after four straight games in Detroit.
Rodriguez has shown his own lack of durability the last two seasons, but the Yankees remain left-handed heavy when he’s not around.
* Girardi said Derek Lowe would get two days off before he checks in with him to see when he would be available to pitch again following his Yankees debut Monday, when he shut out the Rangers for four innings.
“He came out of it great,” Girardi said of Lowe, whom the Yankees picked up after the veteran right-hander was released by the Indians last week. He worked on his sinker before signing with the Yankees and was particularly effective in relief of David Phelps.
* Derek Jeter was the DH last night and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. … Andruw Jones went 0-for-3 and is now 2 for his last 27 against lefties while Curtis Granderson went 0-for-4 and has just one hit in his last 19 at-bats. His average dropped to .236.
“I’m convinced Curtis is going to come out of it,” Girardi said.