NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez won’t play first base during the remainder of this season, even when the New York Yankees desperately need his bat in National League ballparks.
Rodriguez was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day Saturday for the middle game of the Subway Series against the Mets at Citi Field.
Having lost his third base job while serving a season-long drug suspension last year, A-Rod was shifted to designated hitter this season. He played twice at first during spring training, started there on April 11 against Boston, then moved to first for the final two outs versus Texas on May 23.
Rodriguez took grounders at first ahead of the Yankees’ late-season series at Atlanta.
”It just didn’t look right, so we decided not to do it,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ”He doesn’t look comfortable. As much as we thought that maybe it might work, it just didn’t work.”
Rodriguez has been the Yankees’ best offensive player, hitting .255 with 32 homers and 83 RBIs. He is on track to play a full season for the first time since 2007.
He pinch hit for the Yankees and walked in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Mets. Girardi said playing the field more often during the season might have decreased A-Rod’s production at the plate.
”We needed his offense,” Girardi said. ”Let’s not forget that he’s 40 years old, and trying to run him out there for defense, there’s probably not going to be a ton of range, and it’s something that he’s not comfortable doing.”
A-Rod at 1st base: Rust allowed to sleep
