Joe Girardi understands the pressure of managing a big league club in New York and has been impressed with the job Terry Collins has done.
“I think he has done a tremendous job,’’ Girardi said of the Mets’ manager before Friday night’s Subway Series 5-1 Yankees loss at Citi Field. “Start with losing your closer [Jenrry Mejia] right away. Then thinking you are going to get him back and losing him again.’’
Mejia was suspended twice for PED use.
“Some of the trials they went through. They started out very well and went through a slow period,’’ Girardi said. “Almost every club has gone through that this year. It seems like it’s bigger when it’s your club. The moves have bolstered the lineup and help them take off. The situation of having to deal with a number of young pitchers with [innings] limitations. I think he has done a tremendous job.’’
With Mark Teixeira done for the season thanks to a fractured right leg, Jacoby Ellsbury struggling and the designated hitter banned during interleague games in NL parks, Girardi was asked about using Alex Rodriguez at a position during the next two games to add punch to a lineup that has scored 11 runs in the previous four games.
“He is not comfortable playing the field,’’ Girardi said of Rodriguez, who walked as a pinch-hitter in Friday night’s loss. “It is what it is.’’
Overall, Chasen Shreve’s first season as a Yankee has been solid. However, lately the lefty has been shaky.
He gave up a two-run homer to Juan Uribe on Friday night, and in his past seven appearances he has an 8.11 ERA, has given up nine hits (three homers) and seven walks.
“I know Shreve gave up a two-run homer, but he has done a lot of good things,’’ Girardi said.
Nathan Eovaldi has his fingers crossed he can help the Yankees in relief if they reach the postseason.
“To help out of the bullpen, depending on how deep we go,’’ said Eovaldi, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 5 because of an inflamed right elbow. “I want to come back and help in the pen anyway I can and finish on a good note.’’
Eovaldi plans to resume throwing Monday by playing catch with an arm that feels good following being in discomfort following a platelet-rich plasma injection.
“It felt worse than when the [injury] happened,’’ said Eovaldi, who is 14-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 27 starts. “I feel great. All the stuff we’ve been doing is fine. I got all my range of motion back. I’m just trying to be patient with it. It’s extremely frustrating, the timing of when it happened. But everything is going good right now.’’
Lucas Duda’s second-inning home run ended a 19-inning scoreless streak by Yankees hurlers at Citi Field. Masahiro Tanaka, who gave up the homer, was the first Yankees starter to allow more than one earned run (two) at Citi Field since June 23, 2012, when Ivan Nova gave up two runs in 5 ²/₃ innings.
The Yankees didn’t homer Friday night and ended a string of 11 straight games in which they hit at least one.
It looked like a school reunion behind the batting cage while the Mets took batting practice Friday night and the Yankees came out of the clubhouse to stretch.
Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran, Chase Headley, John Ryan Murphy, Chris Young and Girardi were among the Yankees hitters who greeted Mets hitting coach Kevin Long with hugs.
Long was the Yankees’ hitting coach last year and was fired after the season.
