CINCINNATI — Alex Rodriguez’s left shoulder receives daily heat treatments and hasn’t cut into his recent productivity at the plate.
However, according to some scouts, the Yankees third baseman hasn’t been running well all the time.
“There are times he looks like he is holding back,” a scout said of Rodriguez, who often has said there is no problem with the right hip that underwent surgery in 2009.
“He is not on the injury report for treatment except for the heat pack,” general manager Brian Cashman said.
Joe Girardi has mentioned several times since Sunday that the cleanup hitter is “beat up” but hasn’t elaborated. Monday, Rodriguez said he was “just OK, nothing north of that.”
With two games slated for today against the Reds at Great American Ball Park after last night’s game was washed out, Girardi wasn’t sure that Rodriguez will play both. If he doesn’t, the Yankees will be without a productive bat in one game. Since May 17, Rodriguez is hitting .344 (43-for-125) with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 31 games. In the previous four games, he is 7-for-16 (.438) and two RBIs.
One area the beat-up body may be taking a toll on Rodriguez is in the home run department. After hitting four in seven games from June 4-11, Rodriguez hasn’t raised his total from 13.
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Brett Gardner knows the math and doesn’t hide from being caught stealing 10 times in 24 attempts.
“I am not running as much, and when I have I haven’t had success,” Gardner said. “There is no excuse for it. It’s not only for myself but for the guys [hitting] behind me.”
Gardner swiped 47 bases last year and was nabbed just nine times.
“There is a lot of room for improvement,” Gardner said.
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Girardi says he won’t avoid using lefty reliever Boone Logan against left-handed hitters. Based on the results, maybe he should think about it.
Lefty swingers are hitting a robust .300 (12-for-40) against Logan. Monday night he was brought into the ninth inning with the Yankees’ leading, 5-1, with a runner on first and no outs and hit left-handed hitter Joey Votto with the first pitch after throwing to first twice.
“I am not afraid to bring Boone in,” said Girardi, who pointed out that Logan, his only lefty reliever, hadn’t worked since June 12 before Monday. “It all comes down to location.”
Girardi had Ramiro Pena in the lineup at short instead of Eduardo Nunez before last night’s rainout.
“Nuney had played seven days in a row and he hadn’t done that since last year in the minor leagues,” Girardi said. “I am little concerned about fatigue. If he is fatigued he could get hurt.”
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The rainout was just the fifth in the nine seasons the Reds have played at Great American Ball Park and the second this season.
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There is quite a crowd in Tampa. Disabled list pitchers Bartolo Colon, Rafael Soriano, Pedro Feliciano, Phil Hughes and Damaso Marte are throwing and infielder Eric Chavez is taking batting practice and ground balls. Hughes is between rehab starts.


