CHICAGO — Three games and 14 plate appearances are far too small of a sample size to form an opinion of how Alex Rodriguez is going to do at the plate for the remainder of the season.
Nevertheless, talking before Wednesday night’s crushing 6-5 loss to the White Sox in 12 innings, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said he was impressed by what he saw from the beleaguered third baseman/designated hitter in the first two games back from the disabled list.
“He looks great. He has a lot of bat speed and fire,’’ Long said before Rodriguez went 1-for-5 with a walk. “So far so good. And I know it’s been two days, but I have been pleased with what I have seen.’’
Rodriguez, whose bat speed wasn’t there in the latter part of last season and during the postseason because of a hip problem that required January surgery, delivered a line drive out to center field Monday night in the first game back and anther liner to center Tuesday.
All three of Rodriguez’s hits have been singles. He has drawn two walks and has been hit by a pitch.
“He just missed two homers the first day,’’ Long said.
The Yankees’ lineup has been looking for muscle since spring training, when Rodriguez wasn’t in camp and Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson went down with hand fractures early.
Teixeira came back but lasted 15 games and had surgery. Granderson has come back twice and played in his 14th game last night.
* The Phillies placed corner infielder Michael Young on waivers Monday night. That means if he is claimed the Phillies can pull him back and talk trade with the claiming team. If he is put on waivers a second time and claimed, that team is awarded his contract. If he clears he can be dealt.
The Yankees had an interest in Young at the July 31 deadline, but late in the day the Phillies pulled back.
Young, who has a complete no-trade clause, drew interest from the Rangers, who are paying $10 million of his $16 million salary this season. He is a free agent following the season.
With the reeling Yankees 11 1/2 games back in the AL East race and seven games behind in the AL wild-card chase, Young might not want to join them if they are still interested. Young would fill a hole, because he could play first and third base.
* With the real possibility Michael Pineda (right shoulder tightness) and David Phelps (strained right forearm) won’t pitch again this season, manager Joe Girardi said the depth of his rotation, where three-fifths of the arms have struggled recently, is a concern.
“The health of the pitchers we do have is pretty good, but the bottom line is you always like to have more pitchers than slots available,’’ Girardi said. “Our depth would be tested if somebody got hurt. It’s not the most comfortable feeling but we will figure it out if something happens.’’
* Austin Romine started for a second straight game, catching CC Sabathia one night after working with Hiroki Kuroda.
“I talked about him swinging the bat pretty good,’’ Girardi said of the rookie catcher, entered the night hitting .444 (11-for-25) with four RBIs in the last nine games he has played. But Wednesday night, he went 0-for-3 and whiffed twice. “I might give him a little more playing time here and there. (Chris Stewart) is still going to catch a lot.’’
It was Romine’s fifth time catching Sabathia. He caught the lefty in three straight starts (May 14-26) and then not again until July 26.