TAMPA — When Joe Girardi addresses the Yankees prior to their first full-squad workout today at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the manager’s words won’t land on Alex Rodriguez’s ears.
For the first time since joining the Yankees in 2004, Rodriguez will not be on hand for the start of a spring training camp he won’t attend at all.
While the Yankees go through drills, Rodriguez will be in New York rehabbing the surgically repaired left hip that is expected to keep him out at least until July — and possibly for the entire season.
That leaves Rodriguez’s teammates to answer questions about his alleged ties to Biogenesis, the shuttered Miami anti-aging clinic that has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
MO: ’12 PLAYOFFS EYED AS ‘CLOSER’
JETER SAYS HE SUFFERED STRESS FRACTURE BEFORE BREAK, BUT GM, GIRARDI IN DARK
CORE CONCERNS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ’96
And until Rodriguez talks about it, Derek Jeter is staying quiet.
“I have always tried to give people the respect to respond to anything before I respond to it,” Jeter said.
Jeter admitted it would be different not having Rodriguez in camp.
“It’s going to be odd that he isn’t here,” Jeter said of the third baseman, who has been replaced by former Red Sox mainstay Kevin Youkilis. “It’s going to be weird not having him here. He has been part of this team since 2004. It’s going to be awkward.”
Girardi’s message will be about improving. That would have been easier with a healthy Rodriguez, baseball’s fifth-place all-time home run hitter with 647.
“It’s odd when you don’t have players that you are expecting to be here,’’ Girardi said. “I keep in touch with him and see how he is rehabbing.’’
With 84 players in camp, Mark Teixeira explained even if Rodriguez was around he might not have seen him amid the crowd yesterday. However, the time is coming when Rodriguez will be missed.
“Once the season starts, you will notice not having him around,’’ Teixeira said.
Jeter is optimistic about Youkilis replacing Rodriguez.
“I played with him in the WBC, and I have always respected the way he plays,’’ Jeter said.
Until Andy Pettitte told Jeter yesterday of the flak Youkilis took for saying “I will always be a Red Sock’’ earlier this week, Jeter was not aware of the situation.
Jeter’s reaction: “Welcome to New York.”