SLIDING SCARE: Brett Gardner dove head-first into first base after this bunt against the Orioles, then got a talking-to by Yankees manager Joe Girardi. (
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SARASOTA, Fla. — Joe Girardi might as well save his breath.
After watching Brett Gardner narrowly avoid getting injured on a head-first slide into first base yesterday against the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium, the Yankees manager said he will talk to Gardner about the dangerous maneuver.
“I’m not crazy about that,” Girardi said. “I know during the season it becomes instinctual. Right now you don’t want him to get his hand stepped on. I will talk to him [today]. The hard thing about it is that it’s instinctual.’’
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
One day after Curtis Granderson went down for at least the first month of the season with a fractured right forearm, the Yankees watched Gardner dive into first in a meaningless game.
Gardner, who beat out a bunt single with the dangerous slide, knows he was wrong.
“It’s not something I should have done,’’ said Gardner, who was limited to 16 games last year due to a right elbow injury that required surgery. “It’s almost a habit. [Girardi] has said enough to me that he probably knows it goes in one ear and out the other. Other people [third base coach Rob Thomson] said something.’’
The upside of the play was Gardner getting down a perfect bunt toward third. The Yankees have wanted speedy Gardner to bunt more.
“I plan to do a lot of it,’’ said Gardner, who started in center field and went 3-for-3 in a 5-1 loss. “It can be a weapon.”
* Not all of the medical news coming out of Yankees camp is bad. Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia took steps forward in their return from surgeries.
The staff ace and closer threw batting practice yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and reported no problems. Sabathia had a bone spur removed from his left elbow in October and Rivera had a torn ACL in his right knee repaired in June.
“It was fine,’’ Sabathia said.”The slider was not as sharp as I wanted it to be but it felt pretty good for the first time.’’
Sabathia said he will throw another batting practice Thursday. After that, he could be ready for a simulated game or an exhibition game.
To the uneducated eye, Rivera has been so smooth in bullpen and batting practice sessions, it’s hard to believe he is 43 and coming off major surgery.
While general manager Brian Cashman said March 10 is a likely return date for Derek Jeter, the Yankees haven’t done the same with Rivera.
“He’s getting closer but my guess is he will do a simulated game before a real game just to control it,’’ Girardi said of the all-time saves leader.
As for Jeter, if his left ankle that was fractured in Game 1 of the ALCS allows him to be ready for Opening Day, Girardi said the shortstop will bat in one of the top two spots in the lineup. Girardi could bat Jeter leadoff against left-handers and second against right-handers, with Gardner or Ichiro Suzuki hitting first in the second scenario.
* The Yankees play the Phillies today in Clearwater. Jose Ramirez starts for the visitors. … Reggie Jackson arrived in camp yesterday to be a guest instructor.
Since the Yankees don’t plan on telling Melky Mesa not to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, the outfielder says he will play for the Dominican Republic.
Cashman said the Yankees won’t tell Mesa he can’t play, Girardi has no qualms about one of the candidates to replace Curtis Granderson leaving camp.
“No, because I think he’s going to play against left-handers there, too,’’ Girardi said when asked if he would discourage Mesa from leaving camp. “It’s not something I can’t watch on TV.’’
Girardi is comforted by Yankees bench coach Tony Pena being the manager of the Dominican team.
“If [the Yankees say yes] who wouldn’t want to play for their country,’’ Mesa said.