How defensive is Russell Martin about his defense?
“I remember in L.A. one year, [coach] Larry Bowa called me out and said, ‘All you care about is offense,’ ” Martin recalled Saturday. “I lost it and we had an argument. He was testing me. I take a lot of pride in my defense. I understand it’s more important to wins and losses than my offense. Calling pitches, blocking balls and throwing runners out are more important than my offense.’’
Martin said that mindset enables him to separate his work behind the plate and what he is going through at the plate. where he lugged a .179 (15-for-84) average into Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Mariners. He went 1-for-3 and doubled home a run in the second inning.
That doesn’t mean Martin, a .267 career big league hitter coming into this season, is ignoring the early-season slump.
Friday he went to hitting coach Kevin Long looking for answers. Though Martin went 0-for-4 in a 6-2 win that night, he said the comfort level at the plate was a lot higher than it had been.
“We worked on getting my backside through and I felt a lot more comfortable,’’ said Martin, whose double was a deep drive to center.
Long is a strong believer that below the waist plays a big part in hitting and that’s the area he attacked with Martin in a lengthy hitting session.
“We tried to do something that he would be more consistent with the lower half,’’ Long said. “We worked on keeping the stride foot (left) closer to the ground and that allowed him to get into position to use his back side. It got to the point where you want to revamp things and make changes. [Friday] was positive even though he went 0-for-4.”
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The Yankees celebrated Hall of Famer Yogi Berra’s 87th birthday before yesterday’s game. Berra was presented with a cake by George Steinbrenner’s daughter Jennifer Swindall and Derek Jeter.
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Umpire Gary Darling confused the Yankees with his ruling in the ninth inning of Mike Carp’s double. Originally, the hit to right field was ruled a homer, but a look at the replay clearly showed the crew chief it was a double. Since baserunner Kyle Seager stopped at third while Nick Swisher threw the ball home, manager Joe Girardi believed Darling was wrong in ruling that Seager would have scored on the hit.
“I didn’t think [so], he was just getting to third base,’’ said Girardi, who got nowhere during a discussion with Darling, who admitted Seager slowed near third.
The Yankees claimed 28-year-old lefty reliever Justin Thomas off waivers from the Red Sox, who dropped him off their 40-man roster recently.
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One day after sending Eduardo Nunez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to get used to being a regular shortstop, Girardi used Jeter as the designated hitter against Hector Noesi and inserted journeyman Jayson Nix into the shortstop spot for the first time this season.
“He’s played there in spring training and last year. I have to pick my spots to rest Derek. This is a guy who’s played in every game,’’ Girardi said. “When you think about people talked about him playing 140-145 games and we’ve been fortunate to play him every game so far and he’s been productive. This is one way of doing it, day game after a night game. I have to pick my spots.’’
Girardi has stated from early in spring training he was going to use the DH spot to rest Alex Rodriguez and Jeter this year.
“What I worry about is when they are fatigued, they’re going to pull something,’’ Girardi said of the veterans. “I’ve been more proactive with Alex. We’ve only had one game where both of them have missed.’’
Saturday was Jeter’s sixth game as the DH. Rodriguez has been the DH in 10 games.
Nix contributed with a two-run homer in the four-run fourth from the ninth spot.
When Eric Chavez came off the DL Friday, Nix thought he might be sent out. Instead, in a surprise move, Nunez was sent down.
“He is the guy I came in for so you figure that’s what is going to happen,’’ said Nix, a utility player who signed a minor league contract during the off-season. “But you never assume anything.’’
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The much-maligned Yankees rotation has put together it’s best stretch of the young season. In the past five games the starters are 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA.
Robinson Cano went 1-for-4 and pushed a hitting streak to 10 games. In the last six games he is batting .542 (13-for-24).
Jeter had two hits and tied Tony Gwynn for 17th place on the all-time hit list at 3,141. Robin Yount is next at 3,142.
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Girardi said he doesn’t mind using closer David Robertson for more than three outs but it’s not something he wants to do.
“I have not used Robbie very often for multiple innings. Maybe four outs. It’s not something we want to do a lot with Robbie. It’s not been who he is. We’re trying to stay to that. I’m not opposed to that, but it’s not something we want him doing a lot of,’’ Girardi said.
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With Andy Pettitte being activated Sunday and starting against the Mariners, David Phelps will report to the bullpen after two mediocre starts.
“ My guess is he’ll be available [today],’’ Girardi said of the right-hander, who pitched so well out of the pen that he took the struggling Freddy Garcia’s spot in the rotation.
The Yankees need to make a move on the 25-man and 40-man rosters before activating Pettitte today.