MILWAUKEE — When the Yankees open a three-game series against the Brewers Friday night at Miller Park, Brett Gardner will be hitting 14 points higher than his career average of .268.
His on-base percentage is a respectable .347; five points lower than Gardner’s career mark of .352.
Yet, the feisty left fielder knows he needs to improve when it comes to striking out.
At the start of the season, Gardner had 517 major league hits compared to 293 strikeouts. Only in 2008, Gardner’s first season in the big leagues, did he have more strikeouts (30) than hits (29).
However, Gardner has 31 hits and 31 strikeouts this season and that doesn’t sit well with him.
“I have been striking out too much,’’ said Gardner, who didn’t whiff Wednesday night against the Angels in Anaheim after fanning seven times in the previous four games. “My mechanics have been a little off, rushing the swing and swinging with my head moving. I have been swinging and missing more than I would like.’’
Of Gardner’s 31 Ks, 10 were looking. And while that sounds like a big problem, hitting coach Kevin Long doesn’t see it that way.
“If it was 10 strikeouts and they were all looking that would be a problem but the bigger part is the swings and misses,’’ Long explained. “It could be swinging at a couple of balls off the plate or not reacting to the breaking ball. The number will go down, right now it’s extremely high. He isn’t happy. If he gets back to putting the ball in play, he will get hits.’’
Gardner isn’t planning on a major overhaul at the plate.
“I have to do a better job, but I don’t want to change my game. I have to be aggressive so when I get a pitch to hit, I put the ball in play and use my speed,’’ said Gardner, whose 31 Ks were tied for 22nd among AL hitters Thursday. “I felt better [Wednesday].’’
When Masahiro Tanaka is on the mound there isn’t a trace of fear oozing from him. When he steps into the batter’s box Friday night against Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo that won’t be the case.
Asked if was excited to hit, Tanaka said, “No. I will be a little bit scared.’’
And outside of squaring to bunt, don’t expect much bat movement.
“I want to get that right,’’ Tanaka said of bunting. “I am not anticipating swinging for now.’’
Watching AL pitchers bat in interleague games is often hard on the eyes. Even CC Sabathia, the Yankees’ best-hitting starter, often looks overmatched.
Tanaka estimated he batted 10 times in Japan and realizes he is getting paid to throw the ball, not hit it although he said he homered in high school.
“My main job is to throw,’’ Tanaka said. “I will focus on that.’’
Joe Girardi has several concerns about his starters and long relievers doing something that isn’t regular in game situations.
“They haven’t been swinging for a whole year and they are being asked to bunt,’’ Girardi said. “I saw Javier Vazquez breaking his finger [bunting] and this was a guy who was a good bunter.’’
Going into Thursday’s games the Brewers’ 22-13 record was tops in the NL and the staff ERA of 3.11 was fifth in the majors.
“They are playing extremely well and pitching extremely well, not giving up a lot of runs,’’ Girardi said of the NL Central leaders who the Yankees haven’t played at Miller Park since 2005 when the Brewers won two of three.
“Playing NL teams is different, especially when you go to their ballpark and pitchers are expected to hit. A couple of our guys are excited about that. I am not sure I am excited about it.’’