TAMPA — Eduardo Nunez’s body is live and the bat is loud. Manager Joe Girardi started Nunez in Games 3 and 4 of the ALCS last season down 0-2 to the Tigers and he responded by going 2-for-6 with a homer, a triple, an RBI and a stolen base.
So as the Yankees’ roster took shape early this winter, some believed the team had to find a way to get Nunez 400 to 500 at-bats in order to take advantage of his speed and hitting ability.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t sound as if that’s the Yankees’ plan. In fact, there is a chance Nunez doesn’t make the Opening Day roster.
“He has to earn it,’’ Girardi said Tuesday. “We have toyed with some different options, but we liked what he did at the end of last year. We know he provides a lot of excitement. Our plans are to keep him at short for the most part, but he has to go out and earn it.’’
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Because Travis Hafner is a designated hitter and doesn’t play defense, Girardi doesn’t have the flexibility he had a year ago when Raul Ibanez was around. Signed to be the left-handed hitting DH, Ibanez played the outfield more than expected.
Jayson Nix, who played well as the utility infielder last year, is in camp on a minor league contract, but is a strong candidate to make the team because he can play short, second and third.
Girardi might have to decide if he can carry a third reserve infielder, even if Hafner isn’t going to play first base.
Though Nunez’s speed and bat have impressed the Yankees, his defense is questionable. In 38 games last year, he made seven errors. He was sent to Triple-A Scranton /Wilkes-Barre May 11 one day after making two errors at third for the Yankees. He suffered a thumb injury and wasn’t recalled until rosters expanded Sept. 1. He batted .292 and swiped 11 bases in 13 chances.
“I think you can carry both [Nunez and Nix], but it doesn’t really give you a left-handed hitter off the bench late in the game if you want to do that,’’ Girardi said. “But we are going with the best guy.’’
* Hal Steinbrenner made a rare visit to the clubhouse while reporters were in the room. The Yankees owner breezed into Girardi’s office and was in a cheery mood when it was over.
Asked if he is addressing Girardi’s future, Steinbrenner said, “I am focused on this year.’’
Girardi is in the final season of a three-year, $9 million contract.
* If Girardi is going to take a look at Brett Gardner in center and Curtis Granderson in left, it likely will happen this weekend when the Yankees open the exhibition season.
“It is something that if we do start toying with we would do it very quickly,’’ Girardi said.
The biggest question for Girardi is what the move would do defensively.
“If you flip flop them does it make us better defensively? That’s what you have to figure out,’’ he said.
* David Phelps heard the ball, but never saw it come dangerously close to destroying his right shoulder.
“That’s the one thing that you don’t want to happen,’’ Phelps said of suffering an injury while pitching a simulated game. “I was fortunate to get out of the way.’’
Ronnier Mustelier came close to ending Phelps’ bid to be the Yankees’ fifth starter before it started. The Cuban outfielder’s reputation as a hitter who centers balls was on display throughout the simulated game at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday morning. Another shot off his bat almost hit pitcher Adam Warren.
Phelps is competing against Ivan Nova for the final spot in Girardi’s rotation and will start when the Yankees open the exhibition season against the Braves in Lake Buena Vista on Saturday.
Based on experience — Nova has made 66 big league starts to Phelps’ 11 — Nova would appear to be a slight favorite going into the exhibition season.
Nevertheless, Nova took a step backward last season when he went 12-8 with a 5.02 ERA in 28 starts. In 2011 he was 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 28 games (27 starts).
If Nova is the fifth starter Phelps can be used in long relief. Twenty-two of his 33 big league games have been as a reliever. Or the Yankees can send the 26-year-old right-hander to Triple-A and start him. That would provide rotation insurance if somebody gets hurt.