ST. LOUIS — Don’t get used to seeing Brian McCann at first base, where he started Wednesday night against the Cardinals.
According to Joe Girardi the Yankees’ $85 million catcher doesn’t figure in the plans at first. But with Yangervis Solarte in the first deep slump of a rookie season and Mark Teixeira not available for a third straight game due to a sore right wrist, the manager used McCann at first against right-hander Shelby Miller in the final game of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.
“This is more a product of Solo, I think Solo needed a day off,’’ Girardi said.
That’s what happens when you are buried in an 8-for-46 (.174) slump. Had the switch-hitting Solarte been swinging well Girardi said he would have used Kelly Johnson, who has struggled at times at first, instead of McCann, who has played first base three times this season but was making his initial start at first since high school.
“I wouldn’t make too much of this today. I am not looking at this being an option going forward right now,’’ said Girardi, who used Brendan Ryan at short while Derek Jeter rested, John Ryan Murphy behind the plate and Johnson at third. “I still consider him my everyday catcher. I am not thinking much past today. Sometimes as a manager you do some things you don’t necessarily envision.’’
Playing McCann at first certainly falls under that heading as did playing Vernon Wells at third a year ago.
“Mark will play most of the time over there, but this is the way our club is designed,’’ said Girardi, who went into spring training thinking Johnson, who has played second more than any other infield position in his career, would back up Teixeira who had wrist surgery last season.
Girardi said he has been rebuffed by players when asking them to make a radical position shift. He also understood the hesitancy because players need to feel comfortable to perform. McCann, however, embraced the move to first and vowed he could handle it.
“I feel comfortable going out there for a game and doing the job that needs to be done,’’ said McCann, who was in a 4-for-20 (.200) slide at the plate. “I will go out there and let my instincts take over.’’
McCann played first the final inning of Tuesday night’s 6-0 shutout and didn’t touch the ball.
“Catch the ball, make the routine play and do my job,’’ McCann said of his goals at a position he hadn’t started at since 2002 for Duluth High School in Georgia. “Hopefully, it will go smoothly.’’
That’s not the way it has gone lately for Johnson. He had a ball knocked out of his glove Tuesday night, an error that fueled a four-run third inning. He also dropped a throw at first last Friday.
“I know how to work around the bag so that’s not going to be the problem,’’ said McCann, who used Johnson’s first baseman’s glove. “Field ground balls and hopefully make a pick or two. Whatever will help the team, that’s what I want to do.’’
What the Yankees wanted to see was no drama around the bag that would put McCann in danger of getting hurt at a position where he was likely a one-and-done deal.