If an anonymous source had questioned Joe Girardi’s desire to return from the disabled list while he was a player, the Yankees manager would have had a problem with it.
According to a published report Friday, a Yankees insider did just that regarding Greg Bird, who has been on the disabled list since May 2 with a bruised right ankle.
“I don’t think I would be too happy about it,” before the Yankees lost to the Brewers 9-4 on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. “Only the player knows, and I would be a little bit upset [if] someone questioning my desire and integrity.”
Bird will have his ankle examined Monday by Dr. Martin O’Malley at Hospital for Special Surgery after a cortisone shot didn’t relieve the soreness to the point at which the first baseman could work toward coming back. He expressed a desire to play.
“I’ve always wanted to play since I can remember,’’ Bird said. “I’m doing everything I can to get back. I love it and I want to be playing with these guys.’’
Girardi said he hasn’t noticed Bird’s work habits decrease during his time away from the field.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked, it just hasn’t happened,’’ Girardi said of Bird, who played in 12 minor league games (six with Single-A Tampa; six with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and hit .237 (9-for-38) with four RBIs from June 1-14.
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Earlier this week, general manager Brian Cashman mentioned the possibility of exploratory surgery.
Bird said another cortisone shot wasn’t scheduled and the pressure to return is from within, but it won’t do anybody any good if he isn’t healthy.
“I have to be healthy and able to do what I can do,’’ said Bird, who batted .100 (6-for-60) in 19 games before going on the DL. “It’s been a weird one and it’s been frustrating for me.’’
During the final week of a splendid spring training in which he hit well enough to be the Yankees’ No. 3 hitter on Opening Day, Bird fouled a ball off the ankle.
Matt Holliday’s hope to avoid a minor league rehab assignment vanished Friday afternoon when Girardi said the designated hitter would play in minor league games this weekend.
“He will go on a rehab the next two days. I don’t know exactly where, that hasn’t been determined,’’ Girardi said. “If everything goes well [Friday], our anticipation is that he will DH the next two days in either Scranton or Trenton.’’
Holliday hit and ran Friday.
“I’m gradually feeling more like myself,’’ said Holliday, who tested positive for the Epstein-Barr virus and is awaiting the results of two more tests. “The last few days as the days have gone on and on, I have felt more normal.’’
Holliday has been on the DL since June 28 with the viral infection and hasn’t played since June 24. The cast of players who have filled in at DH haven’t been productive, hitting a combined .211 (8-for-38). Holliday is hitting .262 with 15 homers and 47 RBIs in 67 games.
Holliday said he hopes to activated in time for next Friday night’s game in Boston.
Alex Rodriguez was at Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon working for FOX and interviewing Aaron Judge ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Rodriguez was accompanied by girlfriend Jennifer Lopez.
Judge also is the subject of an upcoming story in Rolling Stone.
Starlin Castro won’t participate in the All-Star Game, and is looking at a rehab assignment during the break.
“He’s doing fine and we’re probably going to see him some time in Boston would be my anticipation,’’ Girardi said of the second baseman, who has been on the DL since June 27 with a strained right hamstring. “We’ll probably send him on a rehab game or two before that. We don’t feel he’s ready to play this weekend, so he won’t play in the All-Star Game.’’
Former Yankee Robinson Cano will replace Castro on the American League team.
Yankees batting practice pitcher Danilo Valiente will pitch to Judge and Gary Sanchez in Monday night’s Home Run Derby, and Judge said he feels confident the native of Cuba will put the pitches in spots that he can launch.
“He hits my barrel,’’ Judge said of Valiente, who has worked in the Yankees’ organization since 2006 as a minor league coach and batting-practice thrower.
According to Valiente, Judge likes the ball a little inside and sometimes high and Sanchez prefers from the middle of the plate and out.
Between regular rounds of BP on the field and in the cages, Valiente estimated he can throw up to 500 pitches a day. He said he never has thrown in a Home Run Derby at any level.
Andy Pettitte and the Spring Branch Warriors, a travel baseball team from Texas, were at Yankee Stadium on Friday. Pettitte threw batting practice to his former team. The Warriors, who Pettitte coaches and his son Luke, plays for, are on the way to Cooperstown for a 12-year-old tournament that starts Sunday.
Pettitte’s oldest son, Josh, is attempting a comeback from a broken right elbow at Rice University, from where he has graduated. Pettitte’s other son, Jared, plays for the University of Houston.
Gleyber Torres was ranked third among prospects by Baseball America on Friday. He was one of seven Yankees minor leaguers on the Mid-Season Top 100 list.