Girardi begins resting Yankees regulars
Photo credit: Kathy Kmonicek | Johnny Damon, who has been red hot of late, is one of the Yankees' regulars to get a break from manager Joe Girardi.
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With a sizable cushion in the American League East and no day off until Aug. 20, Yankees manager Joe Girardi last night began a weeklong process of resting his regulars.
Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui did not start against Toronto lefthander Marc Rzepczynski. Jorge Posada was the designated hitter.
Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira will get a full day off or a DH day soon, according to Girardi.
The Yankees entered the evening with a 6½-game lead over Boston after a four-game sweep of the Red Sox. They have had only one day off (Aug. 3) since the All-Star break.
"We're going to try to do that during the course of this week," Girardi said. "Kind of give guys a little break. We've been going really hard. We'll try to pick a spot for each guy. Look for a spot for Derek and Tex and Alex. Everyone, really."
Rodriguez was the DH on Sunday night. He may get a complete day off one of the next two days before the Yankees head to Seattle on Thursday to begin a 10-game trip.
"I think he's probably right where everyone else is," Girardi said. "Four long games. Physically, he came through fine, but guys have been through a lot the last 24 days."
Extra bases
Alfredo Aceves said he felt "better" after waking up Saturday with a sore lower back. He said he felt fine during a three-inning outing Friday night, but thought he slept wrong after it. "In the morning, I go, 'Ahhhh!' " he said. Aceves threw four scoreless innings last night . . . Cody Ransom signed a minor-league contract and will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre . . . Girardi said the Yankees' large lead in the AL East would not lead them to alter the plan to limit Joba Chamberlain's innings. "For the most part, it is mapped out," he said. Chamberlain will start Tuesday night.
