Rest assured, A-Rod doesn't want days off

Alex Rodriguez may not have needed the break, but he made it clear he had no choice in the matter.

The Yankees' third baseman, who returned to the lineup last night after sitting out Sunday, said his talk with manager Joe Girardi was a "one-sided conversation."

"You hate to sit out," said Rodriguez, who was taken out for a pinch runner after feeling some discomfort while running the bases in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the White Sox. "I even called Joe the night before and kind of begged him to DH me. He said he'll sleep on it, and Sunday I got the call that I was out."

Girardi insisted Sunday that there was nothing physically wrong with Rodriguez, even though general manager Brian Cashman cited a "muscle-related" right leg injury.

Rodriguez, who is batting .258 with two home runs and 15 RBIs after going 1-for-4 last night, said Monday that he may have felt a little cramping Saturday, but his leg is "perfect" now. He also said he received treatment - "but nothing big" - during Sunday's 12-3 blowout against the White Sox.

Though the prospect of sitting out didn't appeal to him, he said he understands his body can't withstand the strain of playing every day.

"The idea of 162 [games] is what you always want to do, it's kind of what I've done my whole career," said the third baseman who missed 28 games early last season following hip surgery. "But you have to think big picture and accept DH-ing or an off day here and there."

Some field players like to mix in one DH start a month, but Rodriguez said he prefers to be on the field. Going forward, the Yankees will have to figure out a playing schedule for Rodriguez that will ensure rest and avoid further physical breakdown.

"I think it's been 20 or 22 [games] straight and we always try to keep it on the 10-game mark and go from there," said the 12-time All Star, who is in the third season of his 10-year, $275-million deal.

"I don't know if I needed that, but it's just that Joe thought it was good for the big picture. I think we want to experiment with it. I don't think we're going to get into a stage where we're playing 30 or 40 in a row, though I would like to. We're all learning as we go."