Yanks look forward to getting A-Rod back

They have done more than just get by.

In fact, the Yankees have thrived at times without Alex Rodriguez during the past five weeks. And for that, Joe Girardi is thankful.

But he and his players anxiously await the return of their All-Star third baseman.

Rodriguez, who has missed 32 games since opting for surgery to repair a slight meniscus tear in his right knee, could rejoin the Yankees as early as Thursday when the Yankees begin a four-game series in Minnesota.

"The timetable's still the same," Girardi said Sunday afternoon, shortly after the Yankees' series finale against the Rays was postponed because of rain. "We expect to get him back sometime in Minnesota. Is it Thursday? I can't tell you it's Thursday, but I expect to see him sometime in Minnesota."

Though a makeup date has yet to be determined, the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader when Tampa Bay returns to the Bronx Sept. 20-22 -- the last game of which is a makeup of a July 8 rainout.

Sunday's washout was the 16th game affected by weather and the sixth postponed contest this season for the Yankees. As a result, they'll have to play 14 games in the final 13 days of the regular season -- including the final 10 against the Red Sox and Rays in nine days.

That's why Rodriguez's return is even more vital.

"It makes our lineup so much deeper, it makes our bench deeper," Mark Teixeira said of Rodriguez, who had four hits (two doubles) and struck out three times in 13 simulated at-bats Sunday in Tampa. "It just gives us more options late in games or maybe if we need to rest a guy here or there. It makes our team much better."

Truth be told, the Yankees have fared well without Rodriguez. They are 21-11 in his absence and are a half-game behind Boston in the AL East standings, exactly where they were after A-Rod's last game July 7. The Yankees also have an 8½-game lead over the Rays and Angels in the wild-card race.

Girardi cited the past two weeks as proof of his team's fortitude. Five victories capped an eight-game winning streak, including a victory over the Red Sox that briefly gave the Yankees a one-game lead over Boston and the AL East lead. And although they lost their next two games at Fenway Park, they rebounded by keeping the Angels and Rays at bay, taking two of three against Los Angeles and splitting two games against Tampa Bay.

"I thought they were an important two weeks and I thought we played well," Girardi said. " . . . This club has persevered. And we've had some really tough losses and our club has seemed to find a way to bounce back."

Curtis Granderson (who leads the team with 33 home runs after going deep five times in the last five games), Derek Jeter (who is batting .356 in the month of August), and Robinson Cano (who hit a grand slam Thursday to reach the 20-homer plateau for the third straight season) have shouldered the load with Rodriguez out. Eduardo Nuñez and Eric Chavez have become a solid tandem platooning at third base, with Chavez lately serving as the DH.

"I think that just shows you the depth of our club and what the Steinbrenner family and what Brian [Cashman] has put together," Girardi said of his roster. "You can lose a big hitter and still have a potent offense."

But still, there's no replacing Alex Rodriguez. Although he didn't have a home run in his last 85 at-bats before going on the disabled list, he is hitting .295 with 13 homers, 52 RBIs and 53 runs scored in 80 games.

"A lot of guys have stepped up and swung the bats extremely well, but adding Al back, he's going to help out any team," said Jeter, who saw the Yankees go 14-4 during his own stint on the disabled list. "Any time someone gets hurts, you can't sit around and say, wait till he comes back. You have to continue to play, and that's what we've been able to do. But everyone's looking forward to him coming back."