Alex Rodriguez's slow start a bad sign for New York Yankees

TORONTO -- As Alex Rodriguez approaches his 40th birthday, which will come in July, his batting average is taking a hit.

It dropped to .120 after he went 0-for-3 and was hit by a pitch Thursday in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 1-for-15 with a home run on the just completed, five-game trip.

The Yankees are now home for nine games and Rodriquez hopes to get things turned around. The Yankees designated hitter is not concerned about the slow start this early in the season.

"I feel fine," he said Thursday. "I felt great today at the plate. I thought I had good swings, swung at strikes, had my 'A' swing. Didn't like the results, but tomorrow's another day."

Rodriguez is 3-for-25 with two RBIs in his seven games, a small sample.

"I'm not making much out of it, because it's not that many at-bats," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think we get caught up. I understand why. When you're 40, you're going to be asked those questions. When you're expected to produce and you're 40, you're going to be asked those questions even more. I'm not making too much out of it."

The Yankees are 4-4 overall after going 2-3 on a trip to Detroit and Toronto that included a postponement Sunday in Detroit.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez is hitless in 14 at-bats after hitting the 688th homer of this career on Saturday.

When a player is 39, even a great one, a slow start can make people wonder if age is a factor.

"I can't get into other people's heads," Rodriguez said. "I've just got to go out and do my job. I feel good and I feel really optimistic."