New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi stands on the field at batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 5, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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PHOENIX -- On a day when New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner used his quarter-pole, "State of the Team" address to back his manager but single out players such as Chase Headley, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino and Mark Teixeira for their poor play, skipper Joe Girardi said he still has confidence his last-place team has what it will take to rebound.
"I always take full responsibility for what happens," Girardi said. "It's my job to get the best out of the players. and right now, we're not performing to the level that I think we're capable of.
"The one thing I will never forget is how difficult this game is on a daily basis. We talk about how some guys can make it look easy, but it's not easy. It's no fun to struggle. But I believe those players will get it going. ... To me, it comes down to consistency, and that's what we have to get better at."
Two months in, does Girardi still believe he has a playoff team?
"I do," he said. "I wouldn't come to work if I didn't. We haven't played up to that level, and we have to turn things around."
After salvaging the final game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday behind a dominating performance by Nathan Eovaldi, the Yankees open a four-game set in Oakland on Thursday. They expect to get both CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez back during the series.
Headley had two hits Wednesday during New York's 4-2 win, and the third baseman is now hitting .207 for the season -- which is now higher than Teixeira.
The first baseman was robbed of an extra-base hit by a leaping Brandon Drury catch against the right field fence in the first inning, and he finished the night 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and five men left on base. Teixeira saw his batting average drop to .203, and he has gone 30 games without a home run.
