Jorge Posada was back in the New York Yankees' lineup, batting seventh, as the designated hitter for Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays following a tumultuous weekend during which Posada removed himself from a game against the Boston Red Sox because he was upset by being dropped to ninth in the batting order.
But manager Joe Girardi hinted that if Posada doesn't begin to rally from the worst start of his career -- he is hitting .165 with six home runs and 15 RBIs -- there could be other changes coming.
"I'm going to see how we are day to day,'' Girardi said. "As you know, we're in a long stretch and there's some guys that I need to DH from time to time. So we'll just go day to day.''
Girardi's options at DH have been limited by the broken foot suffered by Eric Chavez on May 1 in Detroit, but he got another option Tuesday afternoon as the Yankees added left-handed hitting outfielder Chris Dickerson, recalled from Double-A Scranton to replace Rafael Soriano, who went on the DL. The right-handed hitting Andruw Jones is also an option at DH, especially since Posada, a switch-hitter, has yet to get a hit this season in 24 at-bats from the right side.
Dickerson was in the lineup as the right fielder, replacing Nick Swisher, who has flu-like symptoms.
But with right-hander James Shields starting for the Rays, against whom Posada has good numbers -- 8-for-27 (.296) with a home run and three doubles -- Girardi inserted him back into the lineup.
Posada did not speak to reporters before the game but Girardi described him as "eager'' to get back to action after a three-game absence.
"Jorge, he always wants to play,'' Girardi said. "When you go back and look at years of how many games he caught, Jorgie loves to play this game and I'm sure he's eager to do some damage today.''
Meanwhile, with Soriano shelved, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson will both get opportunities to pitch in the eighth.
New York second baseman Robinson Cano was also in the lineup, one day after fouling a ball just above his left knee during the fourth inning. He stayed in Monday's game, but afterward said his leg was sore and stiff.
"Good," said Cano of his leg. "Beautiful today."
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