Girardi makes awkward A-Rod, Father Time reference

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi's running out of ways to answer questions about Alex Rodriguez, and what exactly his role is on the team.

Ever since the beginning of July, Rodriguez has consistently sat on the bench as his manager avoids explaining why he won't play him. Girardi made it clear A-Rod isn't going to hit much against righties, and in the odd case the Yankees see a lefty, he may not play anyway.

On Saturday, though, he took things in an odd direction when trying to explain how Father Time may have caught up to Rodriguez.

"That's difficult for any man. I don't know what it's like to be a woman so I can't answer that question," Girardi told reporters. "But I want to believe that I can still do the things that I did when I was 30 years old. But realistically, I can't, and that's hard. And I fight against that and I fight Father Time.

"I think it's a pride thing and an ego thing for men. When you're in this game, there's a lot of pride in what you do, and so I think it's hard."

This season, Rodriguez has stumbled to a .221/.260/.379 slash line with eight homers in 52 games.

Over the All-Star break, he did some work over at first base to make him a more valuable option, as opposed to being stuck as a designated hitter. Girardi, who spent 22 years in the majors, tried to sympathize with Rodriguez.

"I think it's hard for any player as you get older and things change. I think it gets hard. I've said this before: One of the things that makes great players great is their attitude and their belief in themselves. That becomes difficult when you're older, when you're told that you can't do what you used to do."