Latest excuse for Yankees’ Greg Bird’s struggles: Fatigue

Yankees manager Aaron Boone did his best to explain why Greg Bird has been disappointing since returning from the disabled list. Bird went 0-for-4 in the 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, August 16, 2018 (8/16/18) at Yankee Stadium.

Watch video

NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said first baseman Greg Bird‘s swing lacks the explosion it had pre-All-Star break, and he has an idea why.

It has something to do with his twice-operated-on ankle.

He’s not hurt, Boone said.

“I feel like fatigue is certainly a factor or maybe lack of stamina,” the manager said after the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium, a defeat in which Bird popped out on the first pitch he saw despite having the bases loaded, no outs and a new reliever in the game.

“I think it’s a result — and I don’t want to get too much playing doctor or whatever — (of) just coming off of surgeries the last couple years, coming off the surgery this year.”

Yankees report cards

Bird had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right ankle that iced him until May 15.

It was the same ankle that required surgery and kept him out from May 2 to Aug. 26 last year.

And in 2016, Bird missed the whole season, thanks to surgery to repair a torn right shoulder labrum.

Bird went 0-for-4 on Thursday and is hitting .211 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 67 games.

The 25-year-old hasn’t homered in 17 games.

Bird said he doesn’t think he’s lacking explosion due to his ankle. His 67 games are more than any he’s played in a big-league season.

“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “We’re on a pretty long one right now, too. I think just us as a whole, we’ve played a lot of games in a row. So we’ve just got to wear it. Keep it light, keep having fun.”

Bird said his ankle feels good.

“Playing baseball everyday, I’m extremely happy about that,” Bird said. “At the end of the day, I’m proud of that. I’m proud of this team. We’re going to be fine. We’ve got a great team.”

Boone said Bird could get stronger as he plays.

“I think he’s over it and past it but I think there’s a level of building up that stamina and explosion and the fact that you’re still recovering from a surgery,” the manager said. “So I don’t think there’s any question that if he can stay healthy, a month from now, six months from now, it’s better, it’s more explosive. That’s something that we kind of monitor, talk about and hopefully he can get through this while building up that stamina that makes him special when he’s really on time and impacting the ball.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.