Joe Girardi said he might keep Alex Rodriguez out until Friday to further rest his bum left thumb. Girardi's reasoning was that with the off day on Thursday Rodriguez can get more rest. Knowing Girardi's conservative approach and with the Yankees' lead in the AL East, it seems like a pretty good bet that the Yankees will wait until Friday.

"I don't have any experience with this thumb," Rodriguez said. "I don't have any experience or background with it. I just have to sit tight and let this thing heal."

A-Rod loves to work, but he has been relegated to being "frustrated" sitting around.

"I have to walk around with a book," Rodriguez said.

A-Rod is reading Howard Schultz' book, "Pour Your Hear Into It: How Starbucks Built Its Company One Cup At a Time."

"That's the toughest part, I'm kind of a cage rat with Kevin [Long, the team's hitting coach,]" Rodriguez said. "I sit around patiently."

A-Rod last played on Friday in Anaheim. On Saturday, Girardi said that Rodriguez would miss at least three or four more games.