Girardi Not Concerned About Solarte's Recent Slump

If you've watched any Yankees games lately, you know that Yangervis Solarte has struggled mightily. 

The 26 year old rookie, the team's starting third basemen this year despite the fact that he's only making the league minimum of $500,000, has just 7 hits in his last 49 at bats, something that has caused his batting average to drop from an amazing .336 to a still solid .285. 

To some, that fall in production is a sign that reality has finally hit the youngster, although Manager Joe Girardi doesn't think so, arguing that everybody has slumps.

"(Scuffling's) part of the game," Girardi told the Newark Star Ledger's Brendan Kuty after the Yankees beat the Cardinals Wednesday night. "To me a lot of the times the best players really go through either hot streaks or cold streaks. It's just really part of the game. If he didn't go through them, he'd probably hit .400 or .500 all the time. So, you know that they're going to go through them."

In tonight's Yankees/Twins opener, Right-hander Ricky Nolasco, a hurler opponents have hit .322 off of this year, will start for Minnesota, possibly giving Solarte a much-needed opportunity to turn things around.