ARLINGTON, Texas --
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has decided to give Derek Jeter the day off.
Jeter is in an 8-for-67 slump and played in all 13 innings of Friday night's five-plus hour loss,
Jeter seemed lukewarm about sitting.
"You don't go in a different direction not playing," Jeter said. "Not saying it's a bad thing, but you don't get hits when you're not in the game."
On Friday, Jeter went 1-for-7, dropping his average to a season-low .260. A career .314 hitter, Jeter is hitting .237 with a .303 OBP and .324 SLG since the All-Star break.
"It hasn't been too often in his career where he's been here," Girardi said. "So you are not really sure exactly how he is going to handle it. He is very professional about what he does. I think Derek is very good about turning the page from day-to-day. He doesn't let one at-bat affect the next at-bat. He's gone through a tough streak here. There are human emotions that are involved. You have to deal with them. I think he is doing a great job."
Girardi said Jeter's day off has more to do with the long game than the slump. The manager said he might sit Alex Rodriguez on Sunday in part because of Friday's game. Jeter is expected to start on Sunday.
Girardi said he still believes in Jeter.
"There is a ton of faith," Girardi said. "As I said yesterday, I surely wouldn't bet against him that he is not going to finish up strong and be the Derek Jeter that we know he can be."
Jeter, 36, is expected to sign an extension, But if the Yankees decide Jeter's decline is due to age that could cloud the negotiations. Has Girardi has that thought?
"Not right now," Girardi said. "If he were 38 or 39, you might start to think about it, but as I've said all along I wouldn't bet against Derek Jeter."
Ramiro Pena started at short in Jeter's place. Pena is batting eighth.
Andrew Marchand covers baseball for ESPNNewYork.com.