If he were the commissioner of baseball, Joe Girardi would use his power to ban shifts.

"It is an illegal defense, like basketball," the New York Yankees manager said. "Guard your man, guard your spot. If I were commissioner, they would be illegal."

The subject came up during Girardi's pregame media session on Tuesday. Nathan Eovaldi lost his no-hitter in the seventh inning Monday on a ground ball that went through the area where the shortstop traditionally plays.

The Yankees had the shift on, and the no-hitter came to an end.

"As long as it is legal, I'm going to play it," said Girardi, whose team routinely aligns untraditionally.