YANKEES NEED A LINEUP SHAKE UP!

Let’s face it, our Yankees offensive woes are real. Sure, they can win one once in a while, but they seem to be losing more than they're winning.  While their inability to get ‘em on, get ‘em over and get ‘em in (a hallmark of the Joe Torre dynasty teams) has been a problem all season, the Yanks can no longer hide behind the home run excuse (or the “say what you want about our RISP woes, we’re winning” excuse). 

They are not winning.  They are losing.  They are 3 for their last 13.  A commanding lead in the AL East is now down to 6 ½ over the Orioles and Rays and only 9 over the Red Sox.  The Yanks have managed breathe life into the Division race.  Hell, they’ve given hop to the Red Sox, a team that should be 14 back and drinking beer in the clubhouse right now.

During that stretch, their starting pitching (with the exception of Ivan Nova’s melt down in his last start), has been stellar.  Lately the bullpen has been less than stellar. So we need to score more runs without counting on late inning bombs.  Either that or we are going to have another frustrating end to another frustrating season with the Yanks making the playoffs and getting booted in the first round when they have to face the likes of Justin Verlander twice or the Angels’ even better rotation.

I know, I’m not the only life-long fan who knows what is needed, you know too, it's a change in the line-up. And I don't just mean a change... I mean a shake up. It’s time to take advantage of Ichiro Suzuki’s speed and ability to get on base.  It’s time to get opposing pitchers worried about that guy dancing around on 1^st base, threatening to steal.  It’s time we saw Joe Girardi have the ability to let Derek Jeter move Ichiro from 1^st to 3^rd on a hit and run, something he does better than any hitter in baseball.  It’s time for Girardi to admit what we all know about Curtis Granderson.  Grandy has become a home run, strike-out hitter.  That is not the type of hitter you want in the 2 hole. That's my opinion, don't jump don't my throat, that's the reality.

So, I am putting in writing what I’m betting almost all of you have been thinking -- a new New York Yankees lineup. 

1. Ichiro Suzuki

2. Derek Jeter 

3. Mark Teixeira

4. Robinson Cano

5. Curtis Granderson

6. Nick Swisher

7. Raul Ibanez/ Andruw Jones

8. Eric Chavez / Casey McGehee

9. Russell Martin / Chris Stewart 

Then, when Alex Rodriguez returns, I’d bat him 5^th and move everyone down accordingly.  I love Alex, but until he starts pounding doubles and home runs again instead of singles, it makes no sense to have him batting 4^th. Don't you agree?

The other main reason for moving Granderson is another obvious fact: Ichiro will see better pitches with Jeter batting behind him.  Jeet will definitely see better pitches with Tex behind him and Tex is protected by Robbie, who is such a good hitter that he doesn’t really need protection.  

With Joba Chamberlain back throwing 97-98 mph and breathing fire like the Joba we saw in his rookie year, the late innings will become more intimidating to the rest of the league.  When Andy Pettitte comes back in September, the rotation will stabilize and be ready for October.  And if the Yanks start to score runs consistently over the course of 9 innings instead of relying on a comeback home run in the 8th, they’ll find themselves back where they belong, on top with a real shot at a World Championship #28.  

How do you see it? Comment.

--Chris Kram, BYB Contributor



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