HOT CORNERS: OVERBAY & YOUKILIS

We are just about a month into the regular season, can you believe that?  We've been playing without Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, ARod, and Curtis Granderson... it was bizarre when the season started and it is right now.

Thankfully, the others have stepped in and have been helpful in their roles as the injured work on making their return. Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells have been very good at what they have been asked to do since coming in. Bottom line, just hit... and they are!

But this isn't about those guys, I mean, we love Pronk and Wells and we've written about them alot.  In fact, read TRAVIS HAFNER: NO LAUGHING MATTER and  VERNON WELLS: NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST for some great pieces by Chad R MacDonald.  No, no... it's time to give props to Lyle Overbay and Kevin Youkilis. We know Kevin has been good getting hits and scoring in runs, and Lyle goes out there and does what he can.

But there's more to it than just the hitting of these guys. How about the fielding? I think that's being overlooked. Defense has been good as well. Look, we as fans have been spoiled having one of the best defensive infields in the league the past few years. But give credit where credit is due. Overbay, and Youk have been holding down the corners, you gotta love that!  Sure, Overbay gets tweaked into the line up from time to time because of facing lefty pitching, but he is a reliable option at first.  Don't forget, we had outfielder turned first baseman Juan Rivera there literally days before Overbay was released by the Red Sox. Things worked out nicely.

But let's check out Overbay. In 15 starts at first, Lyle has a perfect 1.000 fielding % and no errors. Youkilis has 2 errors. Overbay has 21 turned double play's and Youkilis has 2. Both have been viable players in the infield, and as long as Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixiera continue to rehab, expect to see both players platoon first.

As previously brought to you from us at BYB, TEIXEIRA BACK MAY 1ST? DON'T BE RIDICULOUS, Tex won't be back until way after May 1st. Overbay will see more time at first... not a bad choice.

Bottom line, I think we should appreciate what Lyle and Kevin have gone out there so far. So, while we await the returns of Mark, and Alex... give Overbay and Youk a round of applause... oh yeah and Go Yanks!

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