THE HEART OF THE ORDER IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM

Let me start by saying that I’m a lifetime Yankees fan and that I live and die with every pitch and every at-bat by my Bronx Bombers.

That being said, I’ve been doing a lot of dying lately.

At the root of my troubles is the middle of the lineup that Joe Girardi puts together day-to-day.  Usually the fourth, fifth and sixth spots in the order are occupied by Lyle Overbay, Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells – not necessarily in that order.

Actually, it doesn’t matter how those three players occupy those particular places in the lineup.  They just aren’t producing.

Robinson Cano – the most feared hitter in our lineup and the best second baseman in baseball – has been hitting either second or third regularly.  If he is to be as productive as he possibly can be he needs “protection” in the order.  The guys behind him need to give opposing pitchers enough of a threat for them to not want to put “Robbie” on base.

To date Cano has been intentionally walked 14 times.  That leads baseball and already ties his career high in that category.

The bottom line is that pitchers aren’t afraid of what comes after him in the lineup.

Why would they be?  Overbay, Hafner and Wells are hitting a combined .238 while occupying the middle third of the order.  Even worse, they are hitting .226 with runners in scoring position and .208 with RISP and two outs.

Frankly, it’s just unacceptable and it’s time to shake things up.

As soon as “Jetes” gets back, the entire lineup needs an overhaul.

What can it hurt to put our Captain in the fourth spot until Granderson returns?  It would save his legs (he wouldn’t be looked upon to steal as much) and certainly wouldn’t be any worse than what we have had there.

Let’s leave Gardner and Ichiro at the top of the lineup where they’ve thrived.  Keep Cano third in the order because it’s where he should be.  So what if it means starting the game with three left-handed bats?  This year, more than others, we have to go against what the binder says.   

Jeter coming back is the key.  He’s started taking ground balls and appears ready to return.  Thank God for small favors.

I admire what Girardi has done with the club this year.  Against all odds he still has us in contention for a playoff spot.  But, the season is long and the odds are starting to catch up. 

What Wells and Overbay have provided on a daily basis is stability in a season of instability.  We owe them tremendous thanks for giving us all they have in their tanks even though they are in the twilight of their careers.

The time has come for them to move into less –taxing positions in our batting order.  If Girardi is to keep them in the lineup (and it looks like Overbay will have to remain while Wells will move into a backup role once “Grandy” returns), he must get them out of the middle. 

Our beloved captain will give the manager the opportunity to do so.

Until then, the heart of our lineup remains the least-feared in Major League Baseball.   As a Yankees fan it is something I am just not used to, nor do I ever want to be.


   
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

 

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