BRETT GARDNER'S ON FIRE!!!

Oh, yes, I have been waiting for Brett Gardner to put all his critics to shame and my day has come.  To rewrite the words of Alicia Keys, "He's just a 'boy' and he's on Fiii-are."

If you haven't noticed, Gardy has been going Yardy, slamming ten hits, three doubles and four home runs in his last seven games.  Since the All Star Break, the unlikely superstar, is batting well over 300 (raising his average more than 70 points since the break to over 280 for the season) and according to ESPN, he is projected to hit a career high 21 home runs this season.  Gardner's success is no surprise to me, frankly, as I have always felt that he has shown potential and athleticism over his six year career in the majors.  I have picked him as the Yankees best all around athlete.  And Gardner's success is no surprise to Joe Girardi either who stated that Gardy has always had it in him.

"He's playing every day. He physically feels good. He's been able to stay away from some of the things, the nagging stuff that he's had before. Some years, guys just get more pitches to hit out of the ballpark. I've always felt that he could hit double digits," said the Yankee skipper via MLB.com.

"Gardner was the only New York hitter to solve Texas ace Yu Darvish on Monday, as he took him deep for solo home runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively. He finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI," according to CBS.sports.  Again, not surprised.  He's worked hard, he hustles, he pushes himself and he offers a lot more than most give him credit.  If you remember, he was once offered as trade bait this off season and he has been ousted from his regular position of center field for guys like Curtis Granderson and now Jacoby Ellsbury.  But, he has hung in there and been patient and he deserves to see the fruits of his labors.

"When the Yankees signed Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran in the offseason, they would have hoped that by late July both would have close to double the amount of home runs they've hit thus far (11 and 12, respectively). But part of their weaker production has been masked and -- for all intents and purposes -- replaced by an unlikely source: Brett Gardner," stated MLB.com.

And despite being labeled as a weaker second half of the season hitter, Gardner is proving that statistic wrong as well.  Much like a good runner, Gardner's splits are better so far in the second half of the season, with a .455 slugging percentage.

Good for you Gardy!  Keep it up!  Maybe we need to move him down in the order, so we can turn his solo homers into two and three run home runs.  I saw him clock a grand slam in April while I was at the Stadium and he hasn't turned back.  Let's keep the momentum going!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @suzieprof


   
 
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