LINEUP CONSISTENCY MATTERS

Source: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

The phone calls and Tweets flooded my inbox like I am the manager of the Yankees.  Honestly, I am flattered and happy to serve. The content of the messages: Brett Gardner's absence from the starting lineup over the last two games.  Hey, if I were in fact the skipper of the Bronx Bombers, I would sit Gardner only sparingly because lineup consistency matters and we don't have any.

Source: Getty Images

According to CBS Sports, "In an effort to counter Twins southpaw starter Adalberto Mejia, the Yankees (will) move lefty hitters Gardner and Ji-Man Choi to the bench for the evening, allowing right-handers Clint Frazier and Garrett Cooper to enter the starting nine. Gardner is batting just .167/.277/.292 across 84 plate appearances against left-handers this season."

Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

Joe Girardi is a numbers's guy.  That's not going to change.  He believes in giving guys days off, he believes in lefties-righties match-ups and he believes in a player's stats against a particular pitcher. He wants to win and I get that but sometimes you have the play the veteran anyway.  And in particular, you have to play Gardner in the field when you have two rookies on either side of center field.

Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

According to Newsday, "While the influence of the Yankees’ elder statesmen is more likely to show up in obvious ways during a game — how Montgomery attacks a hitter’s weaknesses or how Frazier approaches an at-bat — the return for the veterans shows up in more subtle ways."  Leadership, consistency, modeling the type of the ball player that demonstrates the chemistry to win. That's what Gardner brings.

 Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

“They bring a lot of energy. It’s not just in the clubhouse or at BP, but it’s there on the field in games,” Gardner said. “The energy and enthusiasm they play with? It can’t help but rub off on us guys and work to our benefit.”

Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

I know it may sound like it's no big deal that Brett Gardner sat two games in a row (thankfully he was in the lineup last night), but for fans like me, who know that soft skills matter, having Gardner in the outfield, chatting it up with the kids on either side matters.  Subtle moves that change the chemistry of the lineup hurt us.  We need all the help we can get.  Keep Gardner in the lineup, Joe.

Consistency matters.

Drop the mic.

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof

BYB Stack Merchandise (2017)