GARDY GOES YARDY FOR HIS MOST CAREER HOME RUNS

Source: Associated Press

I am a Brett Gardner fan.  I have always been a Brett Gardner fan.  Naysayers have beaten him down; calling him washed up, old and unproductive.  He is a veteran who has earned a spot on this roster; for his leadership and his unrelenting commitment to improve.  Perhaps chance has enabled him to be in lineup as much as he has been this season, and he has answered with a career season, lifting the Yankees with his 23-home runs over this record-breaking 2019 season.

Source: Associated Press

"He’s been great. He’s been such a good player between the lines,” manager Aaron Boone said. “For as banged up as we’ve been, he’s been one of the constants. He’s such a grinder. He’s a guy that everyone looks to. The edge that he brings to the ballpark every day rubs off on guys. There’s obviously that leadership element and quality he brings that is so important, but I think it’s really important that we not overlook what a good player he is, and what a good two-way player he’s been," reported the NY Post.

Source: Associated Press

Deemed one of the most durable players of the Yankees, the 36-year-old has not lost his edge despite being passed over prior to the injuries to this team.  Now with Mike Tauchman out for at least six weeks with a calf injury and Aaron Hicks suffering a set back to his return to the team, Gardner will once again need to lead the outfield and continue to add value to the lineup.  He did so with two home runs in two at bats against the Detroit Tigers, despite the poor pitching performance against a sub-par team.  Gardy has been nothing less than stellar this season despite his frustrations with umpires.

Source: Associated Press

"We believe in ourselves right now until the very end, even if we’re down a few runs,” Gardner said. “Our fans, I feel like, feel the same way. We can feel that. We feed off that," reported the Post.  And needless to say, his teammates and even the fans do feed off him.  Certainly the nickname "Savages" has stemmed from grittiness and fight in this team, lead by the contagious emotion of Gardner.

Source: Associated Press

Gardner is in his final season of his contract and although that does not matter right now as the season moves into the middle of September and the team focuses their sights on the post season, the outfielder certainly has quantified his evidence for staying on if he wishes.  He has stepped in when the big guns went down and he has prevailed with his best season to date.  Go Gardy.  Be great and continue to lead this team down the battle field.  Looking forward to more of Brett this season and for as long as he wants to be a Yankee.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof