Yesterday, Girardi explained his plans:
Joe Girardi benched Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher yesterday and announced plans to use all five of the team's outfielders after the All-Star break.Regarding newcomer Eric Hinske Girardi had this to say:
"As I told all the outfielders today, we have five guys who are playing pretty good," the manager said before a 5-4 loss against the Angels. "Everyone's going to play. It's all about winning ballgames. We know everyone wants 600 at-bats, but it's probably not going to happen."
"There are certain guys we're going to play him against," Girardi said.Like I said all offseason having too much depth anywhere on the team is a problem I hope the Yankees continue to have.
All around the Yanks have been getting surprising good production from their outfielders. Much more than I think anyone expected coming into the year. Swisher has been solid, and a lot better than the hitter he was in Chicago last year. Melky and Gardner have both had a good first halves, and combined they've put up some very nice numbers as the Yankees center fielder, and in left Damon is having very good offensive year, and is tied for second on the team with 50 RBI and is third in homers with 16.
On the other side of the ball, everyone but Damon has been pretty good. Damon is having one of the worst defensive years of his career, and at times looks like a bad little leaguer. You know, like the kid you try really hard not to laugh at when a fly ball smashes him in the face. Swisher looks like a fool too sometimes, but he's actually been surprisingly efficient. I haven't seen enough of Hinske to come to any conclusion, but he looks like a decent corner outfielder so far. Brett Gardner has been great in center, and Melky has been just about average.
Girardi's plan is to play everyone and while making sure everyone is rested, which is no easy task in this gam but with five guys it's very doable. But if you were Girardi who would you give the bulk of the playing time to?
16 Comments:
No problem at all. The more rested these guys are, the better they'll be down the stretch.
Swisher can also play first base and Hinske can handle both corner infield spots as well which makes things easier. All of them can also DH occasionally to spell Matsui when he's slumping. Its a very very good problem to have. Just be glad we're not the Mets.
First of all, I would be resting Teixeira one day a week, and DH-ing him for another for the next month, so Swisher should be playing 1B one or maybe even two games a week. I think Teixeira is tired. And then Girardi should be rotating the others pretty much the way he has been doing. But if someone gets hot, play 'em fer gosh sakes!
What the Yankees need to do in the second half is fairly simple--
(1) GOTTA get at least 6 innings from each starter. The bullpen is already exhausted. If it wasn't for the All-Star break, the Yankees would be primed for a big losing streak right now. That means Joba has gotta grow up a little, in more than one way too, or else he is not being productive.
(2) Gotta get Wang back in that rotation. His loss is HUGE, and is being underplayed by everybody. If Wang can't return, the Yankees need to tryout Mitre or someone internally PDQ, but I don't see anyone internally as a solution (maybe I'm wrong). If Wang is done, the 'PDQ solution' fails and Pettitte continues to slide, it could ruin the Yankees' season.
You're absolutely right, Steve, and I will be hitting those topics over the next three+ days.
By the way, I think SIH is getting a new writer, I'm very excited to bring someone else along, not only do I need the help, but I like the way the guy writes.
The pitching situation is a confused mess to me. Pettitte has been up and down for the first half which is fine but if he falters anymore they're in trouble. Burnett is always an injury risk. Sabathia has been leaned on to heavily the first half IMO. Joba's struggles have been well documented. The fifth spot is a questin mark as well.
That would be me :)
Hahaha, yes that would be Mike N.
I was confused because of the Mike, AKA name you were using.
Gardner and "great" come on....
He's a great centerfielder. He doesn't have much of an arm, but he can cover more ground than any Yankee in a long time.
I am working up what I hope will be a fairly comprehensive review of new YS now that we've had a half-year to 'get comfortable' with it.
I believe he was referring to Gardner's fielding. Referring to that, you could definitely call him great.
Awesome Steve, looking forward to it.
who would've predicted both Wang and Joba would be so disappointing, ineffective, or injured, this season. What bad luck.
who would've predicted both Wang and Joba would be so disappointing, ineffective, or injured, this season. What bad luck.
Get a new catcher and stop trotting out Posada and half the problems or more will go away. If not, expect more of the same surrending double digits to teams without their stars.
the GM and manager will never push out the veterans. we are stuck with what we have, even though cervelli and pena can do very well. we will learn the hard way through these type of embarrassing losses.
Yeah Gardner is a great fielder he has a lot of range. You see him get to balls that Melky doesnt get to. Melky is the better hitter but Gardner is doing a good job at the plate.
Hinskie is a bench player he should be playing the least. Swisher has done a nice job. For the most part he has played a decent right field.
Damon is a bad fielder but his offense makes up for it. The good thing having depth on in the outfield you can rest Damon he is getting old and injury prone so you can keep him fresh.
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