Could We See GGBG in the Outfield?

by jscape2000 on Oct 15, 2009 3:21 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

Joe Girardi has hinted that he would consider shaking up his outfield.

And now comes word that Freddy Guzman will make the ALCS roster.

My conclusion is that Brett Gardner will start at least one game in center field, with Melky either on the bench or in left in place of the putrid Johnny Damon (1 for 12 in the ALDS, .156/.289/.219 from Sept 20- Oct 4).

I've argued that Gardner is the better choice because he is the better defensive players (and no slouch with the bat).

It's all a matter of execution.

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I agree

you really don’t lose any offense with Gardner over Melky, one might say you actually gain since any single by Gardner is almost an automatic double. His range in CF is great, as well, so he’s a nice defensive upgrade out there.

by Wraithpk on Oct 15, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

WHAT??

I think what Jsxcape was implying is that Gardy would be replacing Johnny Damon, if he continues to struggle…so the defensive upgrade would be over Damon, which is obvious as either two fielder can throw kick the ball harder than Damon.

by Joe G. Blows on Oct 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

no

he’s saying that Gardner will be in CF and Melky might be in RF. I would say to give Damon a chance to break out of his cold streak, if he gets hot he would be huge for us.

by Wraithpk on Oct 15, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Gardner in center.
Damon/ Melky in left.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 15, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

woops, sorry, i meant left

by Wraithpk on Oct 15, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

What does

out line up look like with out damon?

by ryanwk628 on Oct 15, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Can't

you can’t give up on damon just yet….you just can’t!!

by Joe G. Blows on Oct 15, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

probably Swisher batting second since that's what happened during the regular season when he wasn't playing

by Brian5517209 on Oct 15, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I really don't like our lineup

without Damon batting second. Changes the whole complexion of things.

by pinstriper on Oct 16, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to see Gardner in the 9-hole

Gardner would give us an Aybar/Figgins at the bottom of that lineup, and it would make a DJ double play less likely.

Jeter, Damon, Tex, A-Rod, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Gardner. Guzman then becomes our 9th inning GGBG. Put in Cabrera and Molina on days when AJ pitches.

by PortlandYankee on Oct 15, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

I Think Joe Needs To Play The Guys That Got Us Here

I love Gardner off the bench and as a defensive replacement, but Damon has to start these games. With Melky, you’ve got a switch hitter, so I dont know you want to take him out of the lineup either. Swisher has to play, so unless the Yankees are getting terrible games out of these guys, leave it alone and stop overmanaging Joe.

by YankeesJets on Oct 15, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

im hoping that the time off has helped Damon

when he’s hitting he’s as dangerous as anybody in our lineup and can hit any pitcher in the game

by Brian5517209 on Oct 15, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

He also supplies another legitimate

long ball threat, especially in Yankee Stadium.

by pinstriper on Oct 16, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus....none of you have read between the lines!!!

If Guzman makes the roster…

-Only 2 catchers & Molina still catches AJ.

-Damon will not sit just because he went 1 for 12…if he goes 0 for first 2 games, then Gardner starts Game 3.

-Gives Joe more running options to help certain situations & to help manufacture runs like Angels will.

-Also means Hinske probably doesn’t make it & an 11th pitcher is on the roster!

by JustinS1 on Oct 15, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

Hinske is not on

Guzman is. Everything else is the same. Marte is still on. Cervelli is still on.

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 15, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

YES PLEASE...

Stop overmanaging Joe! Im in agreement with YankeesJets on this one, stop trying to change the formula that won 103 games. He’s killing me with his bullpen crap. Torre waiting too long, this guy cant wait. Maybe he’s trying to keep in shape with all those trips to the mound lol

by PinstripesSince'78 on Oct 15, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

"This bullpen crap"

is what got us here.

There really is no such animal other that hindsight, which I remind you is 20/20, that can tell a manager when it is just right to take out a pitcher.

Sometimes the guy can go longer, sometimes you need to take him out as soon as possible.

People were mad at Joe for taking out Andy a bit early in game 3. I’ve seen Andy plenty of times this year go a bit longer into the 7th than he did and proceed to fall apart.

Also, its kept the pen fresh.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 16, 2009 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Can't replace Damon

because of a bad series. Look at the year he had. Can’t forget all that because of three bad games (or really two bad games. he had a hit in game one). Swisher, Teixeira, and Cano also had bad series. But there’s no talk about replacing them. Damon will be starting every game. I guarantee it. He’ll be taken out for defense late, but he needs to be in these games.

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 15, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions

Tex had a great series...

…defensively. And don’t forget that we don’t win Game 2 without him (on base for A-Rod’s jack; and how soon we forget the 2.88 second laser!).

If Damon isn’t hitting, he’s not contributing at all. But I agree it’s too early to bench him.

by PortlandYankee on Oct 15, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not forgetting it

but other than those 2 hits, he did nothing with that bat. Let me put it this way. He didn’t have the type of series that Yankee fans expect Tex to have, because other than Game 2 he didn’t do anything.

Not trying to bash Tex. I love the guy, and I expect it to turn around in the ALCS. But just stating facts. 2-12 is not good.

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 15, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions