Gardner's not cracking the lineup...tonight.

by NumberSeven on Oct 29, 2009 4:06 PM EDT Comment 33 comments

But Jerry Hairston, Jr. is, according to Rotoworld.

Nick Swisher has been benched in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr. for Game 2 of the World Series. Hairston is 10-for-27 (.370) lifetime against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez and Swisher is 11 for his last 77 (.143) with one homer dating back to the regular season.

I guess Girardi is just SUPER in love with Brett off the bench. Well, here's hoping Hairston's career numbers against Pedro translate into success for tonight.

LoHud's got the lineups, here.

Also of note, Jose Molina - catching and batting ninth. Somebody explain to me why Cervelli's not on the roster and Bruney is? Sigh.

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yay Hairston

doesn’t Posada hit Pedro pretty well? what gives?

by Brian5517209 on Oct 29, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i know Molina is Burnetts personal catcher

but down 1-0 in the World Series is a time when you shouldn’t mess with your best players

by Brian5517209 on Oct 29, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time to

pop Pedro boys

VA Yankee since 93'

by jramey on Oct 29, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ok, fine with me.

"I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious"- Michael Scott

by GTWYankee on Oct 29, 2009 4:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully Swisher can take this day off

and use it to relax and get his head straight. Hopefully this day off will help him for Game 3 against Hamels (who has been just awful lately). And we may even need him to hit for someone tonight.

I like this decision. I’m not in love with the decision of catching Molina again, but if it means A.J. will pitch better, than so be it. This phillies lineup needs to be held down.

Go A.J. GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 29, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing like having your manager filling out a National League lineup when he’s in an American League park… talk about a disadvantage right off the bat with those 7-8-9 hitters we are running out there today.

by lank20125 on Oct 29, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will You Be Eating Crow, When You Are Proven Wrong?

by YankeesJets on Oct 29, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

Hairston will be the newest version of Enrique Wilson (1.062 OPS against Pedro).

by Travis G on Oct 29, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and agreed

re: Cervelli. since Molina isn’t hitting at all, Cervelli is probably the better option: as good a defender and much faster.

as for Posada hitting (or not), i dont have much of a problem with it: Posada’s not exactly tearing the cover off the ball, and Molina wont get more than 2 PA anyway. And Burnett just does not look comfortable ‘burying’ his curve with Posada catching (and frankly, he shouldn’t).

by Travis G on Oct 29, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of Note...

Hairston is Catcher #3

by NY on Oct 29, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I will take Hairston in the lineup instead of Swisher. At least Joe G. isn’t being stubborn about Swisher here. Molina, I am not happy about, but I will live with it. You know Posada will be in there if the Yanks fall behind.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 29, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh no! We're definitely going to lose now!!

No Gardner!

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!11

by New York Sports Jerk on Oct 29, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Somebody gets it. Gardner is nothing special at the plate. People need to give it up already.

by YankeesJets on Oct 29, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yanks

Come now do we really need to sacrifice a good hitter for a guy we cant hit a Pushkin. We already down 1-0 and last time A.J pitched it didn’t work out so well.

by ycat33 on Oct 29, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Complaints from me..

Just wish Jorgie would start over Molina..

by Yankz09 on Oct 29, 2009 5:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

im fine with that. Hairston's got more speed than swish, and a better bat than gardner.

it’s like a pretty solid middle. i want jorgie though, not like last time molina caught aj it was a dominating start.

" You F@#$ed Up, You Trusted Us!"

by GTWYankee on Oct 29, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even So Posdaa Should DH,

I know that that means Molina for the whole night (or pitcher bats,) but MAtsui is just slumping, besides, Jorge loves batting against Pedro

by charlievona on Oct 29, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully by the time Jorge comes in

Pedro will have been knocked out

by PortlandYankee on Oct 29, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Jorge...

Dammit.

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

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

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not worried about Pedro: Phils do well vs AJ

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/40893/world_series_game_two_all_eyes_on_the_mound

Burnett is 5-8 with a 4.85 ERA in 16 career starts against Philadelphia, including a 7-3 loss at Yankee Stadium on May 22, when he allowed five runs in six innings.

Burnett will be facing a Phillies team that has fared quite well against him. In his career, the Phils have the highest batting average (.263) and OPS (.784) of any team he’s faced more than seven times

Maybe Burrnett should tip his hat to the Phillies and call them his daddy.

by DT1 on Oct 29, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Historically the Yankees hit Cliff Lee well

We saw how past performance impacted the game yesterday. Overall I like our chances against Pedro and your pen.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Oct 29, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why do you pretend to be a yankees fan?

you are so annoying.

by dustyjacket13 on Oct 29, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

just for anyone who isn't convinced about DT1... this is from The Good Phight

EAT SHIT NYY

by DT1 on Oct 28, 2009 8:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

by dustyjacket13 on Oct 29, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol he's probably so proud of himself.

like he’s done something clever or original.

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on Oct 29, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

holy useless stats, batman!

AJ historically pitches well on game 2 of series when facing teams with a P in them. Also when I wear a black shirt he has a 2.51 FIP or a 2.14 bsFIP (fip adjusted for when I wear a black shirt).

Also AJ has never struck out less than 7 when pitching against a team who’s shortstop is shorter than 5’9.

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on Oct 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well....

i agree with the move of benching Swisher. he’s just plain sucked lately, and maybe this will help him get his head straight. i can live with Hairston playing since no one could do any worse than Swisher has of late, even if i’d rather seen Gardner starting.

here’s where i don’t agree. Posada should be the starting catcher. i know the numbers show that Burnett is better with Molina, but Burnett is unpredictable and unreliable even with Molina catching. Molina is, like Swisher of late, an easy out. the Phillies will score runs against Burnett so we’ll need the offense provided by Posada.

"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight
"All the arguing in the world can't change the decision of the umpire."- Lou Gehrig. Got that Aybar?

by JumpinJackFlash on Oct 29, 2009 5:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So wait, he chose JHJ based on his history against Pedro?

I hope to god he proves me wrong, but I don’t get JHJ starting over Garnder. The last time JHJ faced Pedro was in 2004! He’s basing the WS Game 2 lineup on matchups that happened more than 5 years ago? I don’t get it. JHJ better perform and make Joe look like a genious.

by Larry Soprano on Oct 29, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gardner's never faced Pedro....

AT ALL.

What does Gardner do over JHJ? DOn’t say speed, cuz JHJ is fast (not AS fast of course)?

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

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

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m fine with JHJ starting.
I’m not ok with Molina starting.

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

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus fast is only good if you get on base

Whereas, pinch runners are always, by definition, on base at least once

by waw on Oct 29, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Feel, Lets say more comfortable

With Gardner DEFENSIVELY in center than anyone on this team.

I believe JHJ playing outfield, he’ll be just fine…. He doesn’t get much playing time to begin with and when he does he’s playing a different position every time.

Batting i view them both the same…. Speed probably the same.
Gardner can steal, but his number has been called by the Angels. They worked a pitch out practically tailored for him. I’m sure Phillies have planned the same.

I’ll take either one over hinske tho…

by Gangsta Yanksta on Oct 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs