How Much Longer Will Brett Gardner Be A Starter?

In the offseason, I was open to the idea of trading Brett Gardner.

Back in October, I wrote:

The demand for Gardner's skills may never be higher. He's at the top of the leaderboards, the bottom of the payroll, and the Yankees aren't even utilizing his greatest skill- GGBG can play center field.

I never really heard Gardner's name kicked around in trade rumors other than in connection with Zach Greinke. Frankly, that's exactly how I would have wanted it. I see no reason to give up a cheap major league player for anything other than an ace.

I still believe in Brett Gardner.

If not for Jorge Posada (who has hit rockets all season, but has only 3 hits that haven't left the yard), Gardner would have the worst luck on the team (.182 BABIP, compared to .340 last season and .318 career). Gardner has some mechanical issues at the moment, and the broadcasters during a recent game spoke with Kevin Long, who said that Gardner wasn't using his legs to drive the ball at the moment. That shows in his 12.9 LD% (2010 18.9%, career 18.0%), but even at that reduced output we'd expect Gardner to post a BABIP of around .300.

Worse, as Gardner has struggled, he's expanded his strike zone, and he's getting on base via walk at only half of his 2010 rate.

Might it be that his wrist is still bothering him? He had surgery in December, and as we saw with Hideki Matsui's return from his broken wrist, full recovery took more than a year. Gardner's game depends on pitch identification and bat control; if he's not as quick through the zone, it's no surprise he's falling apart.

Or could it be that the league has adjusted (he only has 4 hits in 42 ABs against RHP, .128/.196/.191)?

It's still only April 21, so there's still plenty of time for Gardner to turn it around. He has youth and an impressive tool set still on his side.

I just wonder how much longer he'll have the manager in his corner.