Brett Gardner (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) – The Yankees will bat speedster Brett Gardner at the leadoff spot on Opening Day, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports.
The move will push Derek Jeter to No. 2.
Jeter was the leadoff hitter 137 times last season, and the Yankees captain hit second on 18 occasions. Gardner was first in the lineup in 25 games during 2010. The outfielder got most appearances (56) in the ninth position.
Moving Gardner to the top spot could mean 50 or more additional at-bats for the left fielder.
Earlier this month, Girardi teased the idea of using Gardner and Jeter interchangeably, depending on that day’s starting pitcher.
“You could see two different lineups,” Girardi said. “One for right-handers, one for left-handers.”
Should the Yankees use a two-lineup system, Girardi said Gardner could bat first against right-handers and ninth vs. lefties.
Good move by the Yanks? Sound off in the comments below…
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
3 Comments
For sure,now he’ll be bunting 3 out of 4 times up.How exciting!(shades of Luis Castillo). Girardi’s a B.S. artist.and not straiht-forward with the media.Who leads off when Gardner platoons with A.Jones,and Granderson is back?–Catman.
March 29, 2011 at 1:58 pm
shell out on who? Lee passed and their stocked at triple A. let Garcia/colon go at 5 and next year hey can bring up another stud. in 09 they won the series with 3 starters. theyre good enough to make the playoffs and if AJ bounces back theyre fine
March 29, 2011 at 1:55 pm
This is a good move – Gardner has great speed. I wish the Yankees would shell out for some pitching help though:
http://bofadeez.blogspot.com/2010/12/take-me-out-to-ball-game.html
It isn’t like they don’t have the cash!
March 29, 2011 at 1:45 pm