So Joe Girardi decided to mix things up tonight. That’s good. It’s not a surefire remedy to a slumping lineup, but at least it’s an attempt to get things started. However, I’m not so sure I’m on board with the changes.
First, Giambi and Abreu sit against the lefty. That’s fine and good. As I’ve noted, I wouldn’t mind seeing him sit against lefties a bit more. Giambi hasn’t been doing much of anything, so keeping him on the bench is of little concern.
But Matsui in right field? We better hope no balls are hit to right field with a runner on first. And you can be damn sure a runner on second will take third on even a shallow fly to right. You don’t want to lose Melky’s range in center, but you have to think that a Matsui-Damon-Melky outfield would at least keep baserunners a bit more honest.
Onto the batting order…Jorge hitting cleanup? Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue. But he hasn’t hit a lick this season. At least Cano — batting 7th and behind Jose Molina — has registered a some hits in the past couple of games.
I guess the hope is that this will mix things up enough to get some people, like Jorge, going. To that end I cannot complain. And there are worse things than taking some defensive risks for a single game. So despite my qualms, there’s certainly some virtue to what Girardi’s trying to do here.
Anyway, here’s the alchemic lineup:
1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Melky Cabrera CF
3. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
4. Jorge Posada, DH
5. Hideki Matsui, RF
6. Jose Molina, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Morgan Ensberg, 1B
9. Alberto Gonzalez, SS
And on the mound, number forty-six, Andy Pettitte
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