YCN: Girardi Must Discard Loyalty and Drop A-Rod in the Lineup: A Fan's Plea

After watching last night's 3-2 Yankees loss to the Orioles, I knew it was time to write up a piece on the need to drop Alex Rodriguez out of the 3 spot in the order.

I also had a good laugh this afternoon when WFAN's Mike Francesa said A-Rod has to bat third because no one is suited for it. Apparently he's never heard the name Robinson Cano.

But I have so click here to read what Joe Girardi should do for Game 3.

Meet the Phaukers

2009 World Series Preview

Time for some more head to head comparisons.

Manager - Charlie Manuel is at the helm of the defending World Champions. That alone gives him an edge over Joe Girardi.

Edge - Phillies

1B - Ryan Howard is a mashing machine. He's averagde 47 home runs and 143 RBI over the last four seasons. He's driven in 14 runs in eight post-season contests this year and had at least one RBI in eight straight games.

But the edge here goes to Mark Teixeira and the Yankees. Teixeira's defense is the difference between these two. Tex will need to step up at the plate though after hitting just .205 in his first nine post-season games. On the bright side, he's 5-14 (.357) with 4 RBI in the last three games.

Edge - Yankees


2B - Chase Utley is one of the most consistent players in all of baseball. But Utley was slowed by hip surgery this season and the discomfort may have returned in October. His inability to turn the double play was costly against the Dodgers, but could be even more so in the World Series. His all around play and ability to hit with men on base, gives the Phillies a slight advantage over Robinson Cano and the Yankees.

Edge - Phillies


SS - Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter are the respective captains of their teams. But while Jeter is relatively quiet and doesn't create message board fodder, Rollins loves to speak his mind. He also backs it up with his play. This season though Rollins struggled at the plate with a .250 average and is batting six points lower in the playoffs.

Edge - Yankees


3B - Pedro Feliz is a nice player. A good defender who drove in 82 runs this year. He's not Alex Rodriguez.

Edge - Yankees


LF - Raul Ibanez had a monster season in his first year in Philly. He hit a career high 34 HR and drove in 93. Though just an adequate fielder, he's still stronger right now than his counterpart, Johnny Damon. Ibanez, who is in a 3-23 slide, will probably DH at Yankee Stadium in favor of Ben Francisco.

Edge - Phillies


CF - Shane Victorino, along with Rollins, is an emotional spark plug. The Flying Hawaiian has also gotten better year by year. He set career highs this season in hits, walks, RBI, and OPS. Melky Cabrera had a fine season and a very good ALCS, but Victorino is the more consistent player.

Edge - Phillies


RF - Jayson Werth often gets overlooked due to the bigger name stars around him. But the stepson of former Yankee Dennis Werth is a force all his own. This was the first season Werth got the opportunity to play more than 150 games and he took full advantage with 36 HR and 99 RBI. His hitting has continued in the post-season where he has belted 5 home runs and driven in 10 runs. The Yankees need Nick Swisher to break out of his slump to help the bottom of the order, which will be one hitter short in the NL ball park.

Edge - Phillies


C - Carlos Ruiz is a solid player, especially with his glove and arm. But the .246 career hitter also steps up on the biggest stage- he's hitting .346 with 7 RBI thus far. Jorge Posada's offense will be critical in Philly. Joe Girardi cannot have Jose Molina catch A.J. Burnett when the right-hander takes the mound in Philadelphia.

Edge - Yankees


DH - The Phillies will use Ibanez in NY, which means Francisco is inserted in the lineup. Even though he's struggling of late, Hideki Matsui is still a much better hitter and could break out at any time.

Edge - Yankees


Bench - The Phillies bench has better hitters and will be relied upon more in the NL parks.

Edge - Phillies


Starting Rotation - Though Joe Girardi still has not fully committed to a 3-man rotation, the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte is better than Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez, and Cole Hamels. Chad Gaudin could pitch a Game 4 and Charlie Manuel will probably use either J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton, or Jamie Moyer in that same game.

Edge - Yankees

Bullpen - Mariano Rivera clearly trumps Brad Lidge and Phil Hughes, despite recent struggles, is just as good, if not better, than Ryan Madson. Philly's pen has struggled all season.

Edge - Yankees


PREDICTION - YANKEES IN 6

Yankees vs. Blue Jays - June 5

Day baseball in the Bronx today as the Yankees try to win the rubber game of the 3-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's also an important start for Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.14) as he tries to end his streak of 5 starts without a win. He'll be opposed by another one of the Blue Jays good young starters, Dustin McGowan (4-4, 3.95).

McGowan faced Phil Hughes back on April 3rd, with both pitching solid games. McGowan had a 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold and the Yankees eventually won the game 3-2. Joba Chamberlain picked up the win in relief. In his career, he's 2-2, 5.21 in 10 appearances, 6 of them starts.

Wang went 7 innings to beat Roy Halladay on opening day 3-2. He's 4-2, 3.98 in 8 career starts against the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays vs. Wang

Eckstein 0-6
Hill 10-17 (.529) 3 RBI (still not likely to play due to concussion)
Mench 1-6
Overbay 5-11 (.455) 3 RBI
Rios 4-17 (.235) 1 RBI
Scutaro 1-6
Stairs 4-10 (.400) 1 RBI
Stewart 2-9
Wilkerson 1-8

Yankees vs. McGowan

Abreu 3-14 (.214) 2 RBI
Cabrera 1-9 3 RBI
Cano 4-17 (.235) 3 RBI
Damon 4-19 (.211) 1 HR 4 RBI
Giambi 1-4 1 RBI
Jeter 7-18 (.389) 2 RBI 5 SB
Matsui 4-14 (.286) 1 RBI
Molina 2-4
Posada 2-8 1 RBI
A-Rod 1-14 (.071)

Johnny Damon didn't come right out and say it, but he's clearly not agreeing with Joba's move from the pen. The reasoning? It weakened the strongest part of the team. If that was the strongest part, we're in trouble. John Harper of the NY Daily News reports.

The NY Post's Mark Hale has more on Jorge Posada's return, and the shoulder surgery looming in the off-season. Joel Sherman has more on Mike Mussina's remarkable turn around.

Peter Abraham reported yesterday Brian Bruney, out with a Lisfranc tear, has begun throwing from a chair. Huh? How does a guy not injure something else throwing while sitting down?

Here is today's lineups. Jorgie back, but Giambi out again with a sore foot.

Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF

Yankees vs. Blue Jays - June 5

Day baseball in the Bronx today as the Yankees try to win the rubber game of the 3-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's also an important start for Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.14) as he tries to end his streak of 5 starts without a win. He'll be opposed by another one of the Blue Jays good young starters, Dustin McGowan (4-4, 3.95).

McGowan faced Phil Hughes back on April 3rd, with both pitching solid games. McGowan had a 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold and the Yankees eventually won the game 3-2. Joba Chamberlain picked up the win in relief. In his career, he's 2-2, 5.21 in 10 appearances, 6 of them starts.

Wang went 7 innings to beat Roy Halladay on opening day 3-2. He's 4-2, 3.98 in 8 career starts against the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays vs. Wang

Eckstein 0-6
Hill 10-17 (.529) 3 RBI (still not likely to play due to concussion)
Mench 1-6
Overbay 5-11 (.455) 3 RBI
Rios 4-17 (.235) 1 RBI
Scutaro 1-6
Stairs 4-10 (.400) 1 RBI
Stewart 2-9
Wilkerson 1-8

Yankees vs. McGowan

Abreu 3-14 (.214) 2 RBI
Cabrera 1-9 3 RBI
Cano 4-17 (.235) 3 RBI
Damon 4-19 (.211) 1 HR 4 RBI
Giambi 1-4 1 RBI
Jeter 7-18 (.389) 2 RBI 5 SB
Matsui 4-14 (.286) 1 RBI
Molina 2-4
Posada 2-8 1 RBI
A-Rod 1-14 (.071)

Johnny Damon didn't come right out and say it, but he's clearly not agreeing with Joba's move from the pen. The reasoning? It weakened the strongest part of the team. If that was the strongest part, we're in trouble. John Harper of the NY Daily News reports.

The NY Post's Mark Hale has more on Jorge Posada's return, and the shoulder surgery looming in the off-season. Joel Sherman has more on Mike Mussina's remarkable turn around.

Peter Abraham reported yesterday Brian Bruney, out with a Lisfranc tear, has begun throwing from a chair. Huh? How does a guy not injure something else throwing while sitting down?

Here is today's lineups. Jorgie back, but Giambi out again with a sore foot.

Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF

Yankees vs. Blue Jays - June 3

Like you don't already know that Joba Chamberlain is pitching tonight. There's even more pressure on him since Roy Halladay is going for the Blue Jays. And it's a really big buzz night for NY baseball since Pedro Martinez returns tonight for the Mets in San Francisco.

The Yankees and Blue Jays haven't met since the opening week when the Yankees took 2 of 3 at the Stadium. Halladay lost that night in a tough showdown with Chien-Ming Wang. Chamberlain won the final game of that series after a good start by Phil Hughes (you remember him, right?). A.J. Burnett beat Mike Mussina in the lone game won by the Blue Jays.

The Jays seem to be hit by injuries every year and this year is no different. They had lost set up man Casey Janssen before the season even started, and closer B.J. Ryan started late due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery. May 10 was a tough day in Toronto. That's when start centerfielder Vernon Wells (broken wrist 6-8 weeks) and last year's closer Jeremy Accardo (right forearm tightness) went on the DL.

Defensive wizard John McDonald went on the DL with a badly sprained on May 7, and starting catcher Greg Zaun recently joined the growing list with a strained right elbow. Despite all of that, the Blue Jays are 31-28 and 5 games behind the Rays in the AL East.

They've done it all with pitching. Halladay (6-5, 2.93), A.J. Burnett (5-5, 4.32), Jesse Litsch (7-1, 3.18), Shaun Marcum (5-3, 2.63), and Dustin McGowan (4-4, 3.95) make up, arguably, the best rotation in baseball. Their 3.32 ERA is the best in the AL, and it had better be, because the Blue Jays offense stinks.

Lyle Overbay is the leading hitter at just .278. Wells missed the last 3 weeks, but still leads the team with 24 RBI. Matt Stairs is the top home run hitter with just 6. The Blue Jays, money ball disciples, are starting to do things a little different...finally. Alex Rios has 12 steals in 15 attempts. Overall though, they have the 4th fewest runs in the AL, and only the Royals have hit less home runs.

The pitching probables for the series:

Tuesday: Roy Halladay vs. Joba Chamberlain
Wednesday: Jesse Litsch vs. Mike Mussina
Thursday: Dustin McGowan vs. Chien-Ming Wang


Yankees vs. Halladay

Abreu 4-15 (.267)
Betemit 0-7
Cabrera 5-18 (.278) 1 HR 1 RBI
Cano 6-16 (.375) 2 HR 4 RBI
Damon 22-70 (.314) 1 HR 2 RBI 8 BB 7 SB
Duncan 0-1
Giambi 17-56 (.304) 3 HR 7 RBI 6 BB
Jeter 17-65 (.262) 4 RBI 18 K
Matsui 7-37 (.189) 1 HR 3 RBI
Moeller 0-3
Molina 1-8
A-Rod 15-50 (.300) 10 RBI

and Joe Girardi was 0-1 with 1 walk. ;)

Blue Jays vs. Chamberlain


Eckstein 0-1
Hill 0-3
Overbay 0-1
Rios 1-4
Stairs 1-1
Stewart 0-1
Thigpen 0-2


Tonight's lineup from Peter Abraham:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Molina C
Cabrera CF

Chad Jennings reports that Jason Lane has not made any decisions as to whether he will opt out of his contract or not.

Yankees vs. Blue Jays - June 3

Like you don't already know that Joba Chamberlain is pitching tonight. There's even more pressure on him since Roy Halladay is going for the Blue Jays. And it's a really big buzz night for NY baseball since Pedro Martinez returns tonight for the Mets in San Francisco.

The Yankees and Blue Jays haven't met since the opening week when the Yankees took 2 of 3 at the Stadium. Halladay lost that night in a tough showdown with Chien-Ming Wang. Chamberlain won the final game of that series after a good start by Phil Hughes (you remember him, right?). A.J. Burnett beat Mike Mussina in the lone game won by the Blue Jays.

The Jays seem to be hit by injuries every year and this year is no different. They had lost set up man Casey Janssen before the season even started, and closer B.J. Ryan started late due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery. May 10 was a tough day in Toronto. That's when start centerfielder Vernon Wells (broken wrist 6-8 weeks) and last year's closer Jeremy Accardo (right forearm tightness) went on the DL.

Defensive wizard John McDonald went on the DL with a badly sprained on May 7, and starting catcher Greg Zaun recently joined the growing list with a strained right elbow. Despite all of that, the Blue Jays are 31-28 and 5 games behind the Rays in the AL East.

They've done it all with pitching. Halladay (6-5, 2.93), A.J. Burnett (5-5, 4.32), Jesse Litsch (7-1, 3.18), Shaun Marcum (5-3, 2.63), and Dustin McGowan (4-4, 3.95) make up, arguably, the best rotation in baseball. Their 3.32 ERA is the best in the AL, and it had better be, because the Blue Jays offense stinks.

Lyle Overbay is the leading hitter at just .278. Wells missed the last 3 weeks, but still leads the team with 24 RBI. Matt Stairs is the top home run hitter with just 6. The Blue Jays, money ball disciples, are starting to do things a little different...finally. Alex Rios has 12 steals in 15 attempts. Overall though, they have the 4th fewest runs in the AL, and only the Royals have hit less home runs.

The pitching probables for the series:

Tuesday: Roy Halladay vs. Joba Chamberlain
Wednesday: Jesse Litsch vs. Mike Mussina
Thursday: Dustin McGowan vs. Chien-Ming Wang


Yankees vs. Halladay

Abreu 4-15 (.267)
Betemit 0-7
Cabrera 5-18 (.278) 1 HR 1 RBI
Cano 6-16 (.375) 2 HR 4 RBI
Damon 22-70 (.314) 1 HR 2 RBI 8 BB 7 SB
Duncan 0-1
Giambi 17-56 (.304) 3 HR 7 RBI 6 BB
Jeter 17-65 (.262) 4 RBI 18 K
Matsui 7-37 (.189) 1 HR 3 RBI
Moeller 0-3
Molina 1-8
A-Rod 15-50 (.300) 10 RBI

and Joe Girardi was 0-1 with 1 walk. ;)

Blue Jays vs. Chamberlain


Eckstein 0-1
Hill 0-3
Overbay 0-1
Rios 1-4
Stairs 1-1
Stewart 0-1
Thigpen 0-2


Tonight's lineup from Peter Abraham:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Molina C
Cabrera CF

Chad Jennings reports that Jason Lane has not made any decisions as to whether he will opt out of his contract or not.

Born to Score Runs

The Star Ledger's Dan Graziano sat down with an unnamed American League scout recently to compare the vaunted lineups of the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. While Detroit's already potent lineup got even stronger with the addition of Miguel Cabrera, the Yankees led the AL in runs scored last season with 882.

Graziano and the scout performed a position by position comparison. Some of the results might surprise you.

FIRST BASE: The Tigers' Carlos Guillen moves over from shortstop, where he had a 102-RBI season and a .357 on-base percentage that was his lowest in four years. He's not as great an offensive player for a first baseman as he was for a shortstop, but he's a reliable and productive hitter, and he's probably better than whatever the Yankees will get from the mishmash of Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and Morgan Ensberg. If Giambi can be healthy and good enough to play first every day, this could swing the Yankees' way, but as it stands:EDGE: Tigers.

SECOND BASE: This is one of a few spots where these teams might have the two best players in the league. Detroit's Placido Polanco had a brilliant year in 2007, with 200 hits, 105 runs scored and a .388 on-base percentage. He was one of the best all-around players in the game last year, but his season wasn't exactly in line with the rest of his career. Our scout is betting on the Yankees' 25-year-old on the upswing over the Tigers' 32-year-old coming off his career year. But as he says, "only, maybe, by a hair."EDGE: Yankees.

THIRD BASE: Another spot where the matchup is one in which any of the other 28 teams would gladly take the loser. Miguel Cabrera was the big off-season addition to the Tigers or any other team in baseball, and he may well be the second-best hitter in baseball. However, the Yankees' third baseman is the clear-cut, head-and-shoulders best hitter in baseball, and for now, our scout says, "there's nobody you'd take over A-Rod."EDGE: Yankees.

SHORTSTOP: Our scout isn't as high on Detroit's acquisition of Edgar Renteria as some others are. "He struggled in the American League the first time (with Boston, in 2005), so why should we think he can handle it this time?" This strikes us as a little harsh. Renteria is a nice all-around player and would hold up in a head-to-head comparison with most shortstops. But the Yankees' shortstop is, well, Derek Jeter. And since we're talking only offense, not defense, here, the choice is a clear one.EDGE:Yankees.

CATCHER: "A mismatch," our scout says. "(Detroit's) Pudge (Rodriguez) is a Hall of Famer, but he doesn't hit like one anymore." The Yankees' Jorge Posada did hit like a Hall of Famer last year. In fact, with another year or two like the one he had in '07, he might be a future Cooperstown candidate as well. For now, though, he's as good an offensive catcher as there is in the game.EDGE: Yankees.

LEFT FIELD: "Once (Johnny) Damon got healthy and in shape last year, the Yankees' offense took off," our scout says. He's right, and Damon seems healthy early in spring training. That, along with the fact that the player competing for playing time with Damon is Hideki Matsui, makes this one another mismatch. Jacque Jones looks like a good No. 9 hitter, but he's not likely to give the Tigers what Damon/Matsui will give the Yankees. EDGE: Yankees.

CENTER FIELD: This one's a mismatch for the Tigers, and no offense to Melky Cabrera. "Melky's a nice-looking player, but (Curtis) Granderson is a do-it-all superstar on the rise." Granderson's 2007 season was historic -- 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and 26 steals. Cabrera might still be improving, but so might Granderson.EDGE: Tigers.

RIGHT FIELD: Bobby Abreu is another guy whose return to form keyed the Yankees' second-half surge. But Detroit's Magglio Ordonez would have been the league MVP if not for that A-Rod guy. This year, Ordonez will bat between Gary Sheffield and Miguel Cabrera, which means he could be even more productive.EDGE: Tigers.

DESIGNATED HITTER: Tough call here. "If (Gary) Sheffield is going to stay healthy, you give the edge to Detroit," our scout says. "But I don't think he'll stay healthy," and the "leftovers" from the Yankees' bench -- Giambi, Duncan, Matsui, Damon ... whoever's not playing the field on a given night -- should contribute more over the course of a season than Sheffield's backups will.EDGE: Yankees.

The Yankees came out on top in 6 of the 9 comparisons. But as we well know, and have seen far too often in the past few years, it will still be pitching, defense, and timely hitting that wins games in October.

Born to Score Runs

The Star Ledger's Dan Graziano sat down with an unnamed American League scout recently to compare the vaunted lineups of the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. While Detroit's already potent lineup got even stronger with the addition of Miguel Cabrera, the Yankees led the AL in runs scored last season with 882.

Graziano and the scout performed a position by position comparison. Some of the results might surprise you.

FIRST BASE: The Tigers' Carlos Guillen moves over from shortstop, where he had a 102-RBI season and a .357 on-base percentage that was his lowest in four years. He's not as great an offensive player for a first baseman as he was for a shortstop, but he's a reliable and productive hitter, and he's probably better than whatever the Yankees will get from the mishmash of Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and Morgan Ensberg. If Giambi can be healthy and good enough to play first every day, this could swing the Yankees' way, but as it stands:EDGE: Tigers.

SECOND BASE: This is one of a few spots where these teams might have the two best players in the league. Detroit's Placido Polanco had a brilliant year in 2007, with 200 hits, 105 runs scored and a .388 on-base percentage. He was one of the best all-around players in the game last year, but his season wasn't exactly in line with the rest of his career. Our scout is betting on the Yankees' 25-year-old on the upswing over the Tigers' 32-year-old coming off his career year. But as he says, "only, maybe, by a hair."EDGE: Yankees.

THIRD BASE: Another spot where the matchup is one in which any of the other 28 teams would gladly take the loser. Miguel Cabrera was the big off-season addition to the Tigers or any other team in baseball, and he may well be the second-best hitter in baseball. However, the Yankees' third baseman is the clear-cut, head-and-shoulders best hitter in baseball, and for now, our scout says, "there's nobody you'd take over A-Rod."EDGE: Yankees.

SHORTSTOP: Our scout isn't as high on Detroit's acquisition of Edgar Renteria as some others are. "He struggled in the American League the first time (with Boston, in 2005), so why should we think he can handle it this time?" This strikes us as a little harsh. Renteria is a nice all-around player and would hold up in a head-to-head comparison with most shortstops. But the Yankees' shortstop is, well, Derek Jeter. And since we're talking only offense, not defense, here, the choice is a clear one.EDGE:Yankees.

CATCHER: "A mismatch," our scout says. "(Detroit's) Pudge (Rodriguez) is a Hall of Famer, but he doesn't hit like one anymore." The Yankees' Jorge Posada did hit like a Hall of Famer last year. In fact, with another year or two like the one he had in '07, he might be a future Cooperstown candidate as well. For now, though, he's as good an offensive catcher as there is in the game.EDGE: Yankees.

LEFT FIELD: "Once (Johnny) Damon got healthy and in shape last year, the Yankees' offense took off," our scout says. He's right, and Damon seems healthy early in spring training. That, along with the fact that the player competing for playing time with Damon is Hideki Matsui, makes this one another mismatch. Jacque Jones looks like a good No. 9 hitter, but he's not likely to give the Tigers what Damon/Matsui will give the Yankees. EDGE: Yankees.

CENTER FIELD: This one's a mismatch for the Tigers, and no offense to Melky Cabrera. "Melky's a nice-looking player, but (Curtis) Granderson is a do-it-all superstar on the rise." Granderson's 2007 season was historic -- 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and 26 steals. Cabrera might still be improving, but so might Granderson.EDGE: Tigers.

RIGHT FIELD: Bobby Abreu is another guy whose return to form keyed the Yankees' second-half surge. But Detroit's Magglio Ordonez would have been the league MVP if not for that A-Rod guy. This year, Ordonez will bat between Gary Sheffield and Miguel Cabrera, which means he could be even more productive.EDGE: Tigers.

DESIGNATED HITTER: Tough call here. "If (Gary) Sheffield is going to stay healthy, you give the edge to Detroit," our scout says. "But I don't think he'll stay healthy," and the "leftovers" from the Yankees' bench -- Giambi, Duncan, Matsui, Damon ... whoever's not playing the field on a given night -- should contribute more over the course of a season than Sheffield's backups will.EDGE: Yankees.

The Yankees came out on top in 6 of the 9 comparisons. But as we well know, and have seen far too often in the past few years, it will still be pitching, defense, and timely hitting that wins games in October.