On Thursday, the Yankees swept the AL West-leading Rangers by winning 3-2 in extra innings. The Bombers won on a walkoff single in the 12th by substitute Brett Gardner — key word being substitute. This is the second game in a row Joe Girardi has omitted Gardner from the starting lineup due to the opposing pitcher being left-handed. It’s also something we’ve seen the overmanager due on multiple occasions this season. And it’s rather insane.
Point blank, Brett Gardner is one of the best players on the team. He’s 5th in WAR (2.0), but if you break it down by plate appearances, he has the 3rd-highest WAR/PA on the club (behind only Granderson & Arod).
Additionally, when you look at Gardner’s career platoon splits, he’s managed to get on base versus LHP 35% of the time. Even if his platoon split sucked (which it doesn’t), his defense is so elite that he should be in the lineup anyway.
And then there’s this quote:
Andruw Jones started in left as usual with a lefty going. But Brett Gardner came on in the ninth and had two singles in extra innings against lefty Michael Kirkman, including the walk-off hit in the 12th.
“I never worry about him against lefties,” Joe Girardi said. “I’m just trying to keep Andruw going.”
What?
Further proof of Girardi’s descent into the darkness.
Has Joe gone mad?
63 Comments
MC Hammer June 16, 2011 23:24
Gardner is too legit – too legit to sit.
TSJC June 16, 2011 23:27
suck my black dong….and swallow you white crackas
MC Hammer June 17, 2011 00:16
Shut up faggot.
TSJC June 17, 2011 14:37
Ive fucked punks like u in Rikers
MC Hammer June 17, 2011 17:35
And I have a hit song about the Addams family. Fuck off.
TSJC June 18, 2011 00:19
Hows the bankruptcy working out for you, Hammer?
MC Hammer June 18, 2011 01:49
I’ve still got my parachute pants. That’s all I need.
TSJC June 22, 2011 10:51
I’d let you suck my cock nigga
Pete C. June 17, 2011 05:14
I hate this stupid name, here goes, tsjc; in 1968 you were what, 22- 25? That makes you anywhere from 65-68, I’m thinking the last time you had a suck and swallow was 10-15 years ago.
The spirit may be willing… BOY.
TSJC June 17, 2011 15:47
Dont matter the age…you’ll like gargling with my semen, Pete C, wussy biatch
Andruw Jones June 16, 2011 23:43
I’m sure things will correct themselves eventually. I’m not that good anymore
Brett Gardner June 16, 2011 23:50
I’m officially the best Left Fielder in the American League.
MC Hammer June 17, 2011 00:17
Too legit.
Harry A-Rod June 21, 2011 12:57
…until you get on base and either don’t steal when you should or get picked off.
Brett Gardner CAN change a game with his speed…the question is, WILL he at some point this year?
Managerwithoutbraces June 16, 2011 23:51
Are my methods unsound?
? June 17, 2011 20:39
Can switching to Geico really save you 15 percent or more on car insurance?
Captain Benjamin L. Willard June 17, 2011 00:31
I’m going to terminate Girardi’s command.
Harrison Ford June 17, 2011 01:24
With extreme prejudice.
Creepy Gray-Haired Guy June 17, 2011 01:52
I said that line, not Harrison Ford.
Harrison Ford June 17, 2011 12:20
NO. CAMELS.
Creepy Gray-Haired Guy June 18, 2011 23:52
…………
Obvious June 17, 2011 01:45
They’re not benching Gardner so much as they are trying to find spots for Andruw to be successful. I don’t see what’s so hard to understand. I guess they could bench Swisher instead?
Negrodamus June 17, 2011 02:14
Andruw Jones makes his bones…oh no, wait, no he struck out. Yeah, Jones is useless.
Captain Benjamin L. Willard June 17, 2011 08:28
No shit Sherlock! Jones instead of Swisher? I’ll terminate you after I’m done with Girardi.
Col. John Matrix June 17, 2011 03:00
He plays Jones because he is a guy who could be productive against lecture if he sees enough regular action to stay sharp. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see enough regular action, so he sucks. And you can’t sub him for Swisher, ’cause he murders lefties, too. I guess the bet place to play him is at DH against lefties, but now even Laura’s hubby is hitting. I guess this is a good problem to have.
Roy Keane's dog June 17, 2011 04:44
…I watched a powerbar…slide across the top of a squat rack…without falling off…just dangling there at the top left corner…that’s my dream, my nightmare…
Pete C. June 17, 2011 05:17
You should talk to Joe Pawl over at the RAB about that.
Maybe he has a solution for you what with all the working out he does.
Roy Keane's Dog June 17, 2011 10:44
…as I read Jeter’s file, I thought they gave me the wrong dossier, I couldn’t believe that they wanted this man dead…3,000 hits, .300 career average, 5 rings, et cetera et cetera?!?! After his first tour, when Levine gave him that last deal, that was when things started to slip…Charging the Yankees with overpaying old free agents is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500…
Nick Social June 17, 2011 12:34
BUT WE COULD HAVE JJ HARDY!!!
and June 17, 2011 13:26
actually have adequate defense ? no that’s too productive for 4 mil, wait , 15 million for 4 years
Ki m Last June 22, 2011 10:52
Lumpy D
Greg Gallagher June 17, 2011 05:29
It has nothing to do with Andruw Jones and everything to do with Girardi giving himself an out regarding Derek Jeter.
If Gardner hit lead-off every day in Jeter’s absence, and God forbid did it well, he’d leave Girardi with no justification for putting Jeter back there when he comes off the DL. By platooning Gardner and sharing lead-off duties around, Girardi is protecting Jeter by not allowing any one player to demonstrate that they might be a better fit there than he is.
I don’t envy Girardi having to navigate the Jeter situation – he can’t win – but shitting on one of the team’s best players in order to preserve the idea that Jeter still belongs at the top of the line-up is insulting to Gardner.
Alfredo Griffin June 17, 2011 08:47
If this whole thing is truly to placate Jeter, then that’s disgusting. Not putting your best lineup out there to not hurt the feelings of one specific player is inexcusable.
Warner Wolf June 17, 2011 10:23
Promote Greg Gallagher to Chief Inspector.
Nick Social June 17, 2011 12:36
It’s just speculation.
Most of us agree that Jeter should not be leading off… not everyone thinks it’s a conspiracy to spare his feelings.
nick introvert June 17, 2011 13:32
It’s conspiracy to hide gardner against lefties because of Jeter.
But if management isn’t concerned about Derek’s feelings, then why does Yankee management slot Jeter leadoff every game? I’m sure they’ve heard of on base percentage. Are they scared of NY media? Or the fans? Will the Yankees stop selling-out every game because poor 5 rings is batting 9th?
TSJC June 17, 2011 14:38
I like u honky
Nick Social June 17, 2011 15:20
They insist on batting him leadoff every game because it makes a bunch of whiny faggots on Nomaas extra cranky.
Scared of fans June 18, 2011 23:45
It’s bad business to offend jeter. It’s unpopular among most fans. They already pushed it by getting rid of torre.
Nick Social June 19, 2011 11:17
Yankee fans aren’t going anywhere.
Things with Jeter are going to get messy, but if the team is winning, the fan-base will get over it.
[Censored] June 19, 2011 15:37
Yes, raising prices, and building a cookie cutter stadium are ok, but don’t date disrespect Jeter, that is the last straw.
Greg Gallagher June 20, 2011 12:40
I wouldn’t call it a conspiracy to spare his feelings, but it’s pretty clear that Jeter is not being treated as any other player with his numbers would be. Some people argue that he’s earned that privilege, which is a reasonable position to take. But leaving the Jeter situation aside, the way Girardi is misusing Gardner is absurd. On Friday he batted him 8th, behind Nunez and ahead of the pitcher. That decision can only classed in one of two possible ways: rank stupidity or sheer bloody-mindedness.
As to Jeter…..the quickest and cleanest resolution to the situation would come in the event of Jeter effectively demoting himself to the lower half of the line-up. If he could admit publicly that he isn’t the player he was and volunteer to serve the team (and his manager) from the bottom of the line-up, then any immediate ego-bruising would soon be off-set by the widespread and deserved praise he’d elicit for acting like a captain and a team-player at the same time.
Alvaro Fernandez June 17, 2011 14:00
He can’t justify having Jeter batting lead-off as it is. Only Francisco Cervelli and Gustavo Molina have a worse TAv.
Rex Ryan's Wife's Feet June 17, 2011 19:55
Perhaps, except Jeter has not justified batting leadoff for weeks now. Also, how the fuck did the Yankees lose that game today?
[Censored] June 17, 2011 06:31
Ritardi is to line ups as Torre is to bullpens.
Joe Torre June 17, 2011 13:37
Remember when I batted Tony Womack 2nd?
Arod June 17, 2011 15:02
No, but I remember when your dumbass batted me 8th in a playoff game. Faggot!
R2-D2 June 17, 2011 08:02
The horror…..the horror….
The Truth June 17, 2011 08:48
Q: Where am I now?
A: On the down-low w/Shogun of Harlem
The Truth June 17, 2011 11:30
No actually I have all 12 inches in your mother’s ass.
Never said Gardner wasn’t an effective player, but some butt plugs on this site were comparing him to Pujols.
Shogun of Harlem June 17, 2011 13:24
I wish you had 12″.
.341/.414/.447 since May 1st June 17, 2011 09:27
By all means, please continue to bench me for a bench player to “keep him fresh.”
Laura posada June 17, 2011 12:31
brett gardner likes my tits
jorge doesnt give a shit about them anymore..i love white cocke
[Censored] June 17, 2011 12:33
Quickly becoming one of my favorite posters.
TSJC June 17, 2011 14:38
racist bitch
John Sterling June 17, 2011 16:42
At least it’s good to see the Yankees were able to hit Doug Davis and his ERA of ten billion against the Red Sox this season.
Suzyn Waldman June 18, 2011 01:29
Well somebody’s hitting him, Jawn.
The Truth June 17, 2011 22:16
They Hadn’t seen him. I mean forget the fact that everyone hit this asshole.
DormantUlcer June 18, 2011 01:14
It’s important to keep Jones going because… um… actually… why is that important at all?
Doug Davis June 18, 2011 06:02
Really?
Carl Sagan June 18, 2011 16:55
I was looking through my telescope and found this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc5guvJLv4I&feature=feedf
Chris Hansen June 18, 2011 22:59
Shit, here comes Selig
Paul Stanley June 19, 2011 20:47
Who is dating Jeter?
I want some of that half negro ass.