Maybe because it was his last game in Seattle.
However, reports indicate that Ichiro will be hitting leadoff, at least against right-handed pitching.
The 38-year-old veteran started as the team’s leadoff hitter, with Derek Jeter moving down to the second spot, followed by Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson, who moved from second to fifth.
“It was good today,” said Girardi, who seemed committed to the lineup against right-handed pitchers.
Jeter finished 3-for-4 while Ichiro went 1-for-5. But Girardi wouldn’t say if the lineup changes would stick.
Though Ichiro began the day with an on-base percentage of just .288, Girardi said he liked his experience in the top spot.
Ichiro’s been one of the worst hitters in baseball over the past year and a half. He has a sub-.300 OBP and rarely walks. His walk rate ranks 7th-worst out of 158 major league players with at least 300 PAs this season. These aren’t exactly the traits you look for in your “table-setter.” In fact, on Wednesday, Ichiro had one more plate appearance than Curtis Granderson, who was moved to 5th in the order. Who would you rather get more at-bats: Curtis Granderson or Ichiro?
Again, maybe this was a one-time thing because it was his last game in Seattle — if so, classy gesture by Girardi. But if the reports are accurate, and Joe plans on putting Ichiro at the top of the lineup, we really have to question whether the Yankees manager is taking a page out of his predecessor’s “Experience > Talent” book. After all, wasn’t this a trade for defense and speed, not offense?
But since we’re a democracy, we ask:
Is somebody living in the past?
65 Comments
Sandusky July 26, 2012 22:21
Want to see a PSU game, little Joey?
Joe Páwlikowski July 27, 2012 14:19
Yes!
Joe Paterno July 26, 2012 22:37
Here are the keys to my sound proof suite.
Joe G July 26, 2012 22:45
Who cares, I’m more focused on deciding where Stewartie/Stewie/Chrisie will bat. I’m thinking 3rd or 4th…
Eric Ortiz July 26, 2012 23:03
This weekend everyone’s eyes are on Yankee Stadium as the team that everybody is pulling for, the small market Boston Red Sox, take on the widely-hated Evil Empire, looking to bring the mighty giants to their knees. The New York Yankees have once again tried to assert their dominance by using their ample amounts of $$ to con the helpless, irrelevant Seattle Moroners into giving away the only player sans Hernandez that the general public actually knows plays for the Mariners: Ichigo Suzuki. (Where is Seattle, anyway?) Meanwhile, despite their deep farm system and incredible front office, the Sox decided against any moves before the trade deadline, notably deciding not to get rid of Carl Craw– err, I mean trade for Hanley Ramirez, who decided to go to the Dodgers. Hanley being Hanley. (He and Manny are somehow related, as evidenced by the fact they have the same last name.)
So now, the Sox look to their formidable trio of starting pitchers, Lester (centennial Cy Young candidate), King Felix (Doubrant) and some Cook fella, to stop the struggling Yankee starting pitching staff, which has a combined ERA of 14.90. Will the Red Sox right their ship in the Bronx? (Of course they will, they are projected to finish the season 112-50.) Will the gritty, gutty garden gnome himself, Dustin Pedroia, continue to experiment with his facial hair? Will Beckett drown yesterday’s woes with a round of golf, or a round of drinks? Will I jerk off to pictures of Ellsbury and Varitek (with his mask on, of course) for the fifth night in a row? Stay tuned to find out.
Pete C. July 27, 2012 06:30
That’s a God given talent, to be able to write like that, Lupica’s gotta be looking over his shoulder.
Joe Páwlikowski July 27, 2012 14:22
Can I steal this and pass it off as my own?
Horsedick dot MPEG July 26, 2012 23:05
Holy shit is that a bad move. Why does he get the Jeter treatment?
Mike Asxia July 26, 2012 23:15
BREAKING NEWS…. I am currently putting together another boring article+pie chart about this, expect 50K within the next two hours, mostly plagiarized from Chad Jennings. I will use advanced stats like FIP, xFIP, OBP, BABIP, UZR and OPS so STAY TUNED….tried Wendy’s baconater, didn’t like it as much as Joe Pawl’s baconator…the the long one that he keeps in his pants that squirst out creamyvanilla ice cream,mmm…wendys sweet potato fries with my cumjuice drizzled all over them taste fantasstic… a great snack to munch on while plagiarizing err I mean borrowing…there is a nonzero chance that I am thinking of filling up a whole mayo jar with creamy jizz, check out my ad on craigslist if you’re interested. Joe, Benny, Moshe, Bexy, TSJC, K imLast, Ted Nelson, Duh, Duh’s mom, Francesa…… I’m looking at YOU guys!!!!!
Peter Gammons July 26, 2012 23:45
You overlooked the most important stat of all, wGRIT. Hey Josh, pass some of that Extra Crispy…
Buddy Love July 27, 2012 12:27
You realize you just told everyone you like a little dirt in your sandwich, dontcha’ baby?
Stating the obvious July 27, 2012 12:43
RAB and Nomaas are both awesome, what are you some Yankee blog fanboy who thinks it’s “cool” to pick a side?
Mike Asxia July 27, 2012 12:50
SHUT UP!!!! Lifetime BAN! Nobody talks back to ME, the editor-in-chief of RAB, the place for SMART YANKEE FANS! I’ll send Benny’s dad to CENSOR YOUR ASS… RAB: home of content-stealing, elitism, xFIP, Death Metal headbanging and hypocritically bitching about fat people on treadmills… nomass SUCKS, I wouldn’t even hire you clowns as WEEKEND WRITERS…LOL
Ben Ka bak's Dad July 27, 2012 14:33
Can we sue him, Mike?
Who cares July 26, 2012 23:34
Batting order does not matter.
Also July 27, 2012 00:13
If you are so concerned with getting the best players the at-bats then why haven’t you been complaining about Jeter batting leadoff against right handed pitching the last 2.5 years?
potatoes July 28, 2012 15:07
because Jeter’s been kicking ass for the last year.
Phil "Monster Jaws" Hughes July 27, 2012 02:28
You are correct and incorrect. In the course of a season it is negligible.
But in an extra-inning or one-run game, it might be the difference of winning and losing.
Just because the difference is .06 runs a game or whatever doesn’t mean that each game loses .06 runs a game. Runs are discrete not continuous numbers jackass. That means that extra run will manifest itself in one game out of a shitload. That one run might also come in the most important game of the season/postseason.
Typical misuse of saber work. Put your best foot forward.
P.S. Anyone see my teething elephant bone laying around?
TSJC July 27, 2012 14:44
I rape nigga’s like you.
Stacey Keach July 26, 2012 23:41
Can you all troll bomb this site?
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/
In a Yanks-related question, how much would you give up for Chase Headley?
Phil "Monster Jaws" Hughes July 27, 2012 02:34
The guy that posts as Nunez but not Mike Francesa’s Accent.
Pete C. July 27, 2012 06:44
Bunch of apologists for the institution that enabled a child molester.
Superfoot July 27, 2012 12:29
How the fuck can you give that a thumbs down, you waste of skin.
Redhead from the Wendy's Commercial July 27, 2012 16:14
How about a BACONATOR?
Naughty By Nature July 26, 2012 23:41
Who’s down with OBP?
Why fix it if it isn’t broken? I’d prefer to see Ichiro near the bottom of the order to help compensate for the offensive black hole the catching position has become.
Ichiro July 27, 2012 01:06
What difference between Joe Girardi & Eric Wedge? One have talent on team and other not but both dumb fuck.
Randy Levine July 27, 2012 02:59
the problem started when Cashman tired to embarrass Ichiro by saying he had to make concessions to join the Yankees like bat in the lower half of line up.
Ichiro then came to me & asked “Who is running this ship?” I told him it was me then Ichiro said I bat first because I will light up the box score batting first for you.
I said “No problem Ichiro”
then he said make sure Mr. Abortion never speaks about me again.
Yankee Fan July 27, 2012 03:08
Obviously Ichy has star value to the Yankees beyond his horriawful OBP.
But I’m not worried about giving Ichy an extra PA because what IF he really does a three month salary drive revival at the plate? Stranger shit has happened.
Either way Ichiro will not be the reason we don’t win a playoff series.
Brett Gardner July 27, 2012 03:09
I just got Wally Pipped!
Prophet Muhammad July 27, 2012 05:18
This sight sucks. It’s a shame, I used to enjoy coming here. Now it’s no news = find something to complain about. You are going to die Nomaas…my rusty sword will finish the job! Allahu Akbar Ihkwan!
Zionist July 27, 2012 09:11
The amount of whining by the commentators lately is unbearable. If you want a blog that ballwashes everything the Yankees do or just reports news, there’s plenty of other Yankee blogs that do that.
Smart Guy July 27, 2012 07:59
I would care if lets say we were fighting to reach 1st place or in a heated battled tied with someone else at the top but since we have a comfortable lead I believe Joe has every right to mix and match to see how he can bring the best out of ichiro now, since Ichiro comes midway and he cant see how he responds with this lineup in spring training he can very well do so right now, its not like the lineup is set in stone so this is really a non issue.
whats the worst that can happen? he flunks at the leadoff spot for a week while we take 4 of 6 games? woopie doo
100 Wins July 27, 2012 09:11
Finally someone with some brains on this site. We are going to win the WS regardless of what Joe does. He could pitch Cory Wade every night and we will win anyway, it is predetermined.
I used to post on RAB all the time, but got tired of those losers because they didn’t recognize my pure genius. Thank god Smart Guy is here, so I feel right at home with my superior self-aggrandizing attitude. I hope to work for the Yankees someday once they notice all my intelligence that I write on Yankee blogs.
Smart Guy July 27, 2012 10:14
you come to the right place, as they say, Brian cashman reads this blog
100 Wins July 27, 2012 10:17
If only a pathetic imbecile like you could manage the team. They would have a big lead despite several major injuries.
Levine July 27, 2012 12:47
I would still have every player from the 98 team on the roster. We won a hundred that year!
Brandon July 27, 2012 08:11
I don’t get moving Jeter to the 2-hole. It’s not like this is the Jeter of 2010 to the first half of 2011. Even with his declining power and walk rate, Jeter is still hitting close to his career BA and has put up a 106 OPS+.
CJ July 27, 2012 09:14
Agreed. I don’t understand why you need this big lineup shift simply because Arod is out. Just move everyone below Arod up one. Ichiro has no business hitting leadoff.
Smart Guy July 27, 2012 10:15
can you give me this weekends power ball numbers, since that crystal ball seems legit
Phil "Monster Jaws" Hughes July 27, 2012 11:23
Jeter LOVES the 2 hole! Just ask Minka.
Justin Verlander July 27, 2012 08:43
Russel Martin should bat lead off. That guy can hit… seriously.
DormantUlcer July 27, 2012 14:36
Just shut up.
Brian S. July 27, 2012 08:46
He a stinky face
Poll results July 27, 2012 09:15
So far, 26% of the people are braindead.
Cash July 27, 2012 09:22
These are our players. No trades. Fix things internally. Stay the course
Levine July 27, 2012 09:27
Um, Bri, can you come into my office? I was talking to another team president and we have decided to make a trade, can you hammer out the deets? Thanks Bri. OH yeah, refer to me as master from now on. Bitch
Cashman July 27, 2012 13:04
I bag bitches, you jelly?
Randi Levine July 27, 2012 13:13
U jelly of my jewfro?
Ki m Last July 27, 2012 14:42
Lumps
Enoch July 27, 2012 10:07
The T-Rex dominated the Triceratops throughout history.
If they were around today, that trend would continue.
F that July 27, 2012 11:14
You motherfucker. Don’t diss the Triceratops.
Not for nothing... July 27, 2012 11:36
Derek Jeter is statistically better hitting second:
Batting 2nd: .315/.385/.455
Batting 1st: .309/.377/.441
Not to say that justifies anything about Ichiro and his place in the order but trying to look at the positive here.
Math July 27, 2012 12:51
Yes, you should make decisions based on 1 extra hit every 166 at bats.
Brian S. July 27, 2012 13:08
Derek Jeter batted second most of the time when he was in his prime while he has been batting first the last three years when he has not been as good. Of course his nnumbers are going to look better.
Brian S. July 27, 2012 14:37
Jeter is great.
Zack Mcallister July 27, 2012 12:03
“The Yankees are awful at developing young pitchers”
Stating the obvious July 27, 2012 12:50
Zach looks like a retard anyway, looking like a retard is frowned upon by Randy Levine(preojection?) unless it’s hope week.
Don’t shoot the messanger the word retard would never come out of my mouth, that’s the verancualr of good old true Yankee Randy Levine.
Brian S. July 27, 2012 13:07
It’s a good thing Austin Kearns was so useful.
Zack Mcallister July 27, 2012 13:55
I added 5mph to my fastball when the Indans corrected my mechanics.
Peter Abraham July 27, 2012 12:57
I’m back for the weekened bitches.
Bruce Springtson on deck on the Ipad.
#yolo
Interested Reader July 27, 2012 14:37
Hey!
Col. John Matrix July 27, 2012 13:07
Clearly the Yankees didn’t acquire Ichiro thinking he was the .288 OBP hitter he has been for the past 12 months. They acquired him thinking that he was struggling to stay motivated on a terrible team after a Hall of Fame start to his career, and that he can be much better (maybe not as good as he was at his peak, mind you) playing for a team with something to play for and a real shot at the WS. Otherwise, why not just put Dewayne Wise in LF and call it a day?
You bat him leadoff and see how he does. If you catch lightning in a bottle, you want that bat at the top of the order a lot more than you want Jeter there, for sure. If he struggles, you drop him down to the lower part of the order. Seems pretty simple to me. And for those of you who don’t think Girardi will drop him in the order, he already has hit 8th two of the three games they’ve played, both vs. RH starters.
Respect Flanny July 27, 2012 14:41
Would anyone be shocked if Ichiro was actually pretty good getting out of Seattle?
96 Wins July 27, 2012 16:54
Find something else to whine about. He is batting 8th.
Horsedick dot MPEG July 27, 2012 20:05
I got a nice thick Vagiwrecker for that baconator broad.