Rodriguez stays in the No. 3 spot
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 10, 2012 
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So much for a lineup change….
Derek Jeter SS
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C
Eric Chavez 3B
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
GAME 3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
4:40-5:40 p.m. – Yankees batting practice
5:30 p.m. – Gates Open to the Public
5:40-6:30 p.m. – Orioles batting practice
7:14-7:24 p.m. – Baseline Introductions
7:24 p.m. – Giant American flag iuntroduction: West Point cadets
7:25 p.m. – Presentation of Colors: West Point Color Guard
7:26 p.m. – National Anthem: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (from Cherry Point, N.C.)
7:29 p.m. – Ceremonial first pitch
7:32 p.m. – Umpires and managers to home plate
7:35 p.m. – Yankees take the field
7:37 p.m. – First pitch
* Master sergeant Mary Kay Messenger will perform God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.
I’m surprised that Ibanez isn’t in the lineup because I had him penciled into my brain as ‘most likely to go nuts’ tonight, but I guess there’s no reason Chavez can’t do that too. And it’s probably about time that Chavez got a start. So I’m not really upset about that.
The rest is all re-shuffling the deck chairs. Yeah, we want to see Arod dropped a few spots, but Loyalist Joe is going to stick with him for at least one more game. Please let it work. And we’d like to see Cano hitting third and have Tex hitting behind him, but we lost on both of those. Please let Swisher relax and cash in on some of the opportunities that will surely come his way.
Does Ibanez PH late for Arod against a righty if Arod has been struggling? Now THAT would take some managerial backbone.
Wait.. if you move Arod to 3rd at any point in the game to pinch hit for Chavez… don’t you lose the DH?
Well If Arod doesn’t produce with guys on base in front of him while Cano keeps hitting then there’s gonna be hell to pay for Girardi tonight. You can’t pamper ego’s when there’s a season on the line…
Chavez is 3/6 against Gonzalez, and maybe having A-Rod DH will focus him at the plate more. Maybe I’m making this up, but didn’t he do pretty well as a DH early in the season?
And yeah, Ibanez has shown an ability to pinch hit. That could factor into it too.
A-Rod staying at 3 is totally strange.
Shame-
Yeah, you can’t move A-Rod to 3rd in that situation. You’d have to go with Nix or Nunez at 3rd to keep the DH.
If the DH moves into the field, you lose DH.
This is the one fault I have with Girardi is his loyalty to the players egos. To a point it’s a good thing but when it starts hurting the team’s success then it’s time to make a move, as long as your honest with the player then whomever it is has to suck it up and play team ball.
I feel this lack of a move is going to be the Yankees downfall, Cano needs some help around him, not the 2 worst hitters going right now.
I’d pinch hit Arod.
Tyler – That’s what I thought I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy thinking again.
We just have to win tonight and make this not matter. But if Girardi loses the DH because of another line up he created I’m gonna be annoyed. He better slide out Arod for Ibanez if that’s what the situation calls for, but under no circumstances can you sub for Chavez.
I would not counsel moving Arod to 3rd so as to PH for Chavez.
Good ol’ Girardi… faith til it’s too late.
Or maybe Joe “Day late and a dollar short” Girardi…
We have Nix as a backup INF
Is Girardi on drugs? Arod is still batting 3rd that’s fine. But why in the world is Swisher batting before Tex? That doesn’t make any sense. Tex has looked better and better and is starting to swing the bat. Swisher was awful in game 2 and can’t hit when it counts. It’s really insane and now Buck will pitch around Cano all game because he doesn’t have any protection.
I have a good feeling about Chavez tonight. Hopefully he’s not too rusty but I think he’s going to hit a homer tonight. Not so confident about my man Swish.
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Eric Chavez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Russell Martin C
Curtis Granderson CF
If you are playing these guys should have looked like this.
Right pitcher, let Ichiro hit and see if Jeter can do a little hit and run.
Everyone is on Arod but Granderson is a disaster right now, bat him ninth, no pressure, some speed at the bottom end
Swisher proved once again that he should be put in a pressure run producing spot in the post season right now. Fool me once, twice, how do you have him in front of Tex?
Tex given he is swinging the bat well should be third and have Cano as protection behind him. Lefty power bat in Yankees stadium against a righty pitcher.
And in such small sample sizes, while I like Chavez playing third tonight, I wouldn’t argue with starting Raul and keeping Chavez as a pinch hitter in a key spot.
I get it that he won’t move or remove Alex but Swisher is a different story – Raul should be there.
Swisher up 5th is insane.
Cano won’t see a good pitch all night.
Maybe in a big situation, Ibanez pinch hits for ARod. Chavez is a better defensive third baseman than aRod. So the defense tightens up a bit.
Um…
@realDonaldTrump
A-Rod must be dropped in the Yankees line-up tonight if they want to win. He simply can’t perform without drugs.
Lol. Figures
I hope Alex hits a big homer tonight
Great, the two guys who can’t hit the ball in the playoffs on either side of our best hitter. Joe is not putting the Yankees in the best position to win these games. Personally, I would have benched Swisher tonight.
Raul be seeing you. Hopefully, not in the bottom of the 9th when we’re behind.
RadioKev October 10th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
We have Nix as a backup INF
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Yeah but who wants Nix coming up late in the game?
Joe knows what the right moves are and goes with his loyalty and that scares me about him.
Sure he could prove us all wrong tonight and we could win in spite of him but that could be due to a well pitched game by Kuroda and a few timely hits.
But if Arod and Swish crap out again tonight they will both get booed like crazy.
Then we have Hughes tomorrow….
I would definitely put Ibanez in the lineup over Chavez. But of course Joey binder has to go by the numbers and such a small sample size. Ibanez has been swinging a hot bat and is clutch. Something that most of the guys in the lineup aren’t.
Cano never “sees good pitches”. No good hitters do. Who bats behind him in this lineup is irrelevant.
Worrying about “protecting” your 3 4 5 guy in the lineup is one of the most annoying an pointless practices around here. This is not pitching around an 8 hitter to get to a pitcher, this is pitching around a good hitter to get to another good hitter. No pitcher is excited about facing anyone in this lineup, no matter what your personal evaluation of the players is.
Game situation dictates who gets pitched around more often than anything else. Couldn’t you just sit here and claim that the Yankees should pitch around the entire Orioles lineup because it’s filled top to bottom with flawed hitters?
I think Arod will be ok to be honest, but the key thing here is a righty pitcher, Arod hasn’t been displaying power, by the famous Girardi book, you want a lefty hitter against a righty pitcher even if the guy has success. Tex’s is batting well in the series. Home run porch is in RF not LF. Other than hurting his ego and stubborness no way he couldn’t slot him in batting 5th and moving him is not like what Torre did that year.
I hope Alex hits a big homer tonight
One that clips the top of the wall and falls over will do me just fine Blake!
Ibanez is what Joe wants to do but he will not ruffle Swishers feathers…
blake October 10th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I hope Alex hits a big homer tonight
—
me too brother, so much hate for this guy its unreal,
Cano will see a lot of borderline pitches tonight.
Hope he shows some patience.
Real key to tonight’s game will be Kuroda keeping the ball in the park. Orioles starting Thome again, going for the lefties. Lineup tonight for them is very strikeout and power heavy. Not a bunch of singles hitters with speed.
Cano never “sees good pitches”. No good hitters do. Who bats behind him in this lineup is irrelevant.
=============
That comment is irrelevant.
Mark Feinsand ?@BloggingBombers
Girardi said Phil Hughes will start Game 4 regardless of whether the Yankees win or lose tonight.
———-
Right move in my opinion.
Hughes may start, but would definitely have a short leash which is fine. You would see Phelps very quickly I imagine if he started to falter.
Same as tonight, Hughes will need to keep the ball in the park tomorrow. It won’t be a string of hits that will hurt him, it will be if he serves up homers.
It’s not a small sample size to say Swisher stinks in the clutch, yet he bats 5th?
Tex should be up 5th, Swisher should not be playing.
Period.
Girardi is hopeless, period.
Arod may go yard twice tonight but it doesn’t change the thought process…
Armando Benitez to throw the ceremonial first pitch, right into Tino’s back again. This reborn rivalry needs a good benches clearing incident, in order for it to last
Now that the lineups are posted, has Grandy K’ed yet?
CountryClub October 10th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Mark Feinsand ?@BloggingBombers
Girardi said Phil Hughes will start Game 4 regardless of whether the Yankees win or lose tonight.
———-
Right move in my opinion.
——————-
Absolutely. We just need to win tonight. For a lot of reasons.
1) Its a 5 game set.
2) KURODA is pitching.
3) I will be at the game.
4) Shame Spencer’s dad will be at the game.
And what is the purpose of batting Chavez 9th?
To not hurt Grandy’s feelings?
Buck will school Girardi tonight…
He didn’t go by the binder tonight, he went with his loyalty, but then again, he can do what he wants, he has carte blanche and will be back next year no matter what happens.
It’s good to see I’d posting again… Welcome back
Well… As Bo knows, correctly says, we got here with this team, they are the ones that will have to take us to Nirvana.
Girardi said Phil Hughes will start Game 4 regardless of whether the Yankees win or lose tonight.
===================
Spite?
Why mention the lose or not part?
I meant to say I am happy to see the poster Irreverent Discourse posting again.
The last few games Granderson has been the worst (looks completely lost against lefties again) followed by Swisher (at least walking) and then Arod (still good at bats, robbed of the hit the last game – still bothering me he can’t hit fastballs down the middle and pitchers seem ok with challenging him
MG,
I feel ya…. He is hopeless.
I don’t know what the issue is with Hughes pitching tomorrow, he was 11-4 with a 3.74 ERA at home this year and has pitched OK against the O’s this year.
Managers should always have a quick hook in the playoffs when a starter doesn’t have it, if Hughes is not throwing the ball well take him out but Phelps is no guarantee either in spite of his Lohud legend status.
The lineup, for me, is problematic-I have no clue why you bat a guy 5th who has K’ed 83% of the time against a pitcher (small sample) and Arod in the 3 hole while you have a guy that has handled Gonzalez batting 9th.
I hope the Yankees score 12 runs tonight with 5 bombs and win a laugher and don’t wind up losing a close game because Girardi is so stubborn and inflexible.
From Mark Simons article on ESPN…
Interesting notes on Gonzalez:
Gonzalez was 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his last 10 starts. In 65 innings, he allowed only four home runs.
Has not allowed a HR to a lefty since July 30
Lefties are hitting .229 against Gonzalez in his last 10 starts.
And on Arod:
Since September 7 (including the first two games of this series), Rodriguez has seen 211 pitches on the outer-third of the plate, or off the outside corner.
Those 211 have resulted in 28 outs, six walks, and only two hits, both singles.
Narrow that even further to the 82 pitches that have been on the outside corner.
Those have resulted in 18 outs and just one measly hit.
I would have dropped Alex down…..but that decision shouldn’t cost them the game….everyone ha to hit no matter where they are in the lineup
It’s the playoffs, Swisher hasn’t shown up yet in a Yankee uniform in the playoffs.. Don’t forget Granderson hasn’t shown up either, but that’s a season long issue.
If the Yankees lose a close one tonight, what is the over/under on elapsed time in the press conference before Sherman and Girardi have a skirmish?
In a perfect world, the Yanks win tonight & tomorrow and the Tigers lose tonight. That would mean Verlander pitches game 5 and CC is lined up for game 1 of ALCS.
I also would have dropped Alex, but he’s not the only hole in the lineup…
Granderson
Swisher
luis – I come and go, I don’t have the energy to play public defender all day anymore
Moving A-Rod down in the lineup can certainly be justified… but is it really going to make that much of a difference? No one even blinked about Pettitte in game 2 because of his track record, and that’s what is keeping A-Rod where he is in the lineup.
I agree that it is depressing to see him get owned on so many fat pitches, but he has also had his share of bad luck on batted balls this postseason so far (what else is new).
blake @ 4:10; well said.
IIRC Reynolds has done most damage vs NYY this year. With Flahrety behind him, I wouldn’t give him anything to hit.
If the Yankees lose a close one tonight, what is the over/under on elapsed time in the press conference before Sherman and Girardi have a skirmish?
===================
Depends who asks the 1st question, him or Wally Matthews.
Joey binder isn’t going to “bench” anyone so there isn’t any point in talking about it. But batting Swisher 5th really doesn’t make any sense. How do you not give your best hitter any protection in the lineup? Swisher admitted that he gets too worked up in these games and can’t control his emotions. That isn’t who you want batting 5th. It’s really annoying that he puts feelings over trying to win a game.
ID makes good sense… I’m more wigged out by the losing the DH scenario. I wouldn’t be… if Girardi hadn’t done that before lol. Makes me think he might again.
The solution: score a lot. Early.
BryanHoch Girardi believing in A-Rod by keeping him third. “It’s definitely in there, we’ve just got to get it to come out.”
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What does this mean, that Arod can’t ‘get it to come out’ if he bats anywhere but the 3 hole?
So if he bats 6th tonight and hits 2 bombs the Yankees don’t win the game?
What is more likely, that Cano in the 3 hole knocks in Jeter and Ichiro or Arod does that?
These Girardi comments are such bs it defies comprehension.
Sherman just asked Joe who he speaks to before making a lineup.
If you lose the DH, you just pinch hit for the pitcher.
Girardi no guts sick of him no heart for his sake Arod better come through
I would have dropped Alex down
————-
Even if he batted Arod 8th you can guarantee that the big at bats would find him in the game. It seems like the big spots always find you no matter where you are. As we have seen from the last couple of years either he hits or they go home. How about everyone steps up instead of everyone blaming one person. Where is Granderson?
mick October 10th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Sherman just asked Joe who he speaks to before making a lineup.
——————————-
and the answer is:
‘Joel, you know I’m not going to answer that, ask questions about the game tonight, not about stuff that doesn’t have an answer. I have a great background in baseball and never made an out batting 3rd, did you know that? Just a minute, let me get my wife and kids around me so I can complain about these questions while I’m with my family”
Shame, if the Yanks lose the DH tonight*, I’ll send you a bag of those precious Tate’s cookies, ow does that sound? I really think that’s low on the list of dangers this evening. If Girardi pulls Chavez for a PH or PR, you’ll see Nix playing 3rd base in the next inning.
*Pitcher has to appear at the plate or offer is No Action.
mick October 10th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
If you lose the DH, you just pinch hit for the pitcher.
—————–
Tonight is pretty much a must win for the Yanks. I don’t trust Hughes at all in YS against a homerun hitting team. Buck will most likely pitch Saunders and he will have another smoke and mirrors game.
Wow. Never heard so much negativity in my life as I did during Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference. It’s like the Yankees have lost already and A-Rod went 0-5. Sure hope it acts as a gee-up for the players tonight and they come out determined to prove the critics (including me at times!) wrong.
Nick – Hey, a bet where I don’t need to give anything up but could gain a bag of Tates? I’m down!
Normally I’d never think of anything like losing the DH, because I’d be like ‘how could a manager in an AL game do something so silly..’ but it did happen before. I think you’re right and he might PH for Chavez and then put Nix at 3B the following inning.. but things might get interesting if the game continues.
My hope: A blow out by the 3rd inning that makes all this talk sound as silly as it would be to lose the DH.
At the end of the day Girardi makes out the line-up card, he is the one who is accountable for putting the players in the best position to succeed.
At the end of the day, the players, all of them, are the ones who are accountable to get the job done, regardless of where they hit. Period. BTW that includes the favorite sons, like Cano and Jeter, not just the punching bags; Swisher and Arod.
As usual, the outcome of this game will be decided by the Yankee offense and I think they will step up.
I still go with my pick Yankees win 5-2.
someone wrote Girardi has not guts: He must have to go against the collective wisdom on board here.
PH has pitched about same # of innings home and away this year. Even though he has given up about 2/3 of his HR at home, most of his other #s (ERA, BAA etc.) are much better at YS. He and Hiro are both better at home.
Granderson was exceptional in the playoffs in 2010. He was decent last year and saved one game with his glove. To say he has not showed up in the postseason is inaccurate.
I still think Grandy delivers a big hit or two. Unlike Swisher, Grandy is not overwhelmed by the moment. His issues are mechanical, not mental.
Good point, Barry. Maybe sticking with Arod batting 3rd is the gutsy call?
Alex is getting a lot of heat, but he scorched the ball during his first two at bats in Game 2. It’s a matchup thing with ARod. He needs to figure out how to hit ODay and Jim Johnson. He has looked terrible against those guys.
If Swish grips like I fully expect during his first two plate appearances, it will be interesting to see whether Girardi pinch hits Ibanez for Swisher with runners on during the late innings. That scenario is quite possible, if Showalter walks Cano late in the game.
Swisher was the choice to sit. He’s 0-6 with 5Ks against Gonzalez. Ibanez is 2-6 with a HR. Girardi doesn’t have to say its permanent – it’s just a matchup.
“Nick – Hey, a bet where I don’t need to give anything up but could gain a bag of Tates? I’m down!”
You don’t have to send me anything, but you should make full use of the ‘oops’ emoticon in the post-game thread after you get home.
Best record in the American League, hmmm, some one must have gotten a hit or two along the way, and some of the managerial decisions must have been OK, but if you guys say we suck, it must be so. One loss, fercrissakes, and the place goes ballistic. Let’s go Yanks, led by Arod and Swisher, and win this damned series. Tired of hearing why it can’t happen.
Joe girardi costs us a lot of games! Both by his actions and his inability to have respect from the players he manages. Nobody on this team respects Girardi and he lets them do what every they want while being to afraid of upsetting someone by moving them in the lineup. Jeter saying, “Mr. Torre” is missed.
Lastly , the negativity is not just about this series. It stems from multiple years of the same failing and as a result the fans are voicing concerns instead of being blinded by backs of baseball cards and Pollyanna rhetoric.
I give up on Girardi.
Hopefully certain misplaced players buck trends and bail his ass out.
I don’t love Girardi having A-Rod hit 3rd tonight, but the comments implying (or outright stating) that he’s clueless are just absurd.
Since he got the job, the guy has managed the Yankees to more wins than any team in baseball. During that time the team has scored more runs, put more people on base, and out-slugged every other team in the majors. What’s more, he’s managed the bull pen to the third best ERA in the league over the same period.
You might not love some of his decisions and we’re all free to call him out on those, but to call him incompetent or an idiot for choosing to bat A-Rod 3rd is pathetic.
Alex is going yard tonight
And stop calling him Binder, he clearly doesn’t use it.
blake,
And so is Swisher.
all you have to know about Swisher in the playoffs (when it really counts)
.169…22 hits in 130 AB’s
7 RBI’s in those 13 AB’s
Swisher feasts on bad pitching in the reg season and when the pitching gets better in the playoffs he’ all done..
blake,
And so is Swisher.”
That’d be awesome
forgot the 0 after the 13
Carpenter is a beast
joeman,
Forget about everything. They’re playing a game tonight. We’ll win.
The RAB article makes Gonzalez sound even tougher than I remember. It also makes me think right handers have a better chance. Gonzalez’ CU has a 42% swing and miss rate. That is ridiculous.
Kuroda better pitch very well. Scoring may be very tough.
I would have moved AROD down, but I am of the rearrange the deck chair theory.
tomingeorgia October 10th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
joeman,
Forget about everything. They’re playing a game tonight. We’ll win.
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I hope so but it will be without Swisher’s help
Let’s go Yanks, led by Arod and Swisher, and win this damned series. Tired of hearing why it can’t happen.
——————
Thank you Tom. A sane voice in the wilderness.