A Non-Gambling Plea

The Locksmith is no fan of Joe Girardi.  He never has been but his dismay in the manager's apparent lack of ability to manage has reached a fever pitch over the past few months.  This is now only further enhanced by the recent spate of articles claiming Girardi a genius for intentionally not winning the American League East.  Those writers should forfeit their number 2 pencils post-haste.

The latest Girardi debacles have centered around his unwillingness to put any base runners in motion during the first two games of the Yanks-Rangers series.  In Game 1, when runs were tough to come by and post-season newbie CJ Wilson was ripe for some distraction, the two fastest Yankees both got on base in each of their first two plate appearances.  Granderson on first with Gardner up - not even a throw drawn to first base.  Gardner walks and moves Grandy up to second - again, no movement.  Two innings later.  Granderson on first - not a throw to first.  Gardner grounds into a force out.  Now Gardner on first with Jeter up - no movement.  Jeter rolls into DP.  Game 2 provided similar options with the same potential benefit of rattling an average pitcher in one of his most meaningful career starts.  Opportunity missed.  This lack of a running game is maddening on its own - but when juxtaposed with the Rangers stealing bases and runs at will - just ask Elvis Andrus - it is excruciating to watch. 

Game three and the rest of the series provides Girardi the opportunity to make a ballsy move and enhance the Yankee's chance for success.  Sure this will be a bit of a shake-up but it would be done for the right reasons - not the wrong ones (see Torre dropping ARod to 7th in the order because he couldn't hit).  The Locks suggests that Girardi flip-flop Mark Texeira and Robinson Cano in the batting order.  Cano is as hot as can be at the moment and you want your most dangerous hitter batting third to take advantage of scoring opportunities.  Too often in this series, Tex and ARod have ended rallies only to leave Robbie to lead off innings and his doubles and homers to lack maximum production.  Look, we love Tex.  Big, big Tex fan.  But right now, this line-up is more dangerous with Cano behind Jeter and Grandy/Swisher and ahead of ARod.  Tex can still do plenty of damage from the five hole - we're not suggesting benching the guy.

This would be a smart and gutsy move for Girardi to take advantage of Cano's hot bat.  I guess those are the two biggest reasons you won't see it happen.