All season we knew that Ryan was a much better fielder than Jeter but first Ryan was hurt, then when he played he didn't hit as much as Jeter. Ryan filled in, mostly at second for Brian Roberts who was sent away when Drew joined the team. Drew had never played second base but is being asked to learn the position with two months remaining in the season and to be the regular second baseman.
Drew was not hitting in Boston, probably because he missed spring training and the beginning of the season waiting to sign a contract. Now that he is expected to play every day, what is the logic of having him play second and not short?
The only explanation is that Yankee management is afraid to move Jeter with two months left in his career and Jeter is too selfish or stubborn or oblivious to ask to be moved. Take your pick.
So, is Cashman really that dumb that he does not see that Drew is a much better fielding shortstop than Jeter? Moving Jeter to second is the same as moving Drew: neither has played second in his major league career.
Or is Cashman Machiavellian and trying to force the issue and possibly exert his control over someone like team president Randy Levine?
Either way the Yankees are treating this more like entertainment than competition. If the Yankees really want to qualify for the 2014 tournament and make a legitimate run, they need to play the best players at the positions where they will do the most good. Clearly that would mean Jeter at second and Drew at short.
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| Stephen Drew June 16, 2013 by Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons |
1 comment:
Well, I guess that if you are going to ask one of the two to change positions, it might make more sense to ask the 31-year old to do it than the 40-year old. Nine years does make a difference, and it's not like the Yankees haven't done this before. When A-Rod joined the team, he was clearly the better defensive shortstop, but he moved over to third base in deference to Jeter.
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