interesting stuff. hope it works out:

Yanks name Jeter their leadoff hitter
Captain has been batting in top spot since last week
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees used Derek Jeter as their leadoff hitter again on Wednesday, and manager Joe Girardi said that he plans to keep the shortstop hitting there when the regular season begins.


In six of New York's last seven Grapefruit League games, Jeter has batted first and Johnny Damon has batted second, a swap that Girardi made for the first time on March 26.

The change is the result of an arrangement that Girardi liked when the Yankees were batting Jorge Posada leadoff to get extra at-bats as he comes back from right shoulder surgery, showcasing Damon's potential productivity in the two-hole.

"The only difference is that your first at-bat, there's no chance of anybody being on base," Jeter said last week. "That's pretty much the only difference. The situation dictates -- whether you're hitting first, second, third or fourth -- there's still ways to win games. I don't think it makes any difference."

Jeter is a career .315 (589-for-1,867) hitter batting leadoff, with 56 home runs, 215 RBIs and a .389 on-base percentage. Damon last hit second in the lineup with more than 50 at-bats for the 2002 Red Sox, batting .321 (50-for-156), with three home runs, 15 RBIs and a .384 on-base percentage in 38 games.

"I'm OK with it if it makes our team better," Damon said last week. "We know Derek's on-base percentage is a bit higher than mine. Hopefully, we can tinker with this thing, and my production in the two-hole could increase with someone on base quite a bit."

Jeter's not really as great of a base running threat these days... i prefer Damon in the leadoff spot & Jeter in the 2 hole personally, unless Joe's trying to cut down on Jeter's inning killing GIDP's, which he's been doing more & more of lately.

he's definitely lost a few steps... i remember him beating out slow grounders w/regularity but these days his speed is pretty average... what he's lost in speed he can try & make up for w/his great baserunning instincts, but that only really helps when he's going from 1st to 3rd, or to score on a ball in the gap... going from station to station he's still gotta rely on his speed, & w/his advancing age it's just not there anymore like it used to be.

i dunno how well it's been working in Spring Training but i try not to invest too much in ST games other than scouting how our pitchers are throwing the ball... i really hope Jeter has a great season this year because last season was a pretty down season for him offensively & defensively even tho he did bat .300... it was only 2 years ago that he had an MVP calibre season so hopefully he's still got some of that old magic left in his tank.

1 tiny criticism... i miss the bright royal blue colored walls... not really feeling the dark navy (even tho it's our team color), it makes the stadium seem dark & gloomy... the bright blue against the green grass & red/brown dirt was a nice combo for the eye colorwise.

Posted by VDesai:

I agree. I think the blue is a bit to dark. Its almost so dark that it looks like its indoors (in a dome) on TV.

well we are the evil empire...welcome to the darkside fellas.

CC's wild to start off the 1st... come on dude, get it together!

Gardner's speed already paying dividends... slap opposite way hit to get on 1st, hit & run basehit by Jeter through the open slot at SS while he's covering 2nd, Gardner goes to 3rd, & scores on a sac fly by Damon.

1-0 Yanks.

Hmmm, Yankees look like they're pressing in a big spot. Shocker.

This team seems like it hasn't had "onions" for years now.

GREAT PLAY by Gardner in CF doubling up on the runner at home trying to score on the fly out... Albaledejo gets out of the bases loaded jam w/o allowing another run.

Cano scores on a Nady double... rally time! 6-3, 0 outs in the 6th.

2 run HR Matsui in the 7th... 6-5

[Edited by - TMS on 04-06-2009 3:52 PM]