Geez, Joe, whaddya think? Derek third, A-Rod fourth, and Giambi fifth? Or Derek second, A-Rod third, Giambi fourth, and Posada fifth? Sounds good, but then who’s gonna tell Sheffield he’s batting sixth?
And then there’s Matsui. Isn’t there an entire nation that thinks its man should be occupying a prime spot in your order, not batting seventh? Which leaves Bernie– omigod, it can’t be– eighth?
Lou Piniella doesn’t have these problems. Terry Francona doesn’t even have these problems.
At least Joe Torre knows who’s batting ninth (the second baseman, whoever that will be). And who’s batting first (center fielder Kenny Lofton).
Now that all this Yankees-Rangers business is true, and Alfonso Soriano is off to Texas and Alex Rodriguez heading to New York, the Yankees have a lot of options for their everyday lineup.