For Games 1 and 2 at least, McKeon doesn't have to leaving any of his regulars out of the lineup. He plans to leave Miguel Cabrera in right field and use Juan Encarnacion as a designated hitter.

 

To get Mike Lowell back in the batting order, McKeon sat Encarnacion for Game 4 and moved Cabrera to right, where he's played flawlessly.

 

"He showed [Wednesday]night he is an athlete, and he is capable of doing what we need," McKeon said. "He can do the job. He can play anywhere. Put him at second, he could probably play there. He just handles himself like an athlete. He's like [Albert] Pujols."

 

Encarnacion has been playing out there a long time & probably gets a better early read on balls and is a faster runner if he needs to run down a ball.

 

Not to knock Cabs, he's been perfect out there, I'm just not sure how you make that decision?

 

I would have Conine or Cabs as the DH. Cabs and Enc would give you two terrific arms in the corners. Hard to go wrong with any of these guys I guess, but I disagree in this case. It's a no-doubter IMO.

I agree.

How 'bout Conine as DH?

i actually thought it would be Cabs playing 3rd, or LF while Conine or Lowell DH. but i was sure Encarnacion would be playing RF no matter what

Maybe for versatility? Because Cabrera can play the infield, you could move him around if necessary. If you start him as the DH, you can't move him into the field without losing your DH rights for the rest of the game.

 

I'm just guessing though. I'd probably start Cabs or Conine as DH if it was up to me. But everything McKeon has done has worked, even when it hasn't seemed right at the time.

Encarnacion's one of the better defensive right fielders in baseball. no errors all season? terrific arm?

 

I would not DH Lowell, I want him at 3B. But Conine or Cabs would make more sense to me...

Nevermind, question answered. Like 83Gator said....

 

"You have Encarnacion on the bench now," McKeon said. "He wants to play. You see which way is the best way to go now ... Cabrera [can be]a DH too, but if you have him as DH and you want to use him in the field, you lose the DH. In other words, what if I want to pinch-run for Lowell and I want to put Cabrera at third? Then I'd lose the DH."

In today's newpaper they had Conine or Cabrera playing LF/DH and Encarnacion in RF

The whole thing has to do with Jack desire to pull off a double switch when neccessary WITHOUT having to lose Conine, Cabrera or Lowell's bat from the lineup to accomplish it.

 

Cabrera can't for example, play third (if he's DHing) if Jack wants to pinch-run for Lowell in the later innings. Theres lots of permutations based on possible double-switches Jack may opt to make.

yes! conine will DH tonight. the perfect move, since there wouldn't be a need to pinch-run for cabrera in the first place. there was no reason to DH with enc or cabrera in the first place

I have said that Cabrera should DH and Conine should be in playing in leftfield. There has already been an example tonight as why Conine should be playing the field. I don't know what Trader was thinking,Cabrera is a rookie who often makes mistakes in the defensivley.

I have said that Cabrera should DH and Conine should be in playing in leftfield. There has already been an example tonight as why Conine should be playing the field. I don't know what Trader was thinking,Cabrera is a rookie who often makes mistakes in the defensivley.

To my understanding the reason Cabrera is playing LF is because he is so versatile, and if he DH's we aren't able to use that versatility if we have to make a move later in the game.

Totally agree with the posters who say that Conine's defense earns him the LF spot over Cabrera for the first 2 games.

What sort of late-inning move are we talking about that would justify Cabrera in LF? The only conceivable move would be hitting Hollandsworth for Sea Bass, then needing a SS.

The answer to that is the same answer to PRing for Lowell -- Mordecai. He can field 3B and SS adequately enough to not worry about where Cabrera & Conine are.

 

Starting in G3 when we have to bench someone again, it looks like Cabrera should be at SS over Sea Bass. That way, we keep Lowell, Conine and Encarnacion in there, too and give Gonzalez a chance to think about his woeful hitting.

I have said that Cabrera should DH and Conine should be in playing in leftfield. There has already been an example tonight as why Conine should be playing the field. I don't know what Trader was thinking,Cabrera is a rookie who often makes mistakes in the defensivley.

To my understanding the reason Cabrera is playing LF is because he is so versatile, and if he DH's we aren't able to use that versatility if we have to make a move later in the game. Who cares about versatility? They are in an AL park with the DH. It's not like they'll need him to move in order to accomodate a double switch or something.

 

Tonite's misplay by Cabs in RF just reinforced the point, he should be DH'ed.

yea, that was pretty bad but supposedly 9er is a little sore from his weird slide into 1st in ChiTown last week

Gotta disagree with you all on this one. Cabs SHOULD be in LF. One, as Ramp pointed out, Conine made a wierd slide into 1st against Cubs on Thursday. Second, Cabs is more versatile and can be moved around if needed later in the game. And finally (that would be third...), Lf at Yankee Stadium is very spacious - and Cabs has better range than Conine.

 

That said, tomorrow, maybe Conine goes back to LF...

I have said that Cabrera should DH and Conine should be in playing in leftfield. There has already been an example tonight as why Conine should be playing the field. I don't know what Trader was thinking,Cabrera is a rookie who often makes mistakes in the defensivley.

To my understanding the reason Cabrera is playing LF is because he is so versatile, and if he DH's we aren't able to use that versatility if we have to make a move later in the game. Who cares about versatility? They are in an AL park with the DH. It's not like they'll need him to move in order to accomodate a double switch or something.

 

Tonite's misplay by Cabs in RF just reinforced the point, he should be DH'ed. I agree, but I heard on baseball tonight that was the reason. There's one situation I can see having Cabrera in the game that would help us in the game. Say we're behind by a run or 2 and we need a big hit and Sea Bass is up, you pinch hit hollandsworth put him in left and move Cabrera to short.

Who cares about versatility? They are in an AL park with the DH. It's not like they'll need him to move in order to accomodate a double switch or something.

 

Tonite's misplay by Cabs in RF just reinforced the point, he should be DH'ed.

Double-switched are not why you keep the versitile guy in the field. Injury and pinch-running are the things you need to cover for in an AL park.

 

Conine is DHing because: 1) He's done it before, 2) He banged up his knee and 3) We may want to pinch-run for Lowell.

Exactly.

 

Getting off the possible late-inning moves. You have to remember the 7 innings before that are just as important.

The DH is a tricky position to play (sic.) You're sitting there in the dugout watching the game. You get out of your rhythm. You find it hard to concentrate on the game. You lose a step. You lose some bat speed.

It's not the position you want an anxious rookie (Cabrera) in. Or a guy with a recent hand injury (Lowell.) Or a guy already in a slump (Encarnacion.) Or a guy that sucks (Hollandsworth.) Conine is a veteran that won't let the thing get to him. We saw that last night when he used his time in the dugout to study the umpire's odd strike zone. And to give advice to McKeon on a team he has played against often. It paid off well. And helped him rest his tired legs too.

 

MCKEON CAN DO NO WRONG!

I cant understand why Enc/9ner are not in the OF with Cabs DH but thats the way it is and Jack is doing fine.