Girardi says “I need you at first base”

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi recently told Jason Giambi, “I need you at first base”. Strong words to a guy who has been a liability the past few seasons at first base and pretty much just can’t stay healthy. “I told him to be in the best shape he possibly could be,” Girardi said. “We need him to do a lot of different things, go from first to third, second to home, play some first base. That’s how you get the most out of people and he looked great. I’d like to see Jason be a productive offense and defensive player.” There’s many reasons why the Yankees need a healthy Giambi playing first, and playing it well.

1. First, it lets Hideki Matsui become the “full-time” Designated hitter. Matsui if his knee isn’t fully healthy is no longer able to play a full slate of games in left, he might not even be able to play half the games in left. His body is breaking down and by the looks of last season he needs as much rest as possible. If Giambi DH’s then the Yankees waste a bench spot on Matsui who can’t run a lick and doesn’t even have that much power anymore.
2. Giambi playing first almost guarantees Johnny Damon will be your starting left fielder and get to play in almost every game this season. Girardi fully expects to give Damon 600 plate appearances this season. To do that, you need Giambi playing first.
3. Lastly, Giambi is just better then every other option on the team at first. Look who his competition is, Shelley Duncan (not bad player, but was he a Kevin Maas or Shane Spencer one-hit wonder type?), Wilson Betemit, Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg. A healthy Giambi, may not be able to run but he’ll still hit you 30 homers. IF he could stay healthy.

Giambi and Damon both dedicated their off-seasons to getting in to better shape for the start of training camp. Giambi says he worked out 6 days a week with Mark Phillippe, a former World Strongest Man competitor and ex-UNLV strength and conditioning coach. “I worked six days a week,” Giambi said. “It kept me out of the nightclubs.” Makes me a little worried he still has to find something to keep himself busy that way he doesn’t go party instead.

It should be interesting at how this all pans out. I do think the team is MUCH better with Giambi at first base, it gives Girardi more versatility with his bench, and lets all the main bats still get their cuts.

You can check out another blog about the Yankees, with some tidbits.. The author tells you why he feels Hideki Matsui should NOT be a Yankees. Take a look here.

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Tags: MLB, Yankees