Brett Gardner not focused on strike zone problems
Brett Gardner has not been pulling the right shots off his bat so far in the season. That aspect has many supporters concerned.
The club wants their outfielder to get going and that is one of the reasons why manager, Joe Girardi, is kicking the player down the batting order from a starter’s position against left–hand pitchers.
Derek Jeter was in action on April 17, 2011, against the Texas Rangers. However, Gardner found himself in the ninth against a right-handed pitcher.
"I didn't talk to [Girardi] about it, I don't need to talk to him about it", Gardner said prior to facing Alexi Ogando in the Yankees' series finale against the Rangers. "Wherever I'm hitting in the line up, I'm going to take the same approach out there.
It's just important for me to get things figured out, start getting on base for these guys and that's my game".
Gardner is currently 6-for-41 and his batting average is .146. Of his total hits 59.3% have been ground balls while 14.8% have been line drives. The player had seen the most pitches per plate appearance last year in the Major League. While his swings, this
year have come on 22.90% of the deliveries, the percentage posted last year was 18.20.
"He did it last year for us from time to time, and I didn't notice it affecting him last year", Girardi said, "But you don't really ever truly know how a guy thinks when they're put in a new position".
The skipper explained further that this is why the club thought to put the hitter down the order and get him going. If Gardner brings forth good numbers, the Yankees will eventually bring him back on top of the order.
The player alone confirms he is not feeling any pressure at the moment. The main problem he has noticed since hitting first has been his lower half. He has not been able to put it to good use and he believes that has made him fall short on hits.
He admits that he has been fouling the ball more often and he has been missing out on good swings from his bat.
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