Playoff Predictions : The Lineup

VS LHP

1 - Derek Jeter (R)

2 - Ichiro Suzuki (L)

3 - Alex Rodriguez (R)

4 - Robinson Cano (L)

5 - Mark Teixeira (S)

6 - Nick Swisher (S)

7 - Curtis Granderson (L)

8 - Russell Martin (R)

9 - Chris Dickerson (L)

VS RHP

1 - Derek Jeter (R)

2 - Ichiro Suzuki (L)

3 - Alex Rodriguez (R)

4 - Robinson Cano (L)

5 - Mark Teixeira (S)

6 - Nick Swisher (S)

7 - Curtis Granderson (L)

8 - Russell Martin (R)

9 - Chris Dickerson (L)

No real surprises except for Alex Rodriguez in the 3rd spot and not in the clean up spot. I know a lot of people out there think that your "best" hitter absolutely needs to be in the 3 spot in the lineup but I totally disagree with that. You, in my opinion, use your best hitter in the clean up spot and give massive protection to a "lesser" guy batting in the 3rd spot. Let's face it Alex Rodriguez is getting old and obviously deep in decline, especially in the power department. With Robinson Cano, rather then a .250 hitting Mark Teixeira, batting behind him  and these obvious signs of decline he is going to see a ton of fastballs. Alex can still catch up to a fastball and I think we get the most out of A Rod with him batting there. Also I am kind of a sucker for the whole L,R,L,R,L,R thing in a lineup.

* Note these are what I would personally do more-so then what I think Joe Girardi will do. Unfortunately you will not see much of Chris Dickerson and more of Andruw Jones, Eric Chavez, and Raul Ibanez.