Coming into the stretch, would you put Mark Reynolds (pictured above) in the lineup, or Lyle Overbay?[/caption]There's no denying two things:
1) Mark Reynolds is carrying a hot bat into this Baltimore Orioles series, having three hits last night and simply demolished the Toronto Blue Jays; going 5-for-8 in his two games.
2) Lyle Overbay is seriously struggling coming into this series He hasn't had a hit since August 18 vs. the Boston Red Sox.
The way that it was designed since the New York Yankees had picked up Mark Reynolds was simple; Reynolds will hit vs. LHP and Lyle Overbay will hit vs. RHP. However, the stakes are high and the times have changed. The Yankees are fighting for the final WC spot (along with the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics). They need the hottest bats in the lineup. They need Mark Reynolds. Reynolds is slowly forming back into his April form, hitting .319 in August. after having a sluggish May-July which ultimately caused him to lose his job with the Indians. Lyle Overbay however is hitting .231 in August and is 0-for his last-15.
If I'm the manager of the Yankees, Reynolds would be in the lineup today over Overbay. I like Lyle Overbay, I do--but this is a time where people's feelings can't get hurt. If you're not producing whether on the mound or at the plate, you're either getting pulled early or you're not getting the start. It's as simple as that. Right now, Overbay wouldn't get the start; Reynolds would. It sounds mean and sounds cruel but looking at numbers, that's how it would have to be done if the Yankees want to keep their playoff hopes alive. So take your pick, would you take Mark Reynolds...or Lyle Overbay going forward in this stretch?
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)