Granderson to be named CF, Gardner to Left

In a move that has been hinted at for weeks, Yankee manager Joe Girardi let the cat out of the bag yesterday in his pregame meting with the beat writers. He said there will be an official announcement made today. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News has the details. He writes:

TAMPA – Curtis Granderson is expected to be named the Yankees’ starting center fielder Thursday, officially making Brett Gardner a left fielder for the first time in his career.

Joe Girardi said he would speak with both this morning before making the announcement. Asked if yesterday’s lineup – with Granderson in center and Gardner in left – was any indication, Girardi said, “You can make an assumption.”

Since March 22, Granderson and Gardner have played the outfield together six times, with Granderson getting five of those starts in center. Granderson has made 663 of his 685 career starts in center, while Gardner has played center in 121 of his 138 career starts

This tells me that the Yanks still have doubts about Gardner’s bat. He hasn’t exactly lit it up this Spring, posting a .200/.281/.280 line with 6 walks in 56 PA. But Kevin Long is very bullish on Brett, so he’ll get a chance to lose the job in April and May. Fans may remember that’s what happened entering last season as well, and Melky Cabrera wrested the starting CF job from Gardner after a slow start. This year, he’ll have Randy Winn and Marcus Thames breathing down his neck.

BTW-3 days until Opening Day. It’s getting close.