All Things Bubba

Brett Gardner is apparently the Yanks' starting LFer while Damon and Matsui are ailing. He hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the 10th, winning the game for the Yanks.

He's got such good speed I think I'd rather see him in CF and Melky in LF. But I suppose that might make Melky unhappy. As it is, Melky seemed rather possessive tonight, trying to call Gardner off a ball that was clearly the left fielder's.

He does have a good eye. Down 0-2 to Papelbon, he kept fouling off balls, finally getting Papelbon to throw his third best pitch on the 8th pitch of the at-bat. Gardner smacked it up the middle, Cano scored from 2B, and it was game over.

Dunno if young Gardner will stick, but tonight, he was player of the game.

Former Yankee Wil Nieves came up for the Nats today in a similar situation. Like Gardner, he saw eight pitchers off the other team's closer. But he struck out, and the Nats fell to the Reds.

At least he got into the game. Andy Phillips was stuck on the bench. Again.