Gardening?

Scene;  Mustang trying to locate where he planted that veggie patch, two years back.  Distracted by illegally wired TV reception.

I hate to say it, but Brett Gardener has become a rotten head of lettuce, not unlike the head that Mustang is standing upon, above.

When he came up to the majors, Duque lauded the guy and, for several years, he was correct.  I always thought Brett was over-rated;  a guy who would hit .250 with little power.  A guy who would make his living on speed ( coverage in the outfield, stolen bases, infield hits, bunts ).

Even up until the all star break this year, Brett was hitting .300 and was a catalyst for Yankee runs.  And then August happened.

His defense remains good.  He does cover enormous ground, and usually catches the ball.  His arm is accurate, but no Jesse Barfield.  He can't bunt to save himself, and his base stealing skills are pedestrian.  Not  much for a .250 hitter ( and far worse in second half of season….he was hitting.300 at the all star break.  Do the math).

He gets into ruts where his at bats are predictable;  take strike one ( fastball down the center of the plate ….best pitch he'll see in the at bat).; foul off high and tight fastball….an unhittable pitch, and a bit out of the strike zone, for strike two;  here he may take a ball or two but, predictably, he will flail at a terrible pitch low, and off the outside of the plate.).  Strike three. How many times did he strike out last night.

HE IS OUR LEAD OFF HITTER….OUR STAGE SETTER…I MIGHT POINT OUT

He can no longer hit.  I never feel confident when he comes to bat.  He is an auto-out.  His strike out demoralized the team.  Jacoby, who was hitting just as poorly, watched with his $85 million contract from the bench.

While other teams are growing number crops, we are growing wilting lettuce.