The Yankees have no recourse but to stay with Anthony Volpe

For weeks now, Yank fans have grown increasingly uneasy about Anthony Volpe, the locally grown rookie SS, who now has his own personal in-game radio ad read by John  and Suzyn. ("... As Anthony Volpe steps up to the plate, you can step up to a plate of delicious pasta,at Volpe's Italian Restaurant in Fox Hollow, Long Island...") Hold the rigatoni! It might be the first one-player radio since Hideki Matsui's appearance summoned praise for the Benihana Steakhouse. 

The Yankee front office can't find pitching, but it sure knows how to monetize an asset. 

Yesterday, Volpe electrified the Yankiverse with an 8th-inning double, triggering a game-saving rally. It was magical. Now only did he rouse the crowd, but Volpe psyched out the Texas pitcher, prepping to steal third. On the bases, Volpe is one frigging spicy plate of pasta.

The problem: Getting there. Yesterday's double was Volpe's sole hit of the Rangers series. (He went 1-7, with two walks.) He's an enigma. He has yet to be thrown out stealing. He's sorta warm, hitting .258 the last two weeks. Overall, though, he's hitting .195.

He doesn't hit righties (.198) or lefties (.182). He doesn't hit at home (.197) or on the road (.191.) On a 2-2 count, he has yet to record a single hit. (33 times, 24 strikeouts.) With two strikes, his batting average is an anemic .106. Let's face it: Once he has two strikes on him, everybody in the crowd loses hope. He leads the Yankees in strikeouts.

Why go on? I know Volpe, you know Volpe, we all know Volpe. We also know that he's been the Yankee Chosen One - our designated future savior - for the last two years, when he lit up Single A and soared to the top of the team's prospects lists. We sat out two classes of star free agent shortstops, because he was on the way. 

But lately, there have been coded whispers. Last week, Jon Heyman of the Murdoch Post quoted two unnamed scouts who suggested that Volpe should go to Triple A and retool his swing. Sometimes, that's a double-secret trial balloon, a sign of what the front office is thinking, a warning to the player and the fans. 

Well, for now, anyway, scratch that option.

The reason: Oswald Peraza - our secondary can't-miss rookie SS - has disappeared. Peraza hasn't played since June 18, and the Yankees haven't said why. The Scranton Times-Herald beat writer Conor Foley has reported that the team is awaiting the results of "tests." Uh-oh. I don't think they mean pop quizzes.  

Peraza had been crushing Triple A: .292 with 11 HRs in 34 games. I think Heyman's story was a sign that the Yankees were ready to make a move. But if Peraza is hurt - well - so much for replacing Volpe. 

Playing SS for Scranton yesterday was 26-year-old Max Burt, a converted 3B who is hitting .261. Burt was filling in for Wilmer Difo, a 31-year-old banjo-hitting vagabond who has played for Washington, Pittsburgh and Arizona over the last decade. He's fast and can play defense, with a lifetime batting average of .250 (almost Ruthian, compared to Volpe, eh?) 

With due respect to Burt and Difo, our choice is probably Volpe or the scrap heap. If Volpe were to tweak a gonad tomorrow, we'd probably see Oswaldo Cabrera play SS for a few days, while Cooperstown Cashman works the waiver wires. 

So when Volpe steps up to the plate, you should step up to a plate - of hope. Because it's him or meatballs. It worked Sunday. Keep fingers crossed and your fork on stand by.