Jason Giambi: A Force for the New York Yankees

.  A-Rod certainly is not having the same April he had last year without a constant Giambi behind him in the line up.      

Giambi was batting fifth last year during A-Rod's record breaking April.  Rodriguez was able to accomplish this feat because pitchers weren’t going to throw to the threat behind him.  And you can’t walk two in a row.  It is because Giambi is a threat, every time he steps up to the plate.  Pitchers are very careful with him, so careful that he has led the league in walks.  

Last year (Giambi’s stats) , while missing half the season with injuries, he still had 40 walks, 14 Home Runs, and 60 hits in only 83 games. A mere half of a season.  In 2006 he finished 14^th in MVP votes, had 110 walks in 139 games, and only hit 253, but had 37 Home Runs with 113 RBI.  In 2005 he finished 18^th in MVP votes in only 139 games had 32 home runs, and was walked 110 times.  He was also named Comeback Player of the Year, and missed more than 20 games.  In 2004 he was diagnosed with a benign tumor.  In 80 games he had 12 home runs, 33 runs, and 40 RBI, with a tumor.  He was named as an All Star.  He only played half of the season, imagine what he would have done if healthy.

 The threat:  walks, hit by pitch, home runs, runs scored, RBI, and "Forced Pitches for A-Rod". 

This year he has 14 walks already, but you won’t hear that on ESPN. You’ll just hear he is 11 for 59, hitting 186.  Other teams play that funny looking defense against him, leaving third base wide open.  Is it because Giambi can’t hit, or is it because Giambi is a feared hitter?  If he continues to be pitched around, then the batter ahead of him (A-Rod) will get forced pitches to hit.  Going on his stats and his good eye, if he is pitched to then he will  hit the ball (out), score and get RBIs, or get walked.  Look out because he is healthy this year, and touting “I have been running a lot, and lost weight.  I feel great, and am like a cat out there.”

Was David Ortiz moved from batting third after a slow start? No he wasn’t, and he is now en-route to becoming the Papi of old.  With what has been the root of the Yankees 2 consecutive post seasons woes (the offense) Jason Giambi should remain playing, and should be in the same spot as last year. Fifth, or maybe even third.  It’s all about Giambi.  His HR’s, RBIs and runs scored tell the tale of a power offense. 

Unless the Yankees want the pitcher to be able to walk A-Rod, and pitch to whoever is in the 5 spot, Giambi can be used to "force strikes."  As it were, Giambi is a threat every time he is at the plate as made evident by that funny defense, and the number of walks he gets.  Jason can turn the game around with one swing.  Judging by the Cleveland game, April 25^th, he can do it consecutively.  When Giambi is at the plate, one swing is all he needs.  That is a threat.

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