Mark Texeira is known for his slow offensive starts to a season, but last year was very different. In 2010 Texeira batted a career low .256. The only month he batted over .300 was in July when he had a great month and hit .344. The other months ranged from .136 in April to .289 in August. Needless to say, Texeira looked pretty awful last year. His redemption last year was the gold glove award.
Throughout all the troubles Texeira had last year, Girardi never moved him from the #3 spot. Hopefully we will see a change in Texeira this year, but just in case we don’t, I think it would be fair to move him out of the #3 spot. In his place I would have Robinson Cano hitting third. Cano is coming off his best year yet and shows even more promise for the coming season. Reports from the offseason about Cano indicated that he was working out all winter long in the Domican Republic along with Francisco Cervelli.
Last year Cano batted .319 with a .381 on base percentage and a career high slugging percentage of .534. Overall Cano’s numbers get better and better each year. There is no longer any reason for Cano to bat #5. When was the last time a player with the best batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage for any team batted fifth? Although I’m sure the guys at Elias could shed some light on that stat, it makes very little sense. Especially when the #3 batter only hit .256, and looked downright lost for easily half the season. It’s time for Girardi to make the move and allow Cano more at bats to help the team’s offensive numbers.
As much as I love Texeira and I truly believe he will make a dramatic change in his offensive numbers this season, Girardi needs to man up and and tell Texeira that he is bumped from the #3 spot. Allowing a struggling slugger to bat third only costs the team much needed runs.
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