Eric Chavez is back in the starting lineup tonight for the Yankees for the first time since May 5 when he fractured his foot. His DL stint has been quite long and problematic as he injured his back and had abdominal problems while healing. Prior to the DL Chavez was hitting .310 with the Yankees. Tonight he will return to the stadium playing third base in place of Eduardo Nunez who is getting the night off.
Chavez only played 7 games while rehabbing but by all accounts, hadn't lost his swing and is ready to go. He went 7 for 21 down in Class-A Tampa while rehabbing with a home run and a pair of doubles.
Since Chavez is being called up, the Yankees will need to send down Brandon Laird. There is no sense in having both Laird and Nunez on the team when they both are utility infielders. Laird wasn't with the team terribly long but did manage to get in a few games over the weekend and even had his first Major League RBI during this span. You can read more about Brandon Laird HERE
And here is tonight's starting lineup
Gardner LF
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Texeira 1B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Posada DH
Chavez 3B
Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena had an emergency appendectomy yesterday, following a strong performance in Toronto Sunday. It looks like Pena will be out at least 6 weeks for his ailment, which would put his return to approximately the same time period when Arod would return to the Yankees.
The Yankees called up Brandon Laird yesterday and although he was activated for last night's game, he did not arrive in Tampa until the middle innings. Laird has been a minor league prospect for a few years now and was the best option for a utility infielder as he is on the 40 man roster already. His numbers are not great in Triple-A this season as he is only batting .266, but since his terrible month of April he is hitting .294. Laird has been improving as the season progresses and in the month of July he already has 4 home runs. (10 on the season) He plays third base, first base and the corner outfield spots. He is probably best known as a third baseman though and that is where he will play on the Yankees behind Eduardo Nunez.
Girardi has said that Nunez will be the everyday third baseman and Laird will be the back-up. This gives the Yankees the option of resting Jeter at least one day a week and replacing him with Nunez while Laird gets some time at third base. Nunez has been doing well offensively lately and has 17 RBI's on the season - 9 of which have tied the game for the Yanks or given them the lead! He may not be the "clutch" batter that Jeter is, but Nunez is a worthwhile replacement.
