Don’t you love titles that tell you exactly what you want to know about someone? That’s what I hate titles such as executive vice president or consultant. You have to add way more context from there to know anything about the person.
For the above reason, the designated hitter is great. You know everything right there. Someone is designated just to hit, to do nothing but hit. No fielding necessary. Therefore, you’d think it’d be one of your best hitters.
Well, for the second time in a week, the Yankees are going to have Mike Ford DH and bat ninth. Wait, what? It’s not like Ford is a speedster, a second leadoff type (though he batted first plenty in Scranton). He’s a ground-bound first base type and here is, designated as both a hitter and the last man in the lineup.
Anyway, here’s tonight’s lineup, featuring that fun but weird setup:
Yankees (83-44)
- DJ LeMahieu, 1B
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Gary Sanchez, C
- Gio Urshela, 3B
- Didi Gregorius, SS
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Mike Tauchman, CF
- Cameron Maybin, LF
- Mike Ford DH
LHP J.A. Happ
Athletics (72-53)
- Marcus Semien, SS
- Matt Chapman, 3B
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Mark Canha, CF
- Chad Pinder, LF
- Stephen Piscotty, RF
- Khris Davis, DH
- Jurickson Profar, 2B
- Josh Phegley, C
RHP Mike Fiers
News & Notes
- Dellin Betances threw a two-inning simulated game today with 16 pitches per frame. That’s a great sign.
- Brett Gardner will miss his second straight game after getting an ingrown toenail removed on Sunday. He’s expected back tomorrow.
- Aaron Hicks won’t throw for another week, but Aaron Boone says he’ll ramp up quickly once he does. He could be back early-to-mid September based on that? That’s my guess, not anything official.
- After tossing five no-hit innings Saturday, Deivi Garcia has been moved to the bullpen for the rest of the season. That is to both preserve innings and to make him an option for the MLB pen next month.
Tonight’s game is another 10:07 p.m. scheduled start on YES and ESPN. It’s set to be 77 degrees (298.15 K) and sunny at first pitch in Oakland, though it’ll be Bombers after dark for us. Enjoy your caffeinated beverages and baseball! I know I will.