TORONTO — When Scott Boras was shopping free agent Jacoby Ellsbury following the 2013 season the agent’s pitch to Hal Steinbrenner included how speed at the top of the order helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Boras emphasized the combination of Chuck Knoblauch leading off and Derek Jeter batting second as the key to a lineup that was deep if not loaded with future Hall of Famers. He also believed that eventually having Brett Gardner and Ellsbury on top of the lineup would be a good way to start games.
And when Robinson Cano, the Yankees’ best hitter, left The Bronx for Seattle and 10 years and $240 million, the Yankees turned to Ellsbury, who had helped lead the Red Sox to the 2013 World Series title with his legs and bat. Late in February 2014 the Yankees got Gardner to sign a four-year extension for $52 million that started this season.
With Jeter around in 2014 for his final season, Ellsbury and Gardner didn’t hit first and second that much. Injuries played a part but Jeter was not being nudged from the No. 2 spot.
Nevertheless, with Jeter retired manager Joe Girardi installed Gardner in the second slot behind Ellsbury from Opening Day. Ellsbury missing almost seven weeks with a knee injury altered the alignment that has been up and down.
Ellsbury recently stopped a 0-for-25 slide and started Tuesday’s action 9-for-20 (.450) while Gardner has gone cold. Garnder, who went 1-for-4 with a walk in the Yankees’ 6-4, 10-inning win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night, is a 8-for-44 (.182) funk in his past 11 games.
“He looks a little jumpy, looks like he is pressing,’’ said a scout who has been following the Yankees. “Swing has been choppy and he doesn’t look comfortable.’’
Another scout said it appears Gardner is having trouble with two-strike breaking balls that are down.
“It’s possible he isn’t seeing the ball well there,’’ the scout said.
Because of a jammed left shoulder suffered Sept. 5 that was treated with a cortisone shot, Gardner didn’t start Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 and was used as a pinch hitter Sept. 9.
He returned to the lineup Sept. 10 and went 2-for-3. He followed that up by going 4-for-9 with three homers and seven RBIs in the next two games.
But Gardner is in a 4-for-35 (.114) slide. Though every player goes through slumps, Gardner is batting .196 (44-for-225). Entering Tuesday, he had a .302 on-base percentage since play resumed following the All-Star break. Before the All-Star Game, in which Gardner played, he batted .302 (96-for-318) with a .377 on base percentage.
August was particularly brutal for Gardner as he batted .208 (21-for-101) and posted a .304 on base percentage.
“Obviously we have conversation all the time and his work is good,’’ hitting coach Jeff Pentland said of Gardner, who has battled wrist problems for a while. “Sometimes he tries too hard to get on base. He is one of our better hitters and there are times he takes [getting on base] too literally.’’
