ST. PETERSBURG – With the Yankees on the verge of clinching their third straight AL East title, Joe Torre had Chuck Knoblauch in the DH role last night against the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.
It was the fourth time in five games Torre had employed his leadoff batter in the spot that used to belong to Jose Canseco and Glenallen Hill. Since Knoblauch started to hit when inserted as the DH on Sept. 22, Torre was asked if he likes Knoblauch enough as the DH to stay with it when the postseason starts Tuesday.
“We are two different teams,” Torre said about having Knoblauch DH as opposed to Canseco and Hill. “When he is DHing we are more of a contact and move type offense. When it’s Glenallen and Jose, we are more of a big-inning offense.”
So, which attack does Torre favor?
“I am not saying one is right or wrong, but we are used to having guys in the lineup who make contact and move runners and manufacture as opposed to the other way,” Torre said. “Right now I like the results with the way this lineup has played. But I am far from making up my mind that that’s the way it’s going to be.”
Knoblauch has done very well just hitting, which is something he hadn’t done much of until this year. Knoblauch, who went 0-for-4 in last night’s 2-1 loss, is 7-for-18 in his last five games and enjoying life as a DH. However, he has a problem with the whispers that he likes being the DH because that keeps him away from second base, where he has experienced serious throwing problems this season.
“One thing I want to make clear, I am not DHing because of my defense,” Knoblauch said. “Go back and look at the last month, what have I done [in the field]? And it’s not my decision, anyway.”
Since returning from the DL Sept. 6, Knoblauch has played 15 error-free games at second.
“I have no preference one way or the other,” Knoblauch said when it comes to DH or second base. “I like DHing because it means I am playing. If that’s what helps us win, that’s what we are all about.”
According to Torre, Canseco, 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter last night, has been the perfect citizen since joining a team that didn’t want him but was stuck with a waiver claim.
Yet, it’s been difficult for Canseco to sit while relatively healthy. From Sept. 7-14, Canseco started every game as the DH. Since then, he has started four games and one of them was an ill-fated start in right field, where he made two errors.
“I am taking it one day at a time and understand it’s a temporary deal,” Canseco said. “There are too many guys here.”
As for next year, Canseco has no idea if the Yankees want him back.
“Hopefully, if New York brings me back, I will be the every-day DH or in the outfield. I don’t feel like I can help anybody in a pinch-hitter role. It’s tough right now.”
And it could get tougher. If he decides Knoblauch is his DH, Torre probably wouldn’t need Hill and Canseco for the first round of the playoffs. And since Hill has a lot more experience coming off the bench than Canseco, it’s not out of the question that Canseco could be on the outside looking in at least for the first round. Especially if Torre takes Clay Bellinger and Ryan Thompson as defensive insurance in the outfield against David Justice’s cranky groin and Paul O’Neill’s tender hip.
