N.Y. Times: DiMaggio to Mantle to Williams to … Gardner? (RR)

That should read..."DiMaggio to Mantle to Shopay to Williams to ... Gardner”

Brett Gardner envisions himself as the center fielder of the future for the Yankees. About a millisecond after Gardner was asked if he could see himself starting in center for a team that has a crowded, mostly well-paid outfield, he said, “Absolutely.”

...“It’s not a knock against Melky Cabrera or Johnny Damon or whoever happens to be out there,” Gardner said. “Obviously, that’s their job now. But I know if it were my job, someone else would be behind me wanting my job, too. Ever since I got drafted, that’s been my goal.”

...Cashman compared Gardner to Juan Pierre, a .301 lifetime hitter with 389 stolen bases, with the added asset that Gardner walks a lot. In 17 games this spring, Gardner has a .455 on-base percentage, six steals in six attempts, four walks and three runs batted in. Rarely a home run hitter, he has none this spring. In his last 217 minor league games, Gardner has 97 steals in 116 tries and one lonely homer.

“He brings a speed dimension, what I like to call a pest dimension, to the game, where pitchers can never relax when he gets on base or infielders can never relax when he’s at the plate,” Girardi said. “He plays very good defense. He plays hard. We like him.”