Making Knoblauch the regular LF and taking playing time away from Rodriguez, Hill and Spencer is not going to help the Yankees' offence or defence.

I think this decision is a little premature. I'd keep him at 2nd until he proved that he was costing me a significant number of runs. Of course I'd bring in a defensive substitution later in the game on a very regular basis.

The argument that Knoblauch must be in the lineup because he bats leadoff and has a very good OBA is not convincing in my eyes. Posada is likely to have an even higher OBA and moving Jeter to leadoff will give him some extra PAs.

I can hear all of you exclaim that Posada's too slow and strikes out too much. To me the strikeouts are a plus because it means he avoids the GIDP. As for speed, it's overrated at the 2 hole. The best lineup is one which puts guys on for the 3,4, and 5 hitters.

As it stands right now, putting a slow guy in the 2 hole regardless of his OBP is considered radical, and since Torre likes the hit and run I doubt he'll even consider it.

So it looks like Knoblauch at LF/DH and batting leadoff when in the lineup, with Justice playing the field occasionally and the other guys coming into the mix at various points. If Torre bats Soriano at the top of the lineup when Knobby's not in it, it will be a big mistake.

Soriano is going to mean a big drop is offence. The Yankee offence has become a 6-man unit unless Martinez can somehow re-ignite his career. That's without considering Paul O'Neill's (very likely) further decline. A platoon in RF and LF looks like the way to go. If you think about it, there are only 4 good hiters in the lineup (Justice, Jeter, Posada, Williams)

I wouldn't release Knoblauch - I think he'll be good for a productive 250 PA. A trade will be difficult - who wants an aging error-prone 2B who can't (seemingly) play the position anymore.

Making Knoblauch the regular LF and taking playing time away from Rodriguez, Hill and Spencer is not going to help the Yankees' offence or defence.

I think this decision is a little premature. I'd keep him at 2nd until he proved that he was costing me a significant number of runs. Of course I'd bring in a defensive substitution later in the game on a very regular basis.

The argument that Knoblauch must be in the lineup because he bats leadoff and has a very good OBA is not convincing in my eyes. Posada is likely to have an even higher OBA and moving Jeter to leadoff will give him some extra PAs.

I can hear all of you exclaim that Posada's too slow and strikes out too much. To me the strikeouts are a plus because it means he avoids the GIDP. As for speed, it's overrated at the 2 hole. The best lineup is one which puts guys on for the 3,4, and 5 hitters.

As it stands right now, putting a slow guy in the 2 hole regardless of his OBP is considered radical, and since Torre likes the hit and run I doubt he'll even consider it.

So it looks like Knoblauch at LF/DH and batting leadoff when in the lineup, with Justice playing the field occasionally and the other guys coming into the mix at various points. If Torre bats Soriano at the top of the lineup when Knobby's not in it, it will be a big mistake.

Soriano is going to mean a big drop is offence. The Yankee offence has become a 6-man unit unless Martinez can somehow re-ignite his career. That's without considering Paul O'Neill's (very likely) further decline. A platoon in RF and LF looks like the way to go. If you think about it, there are only 4 good hiters in the lineup (Justice, Jeter, Posada, Williams)

I wouldn't release Knoblauch - I think he'll be good for a productive 250 PA. A trade will be difficult - who wants an aging error-prone 2B who can't (seemingly) play the position anymore.

Making Knoblauch the regular LF and taking playing time away from Rodriguez, Hill and Spencer is not going to help the Yankees' offence or defence.

I think this decision is a little premature. I'd keep him at 2nd until he proved that he was costing me a significant number of runs. Of course I'd bring in a defensive substitution later in the game on a very regular basis.

The argument that Knoblauch must be in the lineup because he bats leadoff and has a very good OBA is not convincing in my eyes. Posada is likely to have an even higher OBA and moving Jeter to leadoff will give him some extra PAs.

I can hear all of you exclaim that Posada's too slow and strikes out too much. To me the strikeouts are a plus because it means he avoids the GIDP. As for speed, it's overrated at the 2 hole. The best lineup is one which puts guys on for the 3,4, and 5 hitters.

As it stands right now, putting a slow guy in the 2 hole regardless of his OBP is considered radical, and since Torre likes the hit and run I doubt he'll even consider it.

So it looks like Knoblauch at LF/DH and batting leadoff when in the lineup, with Justice playing the field occasionally and the other guys coming into the mix at various points. If Torre bats Soriano at the top of the lineup when Knobby's not in it, it will be a big mistake.

Soriano is going to mean a big drop is offence. The Yankee offence has become a 6-man unit unless Martinez can somehow re-ignite his career. That's without considering Paul O'Neill's (very likely) further decline. A platoon in RF and LF looks like the way to go. If you think about it, there are only 4 good hiters in the lineup (Justice, Jeter, Posada, Williams)

I wouldn't release Knoblauch - I think he'll be good for a productive 250 PA. A trade will be difficult - who wants an aging error-prone 2B who can't (seemingly) play the position anymore.

Making Knoblauch the regular LF and taking playing time away from Rodriguez, Hill and Spencer is not going to help the Yankees' offence or defence.

I think this decision is a little premature. I'd keep him at 2nd until he proved that he was costing me a significant number of runs. Of course I'd bring in a defensive substitution later in the game on a very regular basis.

The argument that Knoblauch must be in the lineup because he bats leadoff and has a very good OBA is not convincing in my eyes. Posada is likely to have an even higher OBA and moving Jeter to leadoff will give him some extra PAs.

I can hear all of you exclaim that Posada's too slow and strikes out too much. To me the strikeouts are a plus because it means he avoids the GIDP. As for speed, it's overrated at the 2 hole. The best lineup is one which puts guys on for the 3,4, and 5 hitters.

As it stands right now, putting a slow guy in the 2 hole regardless of his OBP is considered radical, and since Torre likes the hit and run I doubt he'll even consider it.

So it looks like Knoblauch at LF/DH and batting leadoff when in the lineup, with Justice playing the field occasionally and the other guys coming into the mix at various points. If Torre bats Soriano at the top of the lineup when Knobby's not in it, it will be a big mistake.

Soriano is going to mean a big drop is offence. The Yankee offence has become a 6-man unit unless Martinez can somehow re-ignite his career. That's without considering Paul O'Neill's (very likely) further decline. A platoon in RF and LF looks like the way to go. If you think about it, there are only 4 good hiters in the lineup (Justice, Jeter, Posada, Williams)

I wouldn't release Knoblauch - I think he'll be good for a productive 250 PA. A trade will be difficult - who wants an aging error-prone 2B who can't (seemingly) play the position anymore.

Jorge Posada has had one season in which his OBP surpassed .360. Granted he had a great year last year, one more fitted for the 3 hole than the 2, but that by no means convinces me pencil him in for another .400 plus OBP. Knoblauch, IF he can approach his mid 1990's numbers, is the ideal option for leadoff. Read that again:IF he approaches his mid 1990's numbers. IF he gets on base at a .400 clip, sets the table for the Posada, Williams, Justice group, he is a better option than Hill, Rodriguez or Spencer. If Knoblauch meanders at a .360 OBP then no, he is not a better option. My money says that now that he is free of his second base woes, he will relax at the plate and produce like he used to. I am not saying he will hit .330 with a .440 OBP and steal 60 bases. I think a .310 average, .400 OBP and 35 stolen bases is not out of the question.

Jorge Posada has had one season in which his OBP surpassed .360. Granted he had a great year last year, one more fitted for the 3 hole than the 2, but that by no means convinces me pencil him in for another .400 plus OBP. Knoblauch, IF he can approach his mid 1990's numbers, is the ideal option for leadoff. Read that again:IF he approaches his mid 1990's numbers. IF he gets on base at a .400 clip, sets the table for the Posada, Williams, Justice group, he is a better option than Hill, Rodriguez or Spencer. If Knoblauch meanders at a .360 OBP then no, he is not a better option. My money says that now that he is free of his second base woes, he will relax at the plate and produce like he used to. I am not saying he will hit .330 with a .440 OBP and steal 60 bases. I think a .310 average, .400 OBP and 35 stolen bases is not out of the question.

Jorge Posada has had one season in which his OBP surpassed .360. Granted he had a great year last year, one more fitted for the 3 hole than the 2, but that by no means convinces me pencil him in for another .400 plus OBP. Knoblauch, IF he can approach his mid 1990's numbers, is the ideal option for leadoff. Read that again:IF he approaches his mid 1990's numbers. IF he gets on base at a .400 clip, sets the table for the Posada, Williams, Justice group, he is a better option than Hill, Rodriguez or Spencer. If Knoblauch meanders at a .360 OBP then no, he is not a better option. My money says that now that he is free of his second base woes, he will relax at the plate and produce like he used to. I am not saying he will hit .330 with a .440 OBP and steal 60 bases. I think a .310 average, .400 OBP and 35 stolen bases is not out of the question.

Jorge Posada has had one season in which his OBP surpassed .360. Granted he had a great year last year, one more fitted for the 3 hole than the 2, but that by no means convinces me pencil him in for another .400 plus OBP. Knoblauch, IF he can approach his mid 1990's numbers, is the ideal option for leadoff. Read that again:IF he approaches his mid 1990's numbers. IF he gets on base at a .400 clip, sets the table for the Posada, Williams, Justice group, he is a better option than Hill, Rodriguez or Spencer. If Knoblauch meanders at a .360 OBP then no, he is not a better option. My money says that now that he is free of his second base woes, he will relax at the plate and produce like he used to. I am not saying he will hit .330 with a .440 OBP and steal 60 bases. I think a .310 average, .400 OBP and 35 stolen bases is not out of the question.