Prior to tonight’s game against the Cleveland Indians, Brennan Boesch was seen working with Manager Joe Girardi and coach Mick Kelleher at first base, according to Mark Feinsand of the Daily News.
Boesch, 27, a career outfielder, has never played at first base, even in the minor leagues. He did play some first at Cal Berkeley before switching to the outfield. With Lyle Overbay, 36, currently hitting .174 (with 4 RBIs) the Yankees may be growing impatient about the complete lack of production.
Known as a defensive whiz at first, Overbay has made some questionable decisions in the field. Yesterday he ranged too far to his right as a ground ball went off of his glove, continuing an inning for the Indians.
Boesch is hitting .182, but he has looked better at the plate than Overbay. In Detroit, if it weren’t for the gusting winds, Boesch would have hit a mammoth home run to right field; instead he settled for a triple.
Boesch has a serious power bat, and would most definitely do some damage in Yankee Stadium. However, with Vernon Wells, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Ben Francisco on the roster, at bats have been few and far between for the lefty Boesch thus far. Maybe first base is an avenue the Yankees can take to get his bat into the order more often?
With the obvious lack of experience at first, the Yankees are unlikely to throw him directly into the fire. This very well may be just an experimental thing just to see how Boesch takes to it. But, if Overbay continues his ineptitude at the plate and in the field, the Yankees may be forced to make a change.
Looks like Joe Girardi and Mick Kelleher are working with Brennan Boesch at first base right now.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) April 9, 2013
