By Doug Miller / MLB.com
They could have been playing in the same outfield, but they're playing against each other this week.
One thing Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson have in common is a huge impact on their teams so far in 2010.
Gardner, who has been playing center field for the Yankees with Curtis Granderson injured, had an 11-game hitting streak snapped in Monday's 5-4 loss, but he still drew a walk and drove in a run and is batting .333 overall and .381 (16-for-42) with 12 runs, one double, one homer, four RBIs and five stolen bases over his past 12 games. His 14 stolen bases rank second in the Majors behind the 15 pilfered by Juan Pierre of the White Sox.
In other words, this diminutive spark plug is proving on a nightly basis that he's a major contributor to a championship-caliber team.
"I felt all along that Gardy was an everyday player," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's hit left-handers all the way throughout, and he's comfortable in there. ... I love what he brings to the table."
Girardi probably would have loved what rookie Jackson has been bringing to the Tigers' table, but the Yankees had to sacrifice their highly touted prospect in their offseason trade for Granderson.
All Jackson has done so far is lead the American League with 16 multihit games this season and become the first Tigers player since 1920 or earlier to notch 16 multihit games in his first 30 contests.
Jackson, who notched his 10th RBI of the season on Monday night at Comerica Park, hit safely in 27 of his first 30 big league games.
"I'm trying to be somewhat of a table setter," Jackson said. "That's my job, to get on base any way I can and get in scoring position. That's my No. 1 focus and all I'm trying to do up here."
They could have been playing in the same outfield, but they're playing against each other this week.
One thing Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson have in common is a huge impact on their teams so far in 2010.
Gardner, who has been playing center field for the Yankees with Curtis Granderson injured, had an 11-game hitting streak snapped in Monday's 5-4 loss, but he still drew a walk and drove in a run and is batting .333 overall and .381 (16-for-42) with 12 runs, one double, one homer, four RBIs and five stolen bases over his past 12 games. His 14 stolen bases rank second in the Majors behind the 15 pilfered by Juan Pierre of the White Sox.
In other words, this diminutive spark plug is proving on a nightly basis that he's a major contributor to a championship-caliber team.
"I felt all along that Gardy was an everyday player," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's hit left-handers all the way throughout, and he's comfortable in there. ... I love what he brings to the table."
Girardi probably would have loved what rookie Jackson has been bringing to the Tigers' table, but the Yankees had to sacrifice their highly touted prospect in their offseason trade for Granderson.
All Jackson has done so far is lead the American League with 16 multihit games this season and become the first Tigers player since 1920 or earlier to notch 16 multihit games in his first 30 contests.
Jackson, who notched his 10th RBI of the season on Monday night at Comerica Park, hit safely in 27 of his first 30 big league games.
"I'm trying to be somewhat of a table setter," Jackson said. "That's my job, to get on base any way I can and get in scoring position. That's my No. 1 focus and all I'm trying to do up here."
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