If the Yankees are really serious about winning, Ellsbury should not be playing ahead of Clint Frazier, or Aaron Hicks, once he returns. The thought of Frazier being sent down to the minors once Hicks returns, despite the fact that he is currently one of the Yanks' most productive players, is really distressing. It shows that winning this season is not the number one priority.
I can understand benching Frazier yesterday for Ellsbury (who went 0-4 again, by the way), since Felix Hernandez is a hard throwing righty pitcher who may give Frazier trouble, but last Friday, the first game following the All-Star Break at Fenway Park, when Ellsbury started instead of Frazier against a lefty, Drew Pomeranz, was ridiculous. I was at the game and, without access to any online information, I assumed that Frazier had been sent down when he wasn't in the lineup. I was shocked that he wasn't in the lineup against the lefty in Fenway Park. Ellsbury had another 0-4 in that game, by the way.
Ellsbury has no power, and this year he's not even hitting for average. He's a waste. To start him in the outfield ahead of Frazier, and to keep him around instead of Frazier once Hicks is ready to return, really shows that winning is not the number one priority. Winning is secondary to Ellsbury's massive salary.
And, again, if the Yankees were really serious about winning, they wouldn't be trotting Luis Cessa out there on Sunday for another start.
