Sports
Mike Francesa crushes Yankees lineup with J.D. Davis hitting cleanup: ‘Just plain stupid’
![Mike Francesa crushes Yankees lineup with J.D. Davis hitting cleanup: ‘Just plain stupid’ Mike Francesa crushes Yankees lineup with J.D. Davis hitting cleanup: ‘Just plain stupid’](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/newspress-collage-3fksq47xe-1721848439886.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1721834221&w=1024)
The longtime voice of New York sports, Mike Francesa, has hit his tipping point with the Yankees lineup and the J.D. Davis experiment in The Bronx.
Davis, a former Met, was slotted into the Yankees’ cleanup spot Tuesday behind Aaron Judge, something their crosstown rival used to its advantage in its 3-2 win.
“That lineup last night was just plain stupid,” Francesa said on “The Mike Francesa Podcast” on Wednesday.
Judge was walked four times during the game as the Mets pitched around him, choosing to instead attack Davis, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double play before being replaced in the seventh.
“The Yankees ineptitude played strongly into the Mets strategy last night,” Francesa said.”[Luis] Severino got some buzz because he said the Yankees have two hitters, well… everyone in the world knows that there are two superstars sitting in the two and three slots and nothing else in the lineup.”
“The Yankees accentuated that last night by putting a lineup on the field against a lefty, which made absolutely no sense.”
Francesa also has many issues with the leadoff spot in their lineup, which has been a problematic spot during the Yankees’ extended losing streak.
Anthony Volpe manned the spot for most of the season but his struggles led to a demotion in the order.
On Tuesday, they went with rarely used utility player Jahmal Jones, who entered the game with just 39 at-bats on the season.
Jones also went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts before being replaced, including a strikeout with two on and two outs in the second with the Yankees leading, 1-0.
“Why was Jones in the DH spot? And batting leadoff?” Francesa asked. “Why was Davis, who has been inept, in the four spot? Or [even] in the lineup?”
Gleyber Torres is leading off Wednesday vs. the Mets.
Francesa postulated that the Yankees decided to put Jones and Davis high up in the lineup because they were facing a southpaw, but still scolded the decision.
The ex-WFAN host added that whether the lineup decisions are coming from “the room,” which could include team higher-ups like general manager Brian Cashman and analytics head Michael Fishman, or from manager Aaron Boone, the thought process didn’t add up.
“If they can’t hit, why do you want them in the lineup?” Francesa continued. “Nobody liked that lineup when you saw it. You didn’t have to be a genius to be like, ‘What is going on?’”
Tuesday’s 0-for from Jones highlighted the Yankees’ leadoff woes, and Francesa said he’s been screaming for the Yankees to acquire a true table-setter, with Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon atop his list with the July 30 trade deadline approaching.
The Post’s Jon Heyman has mentioned that the Yankees are in a tough spot in this year’s trade deadline, and Joel Sherman added how the Yankees need internal options to step up.
“Cashman must figure out and put a body in front of (Juan) Soto that works,” Francesa said. “He has to trade for someone who not only can come in and be versatile but can come in and lead off … It’s critical. I don’t care if you spend a little for it, it’s critical.”
The WFAN radio legend previously lobbied for the Yankees to trade for left-handed hitting utility man Jeff McNeil, who has since caught fire and is probably unlikely to be moved.
Francesa concluded his rant by calling for Yankees starter Gerrit Cole to uplift the team by giving “six or seven dominant innings” to help the Bronx Bombers avoid a season sweep by the Mets on Wednesday.