Is Melky's Starting Job Secure?

Everybody loves Melky.

He brings a whole bunch of energy and usually looks like he's actually having fun playing the game. He has handled the pressure of being the Yankess starting center fielder pretty well, and we all know how great his defense has been.

His hitting though, still hasn't really come around.

As of today, he's currently hitting .254 with 6 homeruns and 21 RBI. In 2007 he finished the season at .273. In 2006 he was at .280.

He's in quite a slump right now, but overall on the season he doesn't seem to be providing the team with that spark that he had been the last two years.

Meanwhile in Scranton, Lefty Brett Gardner is hot. Through 48 games he's hitting .281 with 3 homeruns and 21 RBI. He has also hit 6 triples and stolen 18 bases. He has also yet to make an error this year, and has 2 outfield assists. He's fast, he's a smart base runner and he's the kind of guy that opposing teams do not want reaching base.

He might be just the kind of player the Yankees need to get their offense going.

Right now Melky is in no danger of losing his job. However if he continues to struggle and if Gardner keeps up the pace he's at right now, it's going to be hard to ignore him.

Just something to keep an eye on.