Melky Cabrera treated Yankee fans to a heroic performance Wednesday afternoon as he hit a home run from both sides of the plate including a bottom of the 14^th walk-off. His homers spoke volumes in support of him regaining the everyday centerfielder spot, as they pumped his batting average up to .304, 60 points above the very popular Gardner who has thus far started more games in center this season.

With Damon hitting well in the number 2 spot and Swisher going above and beyond his expectations, it’s hard to figure out how Girardi is going to spread the playing time around. Many people, myself included, were ready to toss Melky aside and clear a path for the Gardner bandwagon; Cabrera had different plans. He has played well in center and seems to have remembered how to hit, forcing the question of what the Yankee’s starting outfield looks like to remain unanswered.

Cabrera’s performance may have switched the debate of who should start from Melky and Gardner in center to Melky and Swisher in right. I’ve seen Swisher have an explosive April and noticed his .714 slugging percentage so far this season. But I also remember his numbers with Oakland and the fact that he’s never hit over .262 in 5 major league seasons. I hate to rain on his parade but something tells me his average may dip below .300 soon and not come back up.

There are many solutions to this outfield conundrum. One that I support but hate to suggest because I’m often too loyal is Matsui riding the bench. He has been a great Yankee but hasn’t ever been a great fielder and right now isn’t a great hitter. He’s getting old and I’m starting to convince myself that he may not be able to recover from last year’s injury. He can still hit the ball a long ways and would be valuable off the bench giving the Yankees a key bat off the pine. With his knee acting up again he may just be a better tool for the Yankees off the bench.

With Nady on the DL and assuming they put Matsui on the bench then you’re back to having four outfielders for three spots. Gardner is the obvious choice for center field with his ability to shoot the gaps and cover ground. Melky should then be put into right field since he has arguably one of the best arms in the Majors from the outfield and then Damon and Swisher should duel it out for the best of the worst defensively. The DH spot can then be filled by the remaining left fielder. And since all of them play more than just one outfield position, three  with experience in center, they can rotate days off pretty easily.

This seems to be the best solution. Damon is truly consistent at the plate, Melky and Swisher are swinging hot bats, Gardner has to be given more time in center and in the starting line-up and Matsui is past his prime and basically injured. Just a few weeks ago we had 6 players for 4 spots not we have 4.

Fenway’s ridiculous configuration (yes I am jealous you still have your stadium) needs to be played with Gardner in center because of his feet. I think you put Damon in left because of his familiarity with Fenway and the big green wall (its hard for me to call a fence only 290 feet from home plate a “monster”) and Swisher keeps his bat hot at the DH spot. This is a solid outfield with its only weakness being Damon’s outfield adventures. The Yankees should try this out as their everyday line up and start bringing in some consistency. With A-Rod just weeks away the Yankees are on the cusp of a consistent and fluid starting line-up.

Melky has challenged the pre-season assumptions and complicated Girardi’s pre-game decision making. But he has also forced the Yankees into their best-projected line-up. Melky is beginning to prove that last year was the fluke and not the two seasons before it. The decision of what to do with Matsui is tough and one I’m glad I don’t have to make but one that Girardi unfortunately has to. Come May one of those five guys is sitting the bench, Melky did his best Wednesday afternoon to make sure it ain’t him.