Brett Gardner Is The Yankees Captain Label or Not

A few weeks ago on #ArmenAndLevack, Buster Olney told the guys that Brett Gardner was one of the best leaders the New York Yankees have had in the past 20 years. That made some people a little uncomfortable seeing how players like; Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Jorge Posada have all played during that time span.

But the Major League Baseball has just made his argument a little bit stronger after announcing  the 31-year old Gardner as the Yankees 2015 Heart and Hustle Award winner. This esteemed award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game. The Heart and Hustle Award is also the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players.

“[Gardner] has moved into the leadoff spot in our lineup and has been the heartbeat of our offense,” said Alan Cockrell, Yankees assistant hitting coach. “He has moved from left field to center field and played Gold Glove defense. He has been a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.”

So, the question comes into play is should Brett Gardner be the one to fill the vacant Yankees captaincy?

The answer is yes. He was one of three Yankees to make the All-Star game, and all season there's been nothing but good reports out of the Yankees camp about his positive morale. In a year where we thought it was going to be all about the return of A-rod, a old banged up roster just trying to make it through the season, it's but anything but. This has a lot to do with the leadership that guys like Brett Gardner has shown with his non stop drive not to let this team settle, even after the team fell into that May slump.

The final winner will be announced on November 10,2015 at the 16th Annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. This event is the primary fundraiser for the series of free Legends for Youth Baseball Clinics. These clinics impact more than 15,000 children each year at 120 clinics, allowing them the unique opportunity to interact with and learn from players who have left a lasting impact on the game of baseball.