Bernie is shot.

"Yankees DH Bernie Williams and 2B Robinson Cano switched places in the batting order, with Cano moving up to eighth and Williams dropping to ninth. Manager Joe Torre said he was trying something new and had urged Williams to get more aggressive with his bat."

a) Huh? Batting eighth instead of ninth would make a player bat more aggressively?

b) The only thing Bernie has left is his ability to walk. So that's good thinking to insist he become more aggressive with his bat.

c) Despite what Michael Kay may think, Bernie is shot.

Look, it was a great run while it lasted. Bernie is one of the best players I've ever seen in a Yankee uniform from beginning to end.

But Bernie hasn't hit .300 since 2002. The swing looks like the same old Bernie swing, but then the ball doesn't go anywhere after it hits the bat. His batting averages have slipped: .333, .263, .262., .249. His slugging percentage has slipped worse: .493, .411, .435, .367.

The Yankees have a designated hitter whose slugging percentage was .367 in 485 at-basts last season. The Red Sox have a designated hitter who will probably hit .300 with 45 homeruns. The Yankees are already two games behind the Red Sox.

The solution to this predicament is not batting Bernie eighth instead of ninth. The solution is ... well, it's apparent what the solution could have been.