"In covering the Yankees as a Star-Ledger baseball columnist since late May, I've thrown my fair share of suggestions at manager Joe Girardi, but perhaps none quite as strong as my plea for Brett Gardner to become the team's permanent leadoff hitter.

I wrote this back on July 9, and went into detail about the ways Gardner was having an impact on the game from the top spot in the batting order.

But today, I'm here to take it back. Derek Jeter needs to stay put and remain in the leadoff spot from here until the end of the season. Here's why I've flip-flopped."