Richie Sexson is clearly not the same hitter that averaged 39 home runs and 117 RBIs from 2001 to 2003, but even a fraction of that production should help a New York Yankees lineup that, other than Alex Rodriguez, is devoid of right-handed power.

The lefty dominant Yanks, including Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi, have predictably struggled against lefthanders this season. Giambi and his mustache have managed only a .229 average against southpaws, while Bobby Abreu and Robinson Cano are the best of the bunch. Abreu is hitting .296 and Cano .294, but only 5 of their combined 16 home runs have come against left-handed pitchers.

Sexson is a logical fit for the Yankees. Not because he is hitting .218 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs and just .154 in July, but because he has hit .344 with 5 home runs in 61 at bats against lefties. He does have just 1 hit in 18 at-bats at Yankee Stadium this season, but that shouldn’t be a problem. He’s hitting .300 at Fenway Park and .308 overall against the Red Sox.

Dave DeIuliis will be a senior at Penn State’s School of Journalism. He can be reached at dmd5042@psu.edu.