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CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP |
The Yankees go into the 2014 season with a dramatically different lineup than they did last year. They upgraded the outfield by going from the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells, to Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, and a full season of Alfonso Soriano. Brian McCann steps in as the new starting catcher, a huge improvement there both offensively and defensively.
Still, the infield has become an absolute mess with the departure of Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano. Replacing them are Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts, who has played just 192 games since 2010. They have to count on Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter to be healthy yet they played just a combined 32 games last year.
So, while they are much better than last year, they seriously lack the centerpiece that they had in Cano. They'll probably be more balanced, given the speeds of guys like Ellsbury and Brett Gardner and the power of McCann and Soriano. But still, not having that main guy is going to be problem, as none of these guys are entirely a guarantee.
Based on splits vs. LHP/RHP, I've constructed what I think the lineup should be. Now, it probably won't happen, as it's more than likely Jeter will bat at the top of the order behind Ellsbury because it's Derek Jeter.
vs. RHP
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Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports |
CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.328/.374/.489/.863)
LF Brett Gardner (.285/.357/.410/.767)
RF Carlos Beltran (.315/.362/.509/.871)
1B Mark Teixeira (.239/.331/.438/.770)*
C Brian McCann (.266/.357/.512/.869)
DH Alfonso Soriano (.236/.278/.456/.735)
SS Derek Jeter (.294/.346/.377/.723)*
3B Kelly Johnson (.218/.295/.429/.723)
2B Brian Roberts (.227/.303/.362/.665)
* using the splits from Jeter and Teixeira's last full seasons, both in 2012.
Ellsbury and Gardner should be able to set the table quite easily against righties. Beltran and McCann both hit 17 homers off RHP last year and now their swings will be perfect for Yankee Stadium. Teixeira probably hits LHP better but he will still obviously try to hit it into the short porch batting left-handed. But it'll be interesting to see if Soriano and Jeter will still be able to be consistent given their advanced ages.
vs. LHP
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COREY SIPKIN/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.246/.323/.318/.641)
SS Derek Jeter (.364/.399/.542/.941)*
1B Mark Teixeira (.269/.333/.531/.865)*
DH Alfonso Soriano (.293/.349/.555/.904)
RF Carlos Beltran (.252/.281/.448/.729)
C Brian McCann (.231/.279/.337/.616)
2B Brian Roberts (.284/.327/.441/.768)
3B Kelly Johnson (.291/.337/.349/.686)
LF Brett Gardner (.247/.317/.427/.744)
* using the splits from Jeter and Teixeira's last full seasons, both in 2012.
On the flip side, this lineup is going to have a huge problem trying to hit lefties this season. Other than Teixeira, Jeter, and Soriano (none who are givens), all struggle against them in the last few seasons. Johnson has one of the weirdest splits I've ever seen. Last year he hit for a bad average but hit 16 homers vs RHP, but hit .291 vs LHP but for zero homers. Roberts hit lefties very well in 77 games last season.