Yesterday afternoon the New York Yankees played host to the Tampa Bay Rays at home inside George M. Steinbrenner Field with a pretty interesting spring lineup. Joe Girardi posted what could be his Opening Day lineup yesterday against the Rays although he wouldn't confirm that. Let's assume this is the Opening Day lineup, how would this lineup stack up?
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Carlos Beltran RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Chase Headley 3B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Stephen Drew 2B
Didi Gregorius SS
I thoroughly enjoy seeing Jacoby Ellsbury at the top of the order. Ellsbury steals more bases and has better instincts as a leadoff hitter. Without having Martin Prado or Derek Jeter in the lineup Gardner makes a ton of sense in the second hole followed by Beltran, Teixeira and McCann. Me personally I am putting McCann in the four slot and Teixeira in the fifth slot but I'm not willing to really put up much of a fight on that one.
Having Rodriguez hitting seventh could be amazing if he can still turn on the fastball and hit 15 or so home runs. Stephen Drew could hit another 15-20 home runs out of the #8 spot and Didi Gregorius could be the best #9 hitter in the league if he hits like he did at the end of 2014.
The lineup all depends on health and production but this could be a playoff starting lineup. We're not the 2000's Yankees and we're especially not the 2009 Yankees but the second Wild Card could easily be within reach if who needs to bounce back bounces back.
I agree that that could very well be the OD lineup, but I hate it because that may be the weakest "heart of the order" in baseball.
ReplyDeleteIf you base that on 2014 stats, yes probably. If you expect better seasons from Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann and a healthy season from Teixeira then maybe not.
DeleteI should have emphasized that it COULD be the weakest. I do expect better seasons from all three.
DeleteBy default I think that goes to Tampa Bay but I get what you're ultimately saying.
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