Fun with a small sample: How Brett Gardner’s return helps the Yankee lineup

For virtually all of the 2012 season, the Yankees have been without the services of Brett Gardner. While they’ve felt no ill-effects in terms of walks–Gardner’s best tool at the plate–the Yankees have definitely missed his speed on the bases. They’re currently ranked 11th in steals, which is higher than I thought, but not one Yankee player has at least ten steals; Alex Rodriguez paces the team with nine. Gardner’s patient eye and speed on the bases from the bottom of the order haven’t necessarily been sorely missed, but they’ll definitely be welcomed back with open arms.

Gardner isn’t going to be back immediately–the earliest will be July 27–but his impact could be immediate. When he returns, Gardner will be able to slot into left field, relieving Raul Ibanez of having to play the position, giving the older, less defensively able player a rest while simultaneously giving the Yankees back the position’s top defender. Another plus is that Gardner’s return will allow manager Joe Girardi to rest Curtis Granderson a little more frequently. Gardner can play center, and Granderson is definitely in need of days off–or at least half days off–as he’s played in every game but one this year. Going back to the Gardner-Ibanez situation, let’s take a look at some very small sample size splits.

In his 39 games (151 PA) as a left fielder, Raul Ibanez has hit .236/.295/.412/.710, an 85 OPS+. In his 14 games (53 PA) as a DH, Ibanez has mashed the ball to a .320/.358/1.038 line, good for a 166 OPS+. He’s not going to hit that well all year, but I’d imagine it’d still be much better than a .710 OPS. Getting as much rest as possible for any player is of the utmost importance, and that applies doubly for older players like Raul Ibanez. Keeping him fresh will mean keeping him off the field. Once Brett Gardner returns, that task becomes much easier.

Follow Me On Twitter