As he always does, Alex Rodriguez has created some discussion this season, especially with regards to his position in the Yankees’ lineup. While he wasn’t hitting poorly, he wasn’t his typical self, with a lower power output than usual (.173 ISO, on pace to be the lowest of his career). However, he was making decent contact with a .276 average and managed to sport a decent walk rate of 9.5%. Given those two facts, there was a slightly vocal minority in the Yankee blog-and-Twitter sphere that suggested the Yankees swap Rodriguez’s and Curtis Granderson‘s spots in the order, putting A-Rod second and Granderson fourth. Considering Granderson’s homers, this made a ton of sense. In fact, 19 of Granderson’s 28 home runs have been solo shots. Just three of them (two of them grand slams) have come with two runners on base. So, actually, this move still makes a ton of sense.
With Rodriguez missing from the lineup for the considerable future, now is the perfect time for Joe Girardi to tinker with the lineup a bit and take advantage of Granderson’s power. The problem, of course, becomes the two spot. Leaving that aside for a second, we know that Derek Jeter is going to bat leadoff no matter who pitches. While he hasn’t been great against righties–89 wRC+–it’s mostly just due to a lack of power (.360 SLG, .079 Iso); he’s got a decent .281 average and an acceptable .335 OBP against them. Getting back to the second batter, I wonder if the Yankees should pluck Robinson Cano from the fourth spot and put him there. While he has power as well, it’s not quite as good as Granderson’s so there’d be less “waste” there. Cano also makes good contact and has been walking enough this year (7.9%) that he’ll create enough opportunities for the batters behind him, Mark Teixeira and Granderson.
Against RHP, I think I’d run this lineup out there:
1. Jeter
2. Cano
3. Tex
4. Granderson
5. Ibanez DH
6. Swisher
7. Chavez
8. Suzuki
9. Martin
Against LHP:
1. Jeter
2. Cano
3. Tex
4. Granderson
5. Swisher
6. Jones DH
7. Martin
8. Ichiro
9. Nix 3B
Yours?
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4 Responses to Quickly thinking about the lineup without A-Rod
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TIQ IQ
Why not just bat Ichiro 2nd? With Jeter in front of him and Cano and Granderson 3rd and 4th respectively he’d have plenty of protection in the line up.
Against righties
Jeter
Swisher
Cano
Granderson
Teixeira
Ibanez
Chavez
Martin
Suzuki
Against lefties
Jeter
Swisher
Tex
Granderson
Cano
Jones
Martin
Nix
Ichiro
It’s worth noting that while Ichiro’s offense has been much maligned, he’s pretty much the same(if not better) as Jeter against righties, but neither guy is above average against R’s so I don’t see the point in having both of them at the top of the order.
thanks, saved me the effort. both perfect. Swish second all the time, taking advanrage of his obp. Cano third v. righties, and Tex v. lefties. Ichiro as the second leadoff man.
Bravo Matt for having Cano bat second. It pains me to see Girardi batting him 5th! at times when Arod was healthy. Now that Arod is out, he should be hitting second or third but I like you construction with him hitting second.