The Outfield
In my first segment,
THE YANKEES: WHO WILL START VS. WHO SHOULD START-
THE INFIELD, I explored who the Yankees would most likely start around
the infield if the season were to begin tomorrow. In this article, I’ll
take a look at the outfield.
LEFT FIELD -
Who Girardi Will Start
The first half of 2015 was arguably the best of
Brett Gardner’s
career as he represented the Bombers in the All-Star game (his first).
Going into the mid-season break, “Gardy” was hitting .302 with a .377
on-base percentage. Unfortunately, the year was no different than any
other for the 32-year-old, and he performed the annual second-half
collapse at the plate that has become all too familiar for Yankees
fans. Over his last 69 games of the season, Gardner hit .206 with a
.300 OBP; striking out once every four at-bats. Since 2012, the
mainstay in left has hit .245 post All-Star break; an average drop-off
of 32 points from his pre All-Star average of .277. He isn’t going to
get any better at this point in his career, but in spite of the
continued quick decline over the course of a season; there is little
doubt that Gardner will be Manager Joe Girardi’s everyday player in
left.
Who should start?
Given
the unquestioned success Gardner begins every season with, he should be
the starter in Left Field on Opening Day. As the campaign progresses,
however, it might make sense for Girardi to recognize the “writing on
the wall” and begin mixing in starts by youngsters like
Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams, or newly acquired
Aaron Hicks.
There is definite historical evidence that Gardy just can’t remain
consistent over the course of a year, and the sooner the Yankees manager
realizes it, the better.
CENTER FIELD – Who Girardi Will Start
As massive as Gardner’s second-half collapse was, center fielder
Jacoby Ellsbury’s
was even greater. Through July 12th, Ellsbury was hitting .318 with a
.399 on-base percentage. Following the return from the mid-summer
classic, Ellsbury hit .220 (.266 OBP). Like Gardner, Ellsbury is
developing a history of second half collapses. Over his past three
seasons, Ellsbury’s post All-Star batting average drops, on average, by
48 points. Is it any wonder that the Yankees fell from a hold on first
place in the AL East to clinging to a wild card berth? Unlike left
field, the Center Field spot does have more choices for Girardi. Given
that GM Brian Cashman inked the 32-year-old Ellsbury (and his agent
Scott Boras) to a long-term contract that expires in 2020, you can be
sure he’ll influence the decision as to who starts (he seems to be the
one calling the shots with or without manager input), and look for
Ellsbury to take the field on Opening Day.
Who should start?
(In Photo: Aaron Hicks)
Contractual
obligations aside, if I was managing the Yankees, Center Field would be
an open competition going into 2016. At the very least I’d make sure
Hicks, Williams and Heathcott saw a large number of starts to minimize
second half damage Ellsbury will do at the top of the order after the
break – even if it meant ruffling the feathers of the Cashman/Boras
tag-team.
RIGHT FIELD – Who Girardi Will Start
This
position may be the one where I have my biggest point of contention as
to who starts in the field. Again, due to a contractual obligation
(thanks Brian) – as well as an over-abundance of DH-suited veterans – it
is more than likely that another Scott Boras player will begin the 2016
season at this position, rather than someone better-equipped to play in
the spot. Of course I speak of
Carlos Beltran.
Let me first say that I have no problem with Beltran being in the
lineup. His bat was one of the few that remained somewhat productive in
the second half of 2015 (though he too suffered a drop-off). The
problem I have is with the management putting him in the field. I have
friends who refer to Beltran as “the Loafer” because at 38-years-old the
man simply has no speed other than slow. Chances are that most
catchers could out-hustle him in a 90 foot sprint to first, and
certainly the Yankees have a number of younger outfielders with 100
times the range in the field. When I think of Beltran playing right
field, I keep going back to a game against the Orioles last season
(September 9th) where he played two
Chris Davis
fly balls into RBI hits. Both – a first inning short fly ball to right
and a 9th inning fly ball that landed short of the right field wall and
bounced over – would have been caught by an outfielder with any
semblance of speed. Ultimately, the Yanks lost the game by two – 5 to
3. Unfortunately, because of this organization’s lack of trust in its
baby Bombers, as well as there being too many veterans that at this
point in their careers are only fit to be DH, you can be sure that
Beltran will “loaf” out to right field when the team breaks camp.
Who should start?
As
I said, I have no problem with Beltran being in the lineup. He still
has power and occasionally can turn on a fastball. He hit .300 with
runners in scoring position and two outs. God knows we can use more in
our lineup who can do that. I think Beltran should be our DH, or at
least platoon with
ARod
(we all know how Girardi LOVES his platoons). Carlos hit .285 against
right-handed pitchers last season and his slugging percentage actually
got better as the year progressed. That being said, the only time
Beltran’s feet should hit the right field grass is when he’s playing
catch with the starting right fielder between innings, or doing his
pre-game stretches. He no longer belongs in the field. Instead, I’d go
with Heathcott, Williams or- should he get a promotion (something we
know Cashman doesn’t like to do unless injury dictates it) - top
prospect
Aaron Judge.
If we are to have a sound future, we need to start believing in the
guys that have either already had a taste of the show and proved
themselves (Heathcott), or the ones like Judge whose future appears to
be very bright. We certainly can’t do any worse than what Beltran has
shown us in the field. It’s time to find out what lies ahead.
That’s it for the look around the outfield; we’ll next take a look at the Yankees starting pitching.
We welcome your opinions and comments, and as always, thank you for your support of BYB.
--Steve Skinner,
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1
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