Yankees Infield

[ikenbaseball]

I didn't realize how dysfunctional this group was until I actually put it down on paper today. I don't know why looking at this infield makes me laugh to myself but it does. Probably being a Red Sox fan has something to do with it.

Mark Texeira-1st base
Brian Roberts-2nd base
Derek Jeter-shortstop
Kelly Johnson-3rd base

Just wanted to share a good laugh.

krys

[Bronx Yankees]

I didn't realize how dysfunctional this group was until I actually put it down on paper today. I don't know why looking at this infield makes me laugh to myself but it does. Probably being a Red Sox fan has something to do with it.

Mark Texeira-1st base
Brian Roberts-2nd base
Derek Jeter-shortstop
Kelly Johnson-3rd base

Just wanted to share a good laugh.

krys

If healthy, I'll take a 40-year-old Jeter over many shortstops. Teixeira also is moderately above-average, if healthy (although is BA drop is disconcerting). OK, Roberts and Johnson are not studs, but I think Johnson might have a sneaky decent/good year if he is used smartly and gets a solid amount of ABs. Also, while things may look this way, do not be too sure that the Yankees are done with their infield. They obviously were reluctant to do much in the infield without knowing the ARod resolution for sure. That decision is less than a week old. There still is plenty of time to tinker. Finally, you should not discuss the Yankees infield without mentioning Brian McCann at catcher. Assuming he now is healthy (I know, lots of assumptions about health here), he should feel like he died and woke in heaven hitting in Yankee Stadium. I would be surprised if he finishes the year with less than 25 home runs.

Finally, before you Red Sox fans gloat too much, the Yankees outfield is none too shabby: Gardner, Ellsbury (remember him?), Beltran and Soriano (the latter probably DH'ing most days).

Don't count the Yanks out quite yet my friend.

Mike

[ikenbaseball]

Mike

I had a feeling that I was going to hear from you.
Your right, I did forget to leave off McCann. I'm sorry for that omission. He'll be a great DH for you in a couple of years.

And you are also correct about Jeter. I would take him over Ruben Tejada and Rafael Furcal.

Moderately above average sounds right for Tex. But he hasn't started swinging a bat yet. From what I've read, he won't start hitting live pitching till Feb. So it sounds like he won't be 100% at the start of spring training.

Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson are solid backups. But still plenty of time to tinker. Michael Young and Placido Polanco will be solid pickups for the Yankees.

Yeah, I remember Jacoby. And so will Yankee fans. 3,9,8,0,32,4,9. Yankees paid 20+ million for that kind home run production. "But he'll hit 32 in Yankee Stadium again." No he won't. He'll hit 12, IF he stays healthy.
Red Sox are paying Jackie Bradley $500,000 to man centerfield. Smart move.

Anyhow, it was good to hear from you Mike.
Maybe next year, we can meet up in Vegas and we can continue this discussion over some beers. We'll have plenty to talk about.

Krys

[Bronx Yankees]

Krys, I agree ... let's continue this discussion over beers in Vegas in '15.

And yes, Ellsbury will exceed 12 HR this year - I'm looking for 20 (and 100 runs and 40+ SB). I know he is not a slugger, but he's got enough pop to take advantage of the right field porch at Yankee Stadium. Also, the last time folks counted Jeter out after a bad year, he led all of baseball in hits. Am I expecting that to happen again? No. But I'm not ready to brush him to the curb either.

Mike

[ikenbaseball]

I guess there are others who share my sentiment.

http://www.fangraphs.com/plus/yanks-inf ... orst-ever/


Good thing the yankees signed Tanaka.