Can someone tell me who the heck is batting 5th?!

by jpoppejr on Jan 23, 2010 10:18 PM EST

Can someone tell me who the heck is batting 5th?! I asked this question at the start of the off-season and it has still not been answered! People laughed at my suggestion of Ankiel as a low cost option. Now, tell me who is going to protect A-Rod. Cano? Posada? Granderson? Who!

This is a glaring hole that has not been addressed! Of the three above, I think Cano provides the best protection for A-Rod. Granderson can be pitched to by a lefty and Posada does not scare me if I have a choice of pitching to A-Rod or Posada.

I know he had a horrible second half, but Dye is the only FA that attracts me and I think presents a threat to a pitcher in the 5 hole. He also batted .292 against lefties last year and hit a HR every 18 ABs regardless of facing lefties or righties. If he can be had for what Damon will sign for ($5m) I would say Cash should get him. Why get Damon at this point when they signed Johnson (another lefty hitter)?

Is this lineup so horrible?

Jeter (R) - Johnson (L) - Tex (S) - ARod (R) - Dye (R) - Cano (L) - Posada (S) - Swisher (S) - Granderson (L)

No, but I would prefer:

Granderson - Jeter - Tex - ARod - Dye - Cano - Posada - Johnson - Swisher

I know Granderson's OBP is not a great lead off candidate, and Jeter had an incredible year in lead off, but I think Granderson's talent gets minimized further down the lineup.

Please tell me why I'm wrong about Dye and an alternate solution.

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

um, dude, dye sucks

posada batting 5th is fine

by jv52yankees on Jan 23, 2010 11:23 PM EST reply actions

+1

Play the hot hand.
When Cano is on, he’s an elite hitter. He can bat 5th.
When it’s Jorge he brings patience and power- ditto Swisher.

The lineup is unrelenting, and Granderson 8th stacks our speed at the top of the circle in front of Tex and Arod.
Jeter, Johnson, Tex, Arod, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Granderson, Gardner.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jan 23, 2010 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

20HR before All-star

You realize he had 20 hrs last year before the all-star break.

by jpoppejr on Jan 23, 2010 11:44 PM EST up reply actions

Posada.

Weren’t you watching last season?

Yankees all day.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

"If you're not doing it right, you're doing it wrong. And there's no in between." ~Mark "Lunch" McKenzie

by Onishadow14 on Jan 23, 2010 11:37 PM EST reply actions

Granderson has a chance to hit 35-40 bombs

with the porch in right. Don’t be shocked if he gets hot and sees some time in the 5 hole.

And is there really any reason that the same dude has to hit 5th every game? Why can’t it be a mix of Cano, Posada, Granderson, maybe even Swisher, depending on who is currently hitting well?

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.

by Lord Duggan on Jan 23, 2010 11:50 PM EST reply actions

I'm curious as to why

there are many people who like to broach that topic about Granderson’s power. I’m not debating about whether he can hit 30-40 homeruns, but rather why this is considered such a good thing.

Granderson hit a career high in homeruns in 2009. He also saw all his rate stats (BA, OBP, etc.) drop tremendously. He went from a ~.360 OBP guy to a ~.320. If fewer homeruns = higher OBP, you make that trade-off every single time.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

playing in Comerica park...

likely swallowed up a ton of HR.

A LH hitter..a good pull hitting LH hitter? In Yankee stadium? 30-40 may be high…but its fairly likely.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Grandy is 2nd on the team in HR.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions

2nd?

I don’t think so. He can’t hit lefties and the righties are going to keep the ball away from him because he tries to pull everything he sees. If he continues to do this he’s gonna hit .220 and be a huge detriment to the team.

by david d on Jan 24, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

you're talking about Curtis Granderson right?

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Ummm

Yeah

by david d on Jan 24, 2010 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

if Righties keeping the ball away from him was the answer...

then 2008 and 2009 don’t happen…….

So, might as well dead that idea….

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

I guess this comes up after you boy Ankiel gets signed...

Ankiel would’ve been a horrible option to hit 10th with the Yankees…let alone 1-9…

Granderson, Posada, hopefully Cano, Swisher…Montero, Cervelli all logical #5 (some more logical then others) hitters.

So the answer to your question…watch the damn game when the season starts….cuz there’s gonna be a bit of tweaking going on.

…and no, Jermaine Dye (we have a DH already) and thank Cervelli NOT Ankiel..will be batting 5th.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 1:12 AM EST reply actions

Gardner/Hoffman is the LF BTW,,,,

If by some horrible reason they get Dye..that shifts Swisher to LF..cuz Dye’s an immovable object and would stink in LF given death valley out there.

as the 9th hitter…in their past years..their WS winning years…the Yankees have done worse with a #9 hitter.

Hopefully Hoffman can platoon and hit LHers well. Hopefully Hoffman can prove he hits everyone well and shoves Gardner to the bench where he belongs.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 1:17 AM EST up reply actions

Whoever's hot

There’s no reason for the line-up to be set in stone. If we have a tough lefty, bat Posada 5th. If it’s a righty and Granderson’s on, then I’d give him the 5th spot. It isn’t something like picking the 5th starting pitcher.

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

by moose35 on Jan 24, 2010 5:17 AM EST reply actions

Mark my words

Arod will have a down year and this will be the reason.

by jpoppejr on Jan 24, 2010 8:20 AM EST reply actions

LOL!

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

There’s no room for two saviors on this team, albeit one with "a horrible second half’. The imbalance of Dye and Cervelli on the same team will cause the universe to explode.

by Scooby Snacks on Jan 24, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

Arod had a "down" year this year

by his standard. He’s gonna hit 40+ bombs and hit over .300. I don’t know why you would say that after this season and postseason. He is finally having fun.

Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1

by jramey on Jan 24, 2010 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

A-Rod could bat in a lineup full of Brett Gardners and still put up 40-50 HR...

where you been?

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Dye hit 20 bombs befroe the break

and only 7 after. He’s 36 and plays ZERO defense. Absolutely not.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Jan 24, 2010 9:55 AM EST reply actions

Play the hot hand

but for the opening day lineup…..

Jeter
Johnson
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Posada
Cano
Swisher
Granderson
Gardner

And should Johnny Damon return……

Jeter
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Posada
Cano
Swisher
Granderson
Johnson

Thats what I’d do anyway.

by nyyrocks29 on Jan 24, 2010 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Lineup

Vs. Righties
Jeter-Johnson-Tex-Arod-Granderson-Posada-Cano-Swisher-Gardner

Vs. Lefties
Jeter-Johnson-Tex-Arod-Posada-Cano-Swisher-Granderson-Gardner

If Damon returns, he slots into the 2 spot in both lineups and Johnson drops to 9th vs. righties, 8th vs. lefties.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 24, 2010 11:48 AM EST reply actions

+1

by Frank Campagnola on Jan 24, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

What difference would

Johnson in the 9th vs the 8th spot make? If you’re going for a speedy 9th spot, then just put Gardner of Granderson there, all the time. I’d rather put Johnson somewhere where his high OBP would drive in more runs (if Damon come’s back, then 8th). But why rotate him?

Vince Lombardi

by moose35 on Jan 24, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

8th/9th

I just did that because Johnson hits lefties better than Granderson so vs. lefties I’d have Johnson hitting higher in the order than Granderson. It wouldn’t be a big diference either way.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 24, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

If Damon returns

I’d like Johnson a lot as a fit in the 5 spot. Yankees could legitimately boast 3 .380+ OBP guys in the middle of the order if they did that, with “only” a .360 guy batting second.

I’m big on OBP, and I could see the Yankee lineup having just about everyone OBP over .340-.350 in a lineup with Johnny Damon back in it.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

Johnson 5th

I don’t like Johnson in the middle of the order. He’s a table setter not a run producer so he should either hit 2nd where he can get on base in front of Tex/Arod or 9th where he can get on base in front of Jeter/Damon.

Granderson on the other hand had an .897 OPS vs. righties in 2009 and that was his “bad” year. He provides better protection for Arod than anyone else in that part of our order. I’d also consider Cano for 5th if he can ever figure out how to hit with RISP.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 24, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

Johnson will bat 2nd

if Damon isn’t kept. But I’d have no problems with him 5th if Damon IS kept.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Granderson

behind A-Rod? No way. He will get pitched away and until he learns to go the other way needs to bat 8th. You’ll see, Grandy will be lucky to hit .220 this year cuz he can’t hit lefties and the righties are gonna pitch him away and he’ll still try to pull everything he sees. Posada is a switch hitter, why wouldn’t you just leave him in the 5 hole? It makes no sense to juggle the line-up. If Grandy hits behind A-Rod, I agree with the comment above, A-Rod will struggle.

by david d on Jan 24, 2010 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

I guess you are talking about Granderson....

you honestly think they trade for the guy if this would be the case?

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

They traded for him

cuz they needed an every day CF

by david d on Jan 24, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

Righties have been trying to pitch him away since he showed he's a good player...

that’s not gonna change.

…So, I doubt they’d trade for him if they thought pitching him away was the answer to solving Granderson.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Hope you're right

But I still think he should be batting 8th.

by david d on Jan 24, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

If Granderson is nothing more than a .220 hitter

than Gardner/Melky would be the CF platoon again.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

Regarding Granderson

I found this and found it very interesting. Entering 2009:

Some experts projected Granderson to have a huge 2008 and approach the 30-30 mark. But he started the season on the disabled list with a hand injury, and it was a long climb back. Still, 22-12 is nothing to sneeze at, and if he can emerge from camp unscathed, there’s no reason he shouldn’t surpass last season’s numbers in all offensive categories. After all, last year he was able to come pretty close to repeating his 2007 power output in around 60 fewer at-bats, and actually improved his batting average against left-handers by nearly 100 points.

Reason I find this interesting is because his rate stats against lefties in 2009 fell right back to their 2007 levels. So I wonder if his lefty problems are truly correctable, or if 2008 was an outlier.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 1:16 PM EST reply actions

I’m going to garner a guess that Kevin Long can work with him regarding that. He’s never going to hit .270 facing lefties. While with the Tigers, he admitted that he was trying to knock everything out of the yard which was in line with the Tigers’ oft-preached hack away philosophy.

by Scooby Snacks on Jan 24, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

when did he say that?

by jv52yankees on Jan 24, 2010 1:34 PM EST reply actions

Dye

got Melky that cycle single-handedly

Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1

by jramey on Jan 24, 2010 8:50 PM EST reply actions

Hahaha. I cant believe

all of the negativity on this thread. We just won the World Series and were coming back in 2010 with a better team.

Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1

by jramey on Jan 24, 2010 9:02 PM EST reply actions

Posada Will protect Arod

who else could protect arod .. Cano is a free swinger maybe swisher … I rather see Posada

YANKEE EMPIRE

by YANKEE EMPIRE on Jan 25, 2010 12:33 PM EST reply actions

the great thing is that it can be virtually anyone

outside of the obvious 1-4. maybe its Grandy against a RHP, or Swisher, Posada, or Cano against anyone else. play the individual matchups or the hot hand. not a big problem.

by Travis G on Jan 25, 2010 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Posada for #5 Hole... What about a healthy Nady in LF

Posada as a switch hitter is best as #5 hitter without Nady.

If Nady returns, I would use Nady as # 5 against lefties and #6 against righties.

If damon returns, Damon takes #2 hole ,Johnson #9 & Posada #5 spot.

Offensively best with Damon in the lineup… Defensively best with a healthy Nady.

The question is who can be had for an acceptable one year contract?

by YANKEES FOREVER on Jan 25, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions

defensively best

with gardner in LF…who’s already on the roster and requires no more cash spent.

by Frank Campagnola on Jan 25, 2010 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

still think it's going to be a "better" team

But the Red Sox got better too. And the Mariners. So there is more competition. This is a 100+ win team. but there is a chance to win 110 games. If we didn’t have a Wang/Mitre meltdown, we would have won 110 games

Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1

by jramey on Jan 25, 2010 9:21 PM EST reply actions