The Yankees hope Alex Rodriguez's off-season rehabilitation leads to more power in 2012. Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon SMI
The series on team offense continues with the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers finished second in the majors and the American League in offense last season, scoring 5.35 runs per game. They exceeded their runs created estimate by about 0.2 runs.
The CBSSportsline probable batting order is the one Joe Girardi is likely to write up this season. The OBP and slugging percentage used come from the Marcel the Monkey forecast system. Plugging those numbers in the Lineup Analysis Tool (LAT) produces the following results:
- Best lineup: 5.16 runs per game
- Probable lineup: 5.08 runs per game
- Worst lineup: 4.87 runs per game
- Regressed lineup: 4.66 runs per game
Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones should platoon at DH, so the eighth slot may end up with better production than those numbers. Of course, that’s the price for trading Jesus Montero.
Given how close runs/game estimates at the top and bottom, it’s tough for Girardi to put a bad lineup on the field. Everyone but Ibanez is well above the AL average .323 OBP from 2011, so few players give away outs. The middle of the lineup provides plenty of power, especially if Alex Rodriguez‘s rehabilitation and new therapies worked as promised. These projections, however, do point out how the Yankees are aging. Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and A-Rod do not project to be at the top of their games. Still, I’ll take this nine over most teams.
You can see the results of all the teams on this Google spreadsheet as the series progresses.
Previous articles in this series:
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They are actually favorites to win the 2012 season.