As most of the regulars here are aware of, my pet cause this offseason has been begging the Yankees to flip Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon in the lineup. As I have stated various times, my reasoning is the following:
The one element that supports keeping things as they are is Damon’s speed, as he is a much better base stealer than Jeter at this point. However, the remainder of the data points in the opposite direction. Unless Jeter’s poor season was a sign of a steep decline, Derek is better at reaching base than Damon, with a 30 point edge in OBP over their careers. However, Damon is less prone to the strikeout (12.1 K% to 17.1 for Jeter) and is significantly better at keeping the ball off the ground (1.33 GB/FB compared to 2.36). Essentially, this means that Damon is able to put up similar numbers to Jeter while making more contact and hitting fewer ground balls, both qualities that help avoid rally killing double plays and strikeouts from the #2 slot. Finally, Damon has a bit more power than Jeter, another element that suggests flipping them would lead to more runs.
If Joe Torre was still the manager, this would be a pipe dream. However, being that Joe Girardi is supposed to be more open to change and prone to using statistics, I thought that the logic of the move would eventually smack him in the face. Well, courtesy of Pete Abraham, this is the lineup for today’s preseason game:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Ransom 3B
Molina C
Cabrera SSUPDATE, 9:31 a.m.: Girardi just named CC the starter for Opening Day and the home opener. Joba will start the sixth game. They’re also toying with Jeter hitting leadoff with Damon second….As for Jeter hitting leadoff, when they were using Posada to hit leadoff to get him some at-bats when he started catching, they liked what Damon did in the No. 2. So they’re toying with the idea of using Jeter atop the lineup. Damon is a good pull hitter and adept at advancing runners.
According to Kat O’brien, this is more than just an experiment. Rather:
The Yankees’ lineup will have a new look this season.
Derek Jeter will be the leadoff hitter and Johnny Damon will bat second, a top of the lineup switch the Yankees will use for the rest of spring training.
Manager Joe Girardi said the reason for the switch is because the team likes how Damon has looked batting second in spring training games. As long as the Yankees like what they see over the final week of spring training games, the team will bring this lineup into the regular season.
The new look at the top of the batting order also is an indication that the Yankees will use Brett Gardner as their everyday centerfielder. Gardner figures to be the ninth hitter, and if Damon was batting leadoff opponents would likely bring a lefthanded specialist to face both hitters. Putting Jeter first splits the two lefthanded hitters.
Damon was called into Girardi’s office when he arrived Thursday morning and said afterwards he has no problem giving up the leadoff spot.
“I’m okay with it if it makes our team better,” Damon said.
Joe Girardi is awesome for even considering messing with the status quo. It is a small change, and it probably will not have a huge impact (According to David Pinto, three runs over the season). However, every win counts in a division as tough as the AL East, and if the switch brings even half a win over the season it will have been worth it. I’m torn between dreaming that Yankee management reads our blog and hoping that they came to this conclusion on their own.
Related posts:
You and I agree on this! Now then step is platooning Damon against lefties with Swisher.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
You’ve mentioned that a few times- I’m going to do some research on it and post something in the next couple of days, time permitting.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
scott l Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Damon has hit lefties in the past but he does not have the slugging percentage that both Swisher and Nady have against them anymore. If you platoon Damon with Swisher in the 2 hole you get Swisher into games in a defined role plus give Johnny some rest. The goal should be to get all of Swisher, Nady, Damon and Matsui 500+ pa.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
why wouldn’t the Yankee front office at least scan some blog sites… And at the risk of sounding obsiquious,this site has become one of the best. Kudos…
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
It’s funny, Peter Gammons had a post about this a while ago. He said team execs do read blogs. I just dont know that they read mine. And thanks for the kudos- we have been working hard, and its nice to know that people notice.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Chris H. Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Props, Moshe. I think we (you) were the first to discuss this switch or at least discuss it thoroughly.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Yeah, not to sound arrogant, but I think so too. To be fair though, RAB picked up on it last week, and if Yankee management were to get it from a blog, it would be more likely to be from them.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
HA! Moish, as soon as I saw The Abe’s post about the potential lineup change, the first thing that came to my mind were these exact words: “If Joe Torre was still the manager, this would be a pipe dream. However, being that Joe Girardi is supposed to be more open to change and prone to using statistics, I thought that the logic of the move would eventually smack him in the face. Joe Girardi is awesome for even considering messing with the status quo.” SOOOOOO true.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Nice Call Moshe. But now the fun questions is with Jeter taking Damon’s spot in the batting order is there any way he might also follow him to LF eventually? He’s still got enough straight-line speed to cover the ground. Hopefully the bat is still there.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
It;s funny, people keep saying “he has poor range, how will that work in left?” But I think those two items are totally different. Range in LF is about foot speed and route taking, two things Jeter does really well.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
EdB Reply:
March 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I think its a decent fit. Sure he might not have the power for an OF but if he can be a scratch or better defensive player and maintain some of that bat value he could remain a productive player for a few more years. SS is about lateral quickness and reaction time. I think the OF is really more about sprinting speed and instincts. While detractors will claim Jeter’s lost a step, I would argue that anyone capable of stealing double digit bases in the big leagues has at least enough speed to be a good LF.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Don’t be so humble Moshe…take the credit!
Last year on Rab, a couple of us (I think Steve was one also) mentioned the change but, as expected, we where shut down by some of the others. I was not into it as you have been, just as a passing thought.
So, again, good going…you stuck to it!
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
March 26th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Ok, fine. If I have to…
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]