This week we asked our writers:
If you were the Yankees’ manager, what would your lineup be?
Here are their responses:
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Mike Whiteman:
Hicks, CF Frazier LF LeMahieu, 2B Stanton, DH Torres, SS Judge, RF Voit, 1B Sanchez, C Urshela, 3B
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Chris O’Connor:
With Luke Voit out, my ideal lineup would be:
Hicks-CF
Judge- RF
LeMahieu-2B
Stanton- DH
Torres-SS
Bruce-1B
Urshela- 3B
Sanchez-C
Frazier-LF
***
Derek McAdam:
1. Aaron Hicks. Hicks does a fine job of working counts, which will make the pitcher work beginning with the first batter.
2. Aaron Judge. Hicks will usually bat left-handed, so follow it up with a powerful right-handed batter in Judge.
3. D.J. LeMahieu. The obvious choice to put LeMahieu is leadoff, but he is a solid contact hitter and that can drive in runs if either Hicks or Judge gets on base.
4. Giancarlo Stanton. Why not follow up the contact hitter with a power guy in Stanton. At this point, continue to put runs on the board if Stanton can smash a double or a home run.
5. Gio Urshela. Once the season begins to take stride, Urshela will do the same. He is a contact hitter and can put the ball in play wherever he needs to.
6. Jay Bruce. At this point in the lineup, Hicks is the only left-handed batter. Therefore, Bruce would slot in well at 6.
7. Gleyber Torres. It is not punishment for putting Torres in the bottom of the lineup, but I believe it is the best way to balance the lineup.
8. Gary Sanchez. Another player who has tremendous pop can balance the power hitters throughout the lineup instead of grouping them all together.
9. Clint Frazier. Frazier at 9 is not indicative of poor performance. In fact, he is the best fit for this position before the lineup turns over. He is a solid hitter who has speed and can get on base. It’s a great way to end out the lineup,
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Andy Singer:
With Luke Voit:
Aaron Hicks
Aaron Judge
DJ LeMahieu
Giancarlo Stanton
Luke Voit
Gleyber Torres
Gary Sanchez
Gio Urshela
Clint Frazier
Without Luke Voit:
Aaron Hicks
Aaron Judge
DJ LeMahieu
Giancarlo Stanton
Gleyber Torres
Gary Sanchez
Gio Urshela
Clint Frazier
Jay Bruce
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Tom Russo:
Here’s how I would line them up in a perfect world:
1. DJ LeMahieu- 2B
2. Aaron Judge- RF
3. Aaron Hicks- CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton- DH
5. Luke Voit- 1B
6. Gleyber Torres- SS
7. Gary Sanchez- C
8. Clint Frazier- LF
9. Gio Urshela- 3B
However, given injuries and how the season has started, my lineup if I was managing tonight’s game would look like this:
1. DJ LeMahieu- 2B
2. Aaron Judge- RF
3. Aaron Hicks- CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton- DH
5. Gary Sanchez- C
6. Gleyber Torres- SS
7. Clint Frazier- LF
8. Jay Bruce- 1B
9. Gio Urshela- 3B
Gary has come out like a house on fire and appears to be the only person who wanted to hit in the Opening Series, so I’d bump him up. Jay Bruce continues to give me no confidence and anywhere above 8 seems too high to me. Other than that, I’m going to trust that the other players do their thing and ride with the order as is.
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Paul Semendinger:
I am of the belief that you bat your best hitter in the #3 spot.
I also hate the gimmick that’s now become the supposed brilliant idea of batting Aaron Judge in the #2 spot.
If I were the manager, I would make the lineup as follows:
Aaron Hicks (and if continues to flounder, Brett Gardner) – CF
Clint Frazier – LF
D.J. LeMahieu – 2B
Aaron Judge – RF
Gleyber Torres – SS (This is where it gets difficult as I hate all these righties in a row, all who swing similarly. I would refuse to bat Judge and Stanton back-to-back since they are the most similar.)
Giancarlo Stanton – DH (If Stanton is hitting and Judge isn’t, I would flip-flop them)
Jay Bruce -1B
Gary Sanchez – C
Gio Urshela – 3B
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Ethan Semendinger:
Clint Frazier (There’s an argument Frazier could be the Yankees next great lead-off man.)
DJ LeMahieu (DJ takes the old Derek Jeter role with the 2-spot in the lineup)
Aaron Judge (In a perfect world I’d have Judge 3rd, especially after a Frazier/DJ combo)
Aaron Hicks (The sometimes-lefty needs to be here somewhere to break up Judge/Stanton.)
Giancarlo Stanton (The best power hitter goes 4th. That’s Stanton.)
Gleyber Torres (Gleyber has to earn this spot after a down offensive 2020.)
Jay Bruce (This will also be Voit’s spot when he comes back. Low pressure to rebuild reps.)
Gary Sanchez (I think keeping the pressure low on Gary helps him do well.)
Gio Urshela (The Yankees lack speed for this spot, but Gio fits the standard #9 role well enough.)
