Jeter Should Bat Second, But Who Needs Their Lineup Spot Changed?

It has been a season-long issue for the Yankees’ offense in terms of being towards the bottom in runs scored in the American League. Recently, the popular question has been whether or not manager Joe Girardi should be leaving the Captain, Derek Jeter, in the number two spot of the batting order, a place that he has been for most of this season.

For the record, I have no problem leaving Jeter in the #2 spot of the order. Yes, Jeter had a very bad month in August, hitting only .207 (lowest batting average in any month this year), with one home run and nine RBI’s. However, the 40-year-old shortstop has had a much better start to his September. In six games, Jeter has recorded a hit in five of those, has one double and four RBI’s. Plus, Jeter is still hitting .260 this season, which is around the expectations that were set for him before the season began. While Jeter’s spot is safe, there is one significant change that I would make to this inconsistent Yankees’ offense.

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The Yankees have tried to place Brett Gardner in the #3 spot in the order behind Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeter. While Gardner is hitting the ball better in his last five games with his three doubles, this is a spot in the lineup that is not prototypical for a player of Gardner’s talents. He has been out of the lineup the past couple of days due to an abdominal injury.

The New York left fielder does have 16 home runs, which is second on the team, but the main things you normally want to see from him are to get on-the-base, work the count (leads the team in .OBP at .342) and steal bases (19). It says a lot about this Yankees’ offense when you consider that Gardner is second on the team in home runs behind Mark Teixeira’s 21.

It is a nice change of pace to see Gardner crack home runs, but I would like to see Gardner he was in 2010 and 2011 when he hit 12 combined home runs, yet stole a combined 96 bases. The third spot should be up for guys like Martin Prado and Carlos Beltran. Gardner is hitting .267 in the third spot in five games, but his best spot in the lineup statistically is the seven spot, where he is hitting .313 in ten games this year.

In 2015, I would like to see the Yankees go to a 1-2 punch at the top of the order in Ellsbury and Gardner. If Gardner is allowed to be aggressive and steal bases at the top of the order, it could lead to more run-scoring opportunities for the power hitters in the order. Maybe then, the 31-year-old left fielder who has stole only four bases in the second half (two since August 1) will go back to his old style of play.

With Jeter Day occurring in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon, it’s a reminder that the Yankees’ lineup does need significant changes both now and in the near future. Nevertheless, with the playoffs looking like a longshot at best in 2014, the Captain should stay in his #2 spot as he finishes the final weeks of his career. Once Jeter retires, it will be interesting to see what lineup combinations Girardi throws out there when it comes time for Opening Day next year.