The Yankees Offense: It’s about more than just the home runs

The Yankees lead the American League in home runs, and it’s a joy to watch them jettison balls into the seats. But it’s other facets of their offense that weren’t there last season that is making all the difference in 2017.

The Yankees continued their winning ways with a dramatic come from behind win over the Chicago Cubs this afternoon on a ninth-inning home run (watch it here) by Brett Gardner that highlighted the main strength of the team this season. Ironically, though, there’s more to it than that.

The Yankees disappointed last season mainly because their offense sputtered. Aging veterans like Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez clogged not the lineup, but the basepaths as well. And if the 2017 season thus far can be credited to an improvement spotlighting only one area, it has to be the team offense.

This chart may help to demonstrate the difference.

Category                                   2016                                  2017

Runs Scored                                     22nd (4.2)                                2nd (5.69)

On-Base Percentage                     25th (.315)                               2nd (.355)

Batting Average                              20th (.252)                               3rd (.273)

Stolen Bases                                    18th                                            5th

Base On Balls                                  18th                                             5th

Of these stats, the most significant improvement has come in the area of runs scored and the extra run and a half the team is plating this season as opposed to 2016. Because in this league, if you don’t score runs you don’t win games. And any discussion about this has, to begin with, the Boston Red Sox of 2016 who finished first in the league compared to where they sit now at number twenty-six and in third place instead of first place.

And any discussion about this has, to begin with, the Boston Red Sox of 2016 who finished first in the league compared to where they sit now at number twenty-six and in third place instead of first place.

But it’s other more subtle areas that are making the difference for the Yankees this season. Getting men on base is critical, of course, before you can score runs. They’re doing that this year. The Yankees have also added the threat of the stolen base to their arsenal, something that recently has been ignored as a weapon in keeping opposing teams off balance.

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The Yankees shouldn’t, and therefore don’t enter a game intending to play small-ball unless they’re facing a premier pitcher like Chris Sale or Jon Lester, who they’ll be drawing Sunday night in the series finale against the Cubs.

In those cases, the team’s intent is to score three or four runs any which way they can and hope for the best. But otherwise, the team is built to bludgeon and crush any and all who stand in their way with a steady barrage of at-bats that “see” a minimum of four or five pitches, culminating with that devasting blast scoring three runs and demoralizing their opponent.

Five home runs in a game like they did earlier this week against the Blue Jays in a 7-1 win is a bit ridiculous, but one or two a game is all it takes to get the job done.

Yankees Have A Problem With Coitus Interruptus

There is one rather alarming stat, which if not corrected, will eventually spell trouble down the road. Presently, the Yankees lead the majors in leaving men on base, averaging more than sixteen per game.

Lady luck aside, they’ve gotten away with it so far. But getting men on base is one thing, as they’ve doing this year, but driving them home is quite another. In an entirely different arena then, it’s sort of like coitus interruptus during sex. Starting something and not finishing it is not what you want in either situation.

In any event, it’s a stat to follow as the season moves along.

Sanchez Effect Unknown

The injection of Gary Sanchez into the lineup, after he shakes off some of the rust, is bound to have a profound effect on the Yankees offense (0-4 today in his debut against the Cubs). And depending on how Joe Girardi finalizes his lineup with Sanchez in there on a regular basis, there could be a domino effect downward offering protection for Aaron Judge, who already is seeing fewer pitches to hit.

Yankees: 40-Man Roster Crunch Makes Them Explosive At The Deadline

The Yankees have a problem and it has nothing to do with on the field play. They have too much talent and they're going to be looking to deal with it.

But no matter how you dissect the 2017 Yankees, one thing is abundantly clear. The are a dominant offensive team with a good balance of power and what used to be called “Punch and Judy” hitters who do the dirty work by getting on base, while the glory boys come on to drive them home.

That’s a winning formula, and it’s one the Yankees have lacked for some time now. Welcome back.