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New York Yankees Editorial: Does Hitting Ellsbury Second Makes Sense?

By Jason Evans

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With the exception of last night, the Yankees problems haven’t been offensively. It’s been with their pitching. The offense has been okay with Brett Gardner lead-off and Chase Headley in the two hole ahead of Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

Per NJ.com, Gardner in the lead-off spot the past eight games is 17-36. When you look at lineup construction, everyone thinks that you’re best hitter should be in the three hole, but more and more you’re seeing those kind of players in the second spot. Guys like Mike Trout and Joey Votto are thriving in that spot.

Robinson Cano with the Yankees hit second from time to time. Per Fangraphs, in 2013, Cano actually had a higher OPS from the two hole than his usual three hole. 

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Jacoby Ellsbury may be the Yankees best overall player and hitter. With that in mind, should Ellsbury and Gardner flip spots in the order like they suggest in the NJ.com post?

Well, Gardner in his career hits 10 points better in the second spot (.277-.267), but has a higher OPS out of the lead-off spot.

Ellsbury has hit just 21 times in the two hole, but has a .346/.402/.494 in those games. However, he’s been in the leadoff spot 672 times.

Could Ellsbury thrive if Joe Girardi flipped the two in the order? Probably. However, Girardi isn’t exactly the kind of manager to try something like that. He kept Derek Jeter in the two hole last year, when it was clear he shouldn’t be there.

It’s not like the offense was that bad when Ellsbury and Gardner went 1-2.  I can’t see the change coming when Ellsbury gets back.

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