Yankees: Sanchez Batting Second Wallops A Two-Run Homer Today

The Yankees, in a somewhat surprising move, have their prized catcher hitting second in their batting order as the team is romping the Tigers.

Yankees catcher, Gary Sanchez, responded to a surprise move by manager Joe Girardi by smashing a two-run home run off Anibal Sanchez in the third inning of today’s exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers. Sanchez also has a RBI single in the game.

But the big news of the day is that Sanchez is hitting second in the batting order, instead of third or fourth as he has in the past. Today, Greg Bird is third as insurance for Sanchez and is 1-1 with two walks in the game that is still in progress.

The usual consensus in baseball has been to place your best hitter in the number three hole. But more recently, sabermetricians, using complex mathematical data, argue that your best hitter should bat second, and apparently, Girardi is buying into the theory.

The New York Daily News reports Girardi as saying:

"“I’m going to look at it,” Girardi said. “In the first inning, I think I’d prefer to have two guys in front of my best hitter. But then you start going through the other three times through the lineup and you get a few more at-bats over the course of the season, so I can see it both ways.”"

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And as long as Bird, who has three home runs this spring, including one he literally hit out of the ballpark, stays hot, Sanchez is liable to see better pitches in the number two slot.

In fact, Girardi seems to have been doing a lot of thinking lately about his lineup. This move follows on the heels of another decision to separate Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury, both of whom hit left-handed, in the order.

It’s quite a bit of tinkering for Girardi, who has mainly been used to a set lineup during his tenure as the Yankees manager. Girardi is not committing wholeheartedly to either of these changes, though, indicating again to the Daily News:

"“A lot of my lineups have to do with getting guys the most at-bats they can now (in spring training),” Girardi said. “But I told you I’m going to look at the lineup. When it gets closer I’m going to look at doing a lot of different things and come up with what we think is the best lineup.”"

As this story is published, the Yankees are romping the Tigers 11-1 as the game enters the eighth inning. Michael Pineda started the game and worked two scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing only one hit.

Aaron Hicks, who is making a strong play to be one of three utility players on the roster, hit a two-run homer.

Assuming the Yankees maintain this lead, their record for the Spring will rise to 8-2.

Next: Four Take Aways From Spring Training So Far

Tomorrow, the Pittsburgh Pirates will travel to Tampa to meet the Yankees in a 1:05 PM game.