Yankees: 3 easy lineup changes NYY can make to boost offense
By Adam Weinrib
1. LeMahieu-Torres-Andujar. Every Single Day.
The Yankees’ best infield includes Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, and DJ LeMahieu, in some form, every single day. For now.
It’s easy for us, while out of the line of fire, to declare that recently-rehabbed players aren’t allowed to take an off day while the team’s struggles continue.
Unfortunately, as bench jockeys, we feel it’s necessary to at least remind those in charge: Without Gio Urshela, the best version (only competent version?) of this infield includes Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu, and Miguel Andujar all active at the same time.
Andujar has struggled to find his consistent helicopter in 2020 after shoulder surgery at the beginning of last season, but he’s been energized since his most recent promotion — did something finally stick? Though Yankees’ rallies have been few and far between, he’s been a part of almost all of them, exemplified by his tie-breaking single in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, which broke a remarkable string of Yankees failures. The ship had been … somewhat righted, at least?
Then, DJ LeMahieu got the nightcap off, as well as Saturday’s game, both losses.
Even riding a two-game losing streak, Gleyber Torres still took his scheduled off day on Sunday afternoon.
In order to maximize the Yankees’ already-dwindling prospects, we have to minimize the number of lineups that don’t include all three of these names.