Yankees: 3 role changes we’d already make after two games

Mar 11, 2021; Clearwater, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (31) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2021; Clearwater, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (31) prepares to take batting practice before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
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Through two games, the New York Yankees are a perfectly perplexing 1-1, and have given fans just about the whole gamut of emotions.

Would you like to see some RISP fail? Not a problem; the Yankees were happy to provide in their Thursday opener, with Aaron Judge extinguishing a seventh-inning rally and an ill-timed DJ LeMahieu rollover preventing a walk-off.

What about some pitching, though? The bullpen has held up well through two extended tests. Gerrit Cole went 5.1 innings in the opener, and Corey Kluber couldn’t get an out in the fifth, but a wide variety of ‘pen arms kept their composure and probably should’ve walked away with two wins.

Bronx Bombers fans, famously even-keeled, are already stuffed with overreactions.

Have things looked alright so far? Sure. Lot to believe in, lot to remain skeptical of.

But do we think we can do things better than Aaron Boone? Of course! Don’t worry. We’ve got notes.

Overall, many of the problems the Yankees have suffered thus far will even out in the long run. There’s no need to push Giancarlo Stanton out of the cleanup spot because of a few whiff-filled games; he’ll eventually rip baseballs, and he still threatens the pitcher from right where he is, intimidating the Jays into a few walks on Saturday.

There are a few things we already believe the Yankees should explore, though, especially based on the inopportune situations they’ve found themselves in to start the season.

The Yankees should consider these three lineup and bullpen changes.

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Aaron Hicks #31 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game at TD Ballpark on March 21, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Aaron Hicks #31 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game at TD Ballpark on March 21, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

3. Aaron Hicks Should Leave the Three Hole…And Lead Off?

This is not a value judgment on Aaron Hicks. It’s simply a clear pitch for optimizing what he provides.

On the surface level, he just…doesn’t look like the same in the three hole as he does in different positions in the lineup.

His greatest strengths are his patience and power, but from the third spot in the lineup, too often he’s looked pull-happy and desperate to sell out for the home run ball. He’s sizing up breaking balls and changeups properly, but then still somehow pulling his head off.

Snap judgments aside, Hicks is just a bigger threat in the leadoff position.

His biggest joy in this game is taking the walk, and fans won’t know what hit them after his eight-pitch at-bats are moved from the middle of the order RBI position to the lineup’s top spot. And don’t we love DJ LeMahieu cleaning up the base paths? Isn’t that far more likely when he’s hitting…anywhere but the top of the order? Let Hicks set the table, and let The Machine plow RBI singles through the right side of the infield instead of relying on Jay Bruce and Clint Frazier at the bottom to get on base.

Thus far, Hicks looks ill-suited to the third spot in the order, and seems to be succumbing to the pressure of being expected to be a run producer. Luckily, there’s a ready-made solution here, and one that statisticians have long been arguing for.

Apr 3, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga (43) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga (43) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Define Jonathan Loaisiga’s Role…in the Late Innings

So far, so extremely good for Jonathan Loaisiga, who Aaron Boone still insists will inhabit a “Swiss Army knife” role for the Yankees this season.

In two games, he’s pitched in two drastically different scenarios, holding serve in a tie game in the eighth inning of the opener before coming in directly after Corey Kluber departed in the fifth, plowing through two shutout innings.

No matter what, he’s looked another level of nasty, and we’d like to see him settle closer to the back end of the ‘pen before this season hits the stretch run.

This Yankees team had to battle through the first two games of the season without Aroldis Chapman (suspension) and Justin Wilson (dead arm), and won’t get Zack Britton back until midway through the season. Naturally, like a scared outfielder hoping the ball wouldn’t find him, both ended up being close games that taught us a bit more about the bullpen trust tree.

Here’s the secret, though: ultimately, Loaisiga probably has more swing-and-miss upside than Wilson, who typically pitches to contact and can be hittable when he struggles, since he lives in the zone anyway. By mid-May, would anyone be stunned if they trusted Loaisiga more than the veteran?

Hopefully, Boone is willing and able to make permanent changes to the way they use him.

So, who fills the Swiss Army knife role? Don’t worry. We’ve got a guy.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nick Nelson #79 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets during the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2020 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 4-3.All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nick Nelson #79 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets during the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2020 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 4-3.All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. Keep Trusting Nick Nelson as ‘Swiss Army Knife’

Our answer is Nick Nelson, who works as a one-inning option, but would have so much more value as someone who can caddy for Kluber and Jameson Taillon with a guaranteed two or three innings at a time.

When Michael King got up in a one-run game Saturday, who else cringed? With Loaisiga needed in the back end, that should’ve been Nelson, who showed again this week that he has much higher upside.

Coming off a spring where every opposing scout under the sun gushed about him, Nelson’s right arm continued to shine in the opener, felled by an awful rule that placed an automatic runner on second for him.

Blessed with 97 on the fastball and a plethora of secondary pitches, Nelson could also be a starter in emergency situations — though he did show late-inning upside in batting away all three hitters after the Grichuk double.

Once again, if not for an unfortunate rule change, he would’ve wriggled out of trouble.

Loaisiga, at this point, should not be a starter. His stuff always plays up when he’s got a leash on him, and he could be a very valuable breakout candidate at the tail end of the bullpen.

Nelson? I mean…does anyone have a reason he can’t start? Until that day comes, though, he should absolutely be first in line ahead of King to conserve the rotation’s innings, instead of being the first guy out of the ‘pen in extras.

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