TAMPA — In retrospect, what’s most amazing about the Yankees’ 764-run output of 2015 — second-most in Major League Baseball and 131 more than their 2014 predecessors — is they pulled it off despite getting just six good weeks from Jacoby Ellsbury and one good half from Brett Gardner.
Such a phenomenon probably can’t be matched. For sure, the Yankees would rather not find out.
For their offense to be such an asset again, the Yankees likely will need more from Ellsbury and Gardner, who ideally would bat first and second. The two provide the type of athleticism and relative youth for which the club yearns.
That Gardner is behind in this camp, slowly working through a left wrist injury he suffered in last year’s American League wild-card loss to Houston, sets off an early alarm, though both he and manager Joe Girardi expressed confidence all would be well by Opening Day.
“Any time you’ve got a couple of guys at the top of the lineup who are capable of getting on base and running a little bit and scoring a bunch of runs, it’s important that you’re doing what you’re supposed to do,” Gardner said Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “I know the last couple of months of last season, we weren’t necessarily clicking on all cylinders and struggling to get on base and struggling to score runs collectively as a unit. It’s important to really do your job up there and get on base and set the tone.”
“It seems like when those guys are going, we really put up big numbers,” Girardi said. “And that’s also important, too, because you think about the games that you’re in, it’s nice to have some big numbers where you don’t have to necessarily use your big three [relievers] in wins. And maybe you get them days off that you wouldn’t necessarily use them. And then you have them maybe in some games [where we’re trailing].”
Ellsbury and Gardner actually posted a superior collective on-base percentage in 2015 (.332), than the .328 they compiled in 2014. That occurred in more than 100 fewer plate appearances, however, thanks to the right knee sprain that sidelined Ellsbury for six weeks. And they teamed to steal just 41 bases in 55 attempts last year after going 60-for-70 the prior year.
It isn’t just their styles that make Ellsbury and Gardner so important, though. It’s also their age. Each will turn 33 in 2016, so neither can be regarded as youthful. Yet, like Wilford Brimley in “Cocoon,” they are young compared to some of the company they keep.
The Yankees’ middle infield plans to feature shortstop Didi Gregorius, 26, and second baseman Starlin Castro, who turns 26 in March. The heart of their batting order, though, should feature 40-year-old Alex Rodriguez; Carlos Beltran, who turns 39 in April; and Mark Teixeira, who turns 36 in April. All helped considerably in 2015. All could duplicate their offensive value in 2016. It’s more probable they won’t.
“We have high standards,” Ellsbury said of himself and Gardner, “and take pride in what we do.’’ Meeting those high standards would provide a cushion for the geezers as well as Chase Headley and Brian McCann, both in their early 30s, and the young double-play combination.
Hence the concern over Gardner’s wrist, an injury that can debilitate a batter for a long time. Gardner said he took 50 swings in the Yankees’ indoor batting cage Saturday and lengthened his throws, and “everything felt good.” He wants to take live batting practice shortly.
Asked whether he was worried about being ready for the start of the season, Gardner said, “No, not at all. I’m hopeful that by the end of next week, I’ll be caught up with everybody else and ready for a game.”
“We’re just kind of taking it slow because we can,” Girardi said.
While the Yankees acquired Aaron Hicks to augment their outfield, they would rather deploy him as a fourth outfielder, another athletic option, than as an injury replacement.
They pulled off a neat little trick last year. The best way to make this a magical season, though, is to have your top parts operating at full speed.