As we all know, being very well documented thus far, the Yankees have had a multitude of injuries this season - there have even been a number of setbacks. Here we are on May 10th, and Aaron Hicks has yet to play a game. Giancarlo Stanton hasn't played since March 31st - the first series of the season. Stanton and Judge have no timetable for their return. Luis Severino's and Dellin Betances recovery seem to be pushed back almost every week. Now, Hicks is supposed to be back FINALLY by the beginning of this week, but he missed pretty much ALL of Spring Training and all of the season to this point. Hicks is actually a perfect segue into what I want to talk about because I am sure the Yankees and Boone will handle this EXACTLY how they handled both Sanchez's and Andujar's return.
Let me ask you, the reader a question - If Aaron Hicks were healthy where would you see him in the batting order? Before you answer, consider the following. When I say healthy, I mean what if he wasn't injured? What if he didn't miss Spring Training and has played the entire season thus far... where would you put him in the lineup? In 2018 he was primarily the team's leadoff hitter, right? So it would be safe to say that's where he would be inserted into the lineup this season. Aaron Hicks will come back to the MLB roster after rehabbing for almost two months. He will have only played THREE rehab games. Three. He will play in these rehab games pretty much to confirm that he is physically able to play without any complications from his injury. He will rejoin the MLB squad and it is with most certainty that he will be inserted into the leadoff spot of the lineup.
My beef is this - is he ready to be put in the leadoff spot of the lineup? Most people assume, "He's healthy, and he's a professional so he should be able to step into that role with ease." But, baseball is not like basketball, hockey, soccer or football right? Of all the major sports Baseball is really the most one-on-one sport. Every single pitch it's the pitcher vs. the hitter and if and only if the hitter puts the ball in play does the pitcher rely on their fielders. What is the key to hitting? It all stems from timing and hand-eye coordination. I know he has played in extended spring training, but that's not an MLB game versus MLB pitching. Same with his three rehab games - Minor League pitching is not MLB pitching. Will Aaron Hicks' timing and hand-eye coordination be at the level required for him to bat in such a critical spot in the order immediately upon his return to the lineup? The answer is almost certainly NO. So then why bat him there?
Keep LeMahieu in the leadoff spot, bat Hicks 5th or 6th until he adjusts to being back in the lineup regularly and only then slide him back into the leadoff spot. I am not saying to permanently bat him here, I am merely suggesting to bat him here until he gets his timing back, and adjusts to playing every day. It might take him a little longer than someone that has missed only a week of playing time, since he's missed two months.
I bring this up because the Yankees did the same exact thing with Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. Sanchez missed about 12 days with a left calf strain, and immediately upon his return they put him in the cleanup spot. It took him three games to register a hit. And even then, in his first three games back he struck out 7 times in 11 at bats (however, his one hit was a monster Grand Slam). My argument is that it clearly took him a couple games to get his bearings back, so why bat him in such an integral spot in the lineup? He clearly did not have his timing back.
This same issue is currently going on with Miguel Andujar. Andujar was placed on the 10-day Injured List on April 1st after awkwardly diving back to 3rd base on a pick-off attempt from the Baltimore Orioles catcher, injuring his right shoulder. It was initially thought that he would need season ending surgery, but he and the team have decided after some rest and rehab that he would play on. Miggy was reactivated on April 30th and played a couple rehab games in single-A Tampa. Which again, was merely a formality to confirm that he was no longer injured and really didn't account for him getting at-bats and getting his timing back. Like Hicks, he is facing pitching that is in no way comparable to MLB pitching. Andujar rejoined the team and was inserted back into the lineup on May 4th, over a month since he suffered the injury and IMMEDIATELY put in the clean up spot. It has been six games since he as returned, and in the first four of these games he has been in the cleanup spot (2 for 15, .133)... so again I ask why? He has missed a MONTH of playing time? How can you assume you are getting a player that is at 100% adjusted to playing the game and then insert him into such a critical spot in the lineup? To me, it just doesn't make sense. He's missed significant time, he hasn't played regularly, he's not ready to hit in the top of the order.
You could easily apply this to Clint Frazier, who only missed 10 days. Clint was batting .324 prior to his left ankle sprain in Anaheim and since he returned from his injury, is 3 for 16 (.188) clearly not the same player since prior to his injury. And yet, he has not hit lower than 5th in the order... he is still getting his timing back! It would also be easy to assume that the same will be true for Stanton and for Judge upon their return. I almost expect them in the top third of the order regardless of how much they strike out in their first few games back.
It is clear to me that upon returning from injury, regardless of the amount of time missed, you cannot assume you are getting a 100% productive player upon their immediate return to the lineup. So why bat them in lineup spots that require a highly productive player? They need games (plural) to make adjustments and get their timing back.
You can argue the point of "Who else would you put there?" Well, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela, DJ LeMahieu have all been productive while these other players have been on the Injured List. But they are merely role players (Urshela and Maybin) who happen to be hitting well at the right time. There is the likelihood that they are unable to maintain this level of production. Move them up in the order, ride out their hot streak until these returning players make their adjustments and then move them back to the bottom of the order. These are things that analytics and the computer can't see.
What do you think? Is it really that big of deal? Am I on to something? I would love to hear your thoughts!