There is always one phrase that every baseball fan looks forward to that marks the beginning of a long competitive year; Opening Day. It’s the day where winning games start to matter, the day where fans trek to the stadium to watch their teams in action, the day where young female fans adoringly gaze at baseball players from far hoping that they could walk away with an autograph or picture. But Opening Day isn’t just a day for preparation for the fans; it is also a day for preparation for the teams.
After a long offseason the New York Yankees are scheduled to go back to the “Chase for 28,” but the Yankees can’t do that without a stellar performance from CC Sabathia & a potent Opening Day lineup. Here is how I could imagine the Yankees’ lineup on Opening Day and if played just right they could win the first game of the season:
1. Brett Gardner, LF: For the dynamic of a potent Opening Day lineup, you always want your fastest runner batting at the top of the order. In this case, that is where Brett Gardner comes in. Coming off of a sluggish 2011 season offensive wise, Gardner didn’t struggle when it came to stolen bases, putting up a career high 49 SB in 60 attempts. With Gardner’s speed and his ability to work walks, the Yankees might not have to look far for a leadoff man when the time comes to replace Derek Jeter.
2. Derek Jeter, SS: Coming off a stellar 2011 campaign, Jeter would bat second in the Opening Day lineup. In the second half of the 2011 season, Jeter was able to find his groove and finished the season with a .297/.355/.388 line. And now that Jeter has the 3,000 hits under his belt, there should be nothing keeping Jeter from hitting to his full potential.
3. Robinson Cano, 2B: Let’s face it; Robinson Cano practically owns the Yankees. He was easily their best hitter in 2011 with a .302/.349/.533 line which is why he should bat 3rd. Not only is Cano the best hitter on the Yankees, but Cano has the power to change games around. In 2011, he hit 28 HR’s & 118 RBI’s. Read the rest of this entry →
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