KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Provided nobody suffers an injury before Opening Day, the Yankees will have a significantly better infield defensively than a year ago.
On April 1, 2014, the Yankees’ infield from first to third base in Houston was structured this way: Mark Teixeira, Brian Roberts, Derek Jeter and Kelly Johnson. Eventually, Yangervis Solarte hit his way into third base.
Only Teixeira remains from a year ago. Stephen Drew is at second, Didi Gregorius is at short and Chase Headley is at third.
“I think our defense has a chance to be really, really good,’’ manager Joe Girardi said Saturday at Osceola County Stadium where the Yankees beat the Astros, 9-4, with six runs in the ninth. “You have two shortstops in the middle for one and hopefully you have your first baseman back. And you have an outstanding third baseman back who played really well for the two months we had him.’’
First base, where Teixeira’s physical woes and quiet bat didn’t affect his defense, is the only infield spot where the Yankees haven’t made a significant upgrade.
Headley’s soft hands and accurate throwing arm dwarfs Johnson and Solarte. Gregorius’ range and arm are among the best in baseball. Jeter’s arm was never an issue because it was accurate and even at 40 the Yankees wanted the ball hit at him late in close games. Yet, his range was an issue before the broken ankle. Though Drew still is transitioning from short to second, Brian Roberts was on fumes when he signed with the Yankees.
“Our defense has a chance to be really good, overall, everywhere,’’ said Girardi, who brought the starting infield to face the Astros.
There is a lot of talk about run prevention as important as run production. And though a three-run homer is far sexier, a diving stop on a searing one-hopper that starts an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded and the team up a run is equally productive.
“It has a cumulative effect,’’ Girardi said of plays not made in the field behind a pitcher. “Each out is less pitches on the starter and the bullpen. And that all adds up over the course of the year.’’
Gregorius is an elite defender capable of the “wow’’ play. The only question is if he will hit enough for Girardi to play him every day. The left-handed hitter is a career .184 (30-for-163) with a .490 OPS against lefty pitchers.
“He has had success against right-handers, he needs work against left-handers,’’ Girardi said. “We knew we were getting a really good defender.’’
When Gregorius was acquired from the Diamondbacks, the Yankees didn’t believe they were getting a finished product. They even went so far to say he might need help against lefties. However, the light-hitting Brendan Ryan, a right-handed hitter, is really the only option in a platoon.
“I want to see him against lefties,’’ Girardi said of Gregorius. “Obviously, you would love to have an everyday shortstop. Sometimes you start a platoon and that relationship you build with the infield is not as tight in a sense.’’
Asked if he didn’t get enough at-bats against lefties in Arizona, Gregorius said, “I am not the one who makes that decision.’’
With March moving from the first week to the second and still plenty of exhibition games to provide a chance for Gregorius to quiet the fears that he can’t hit lefties, Girardi is thinking he can.
“He has the ability to hit left-handers. A times you can get pegged early in your career,’’ Girard said. “I want to see him against lefties.’’
So how much does Gregorius have to hit to play all the time? Remember, Jeter batted .256 with a .304 on-base percentage and .617 OPS in his final season. Gregorius batted .226 in 80 big league games last year with a .290 on-base and .653 OPS.
If Gregorius adds 15 points and hits .241, is his glove good enough to play regularly?