STEALING THE SHOW
Banged-up lineup leads to Gardner running more
Early in spring t ra i ni ng, Brett Gardner talked about the Yankees having a different lineup than a year ago — when Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann hit behind him and Jacoby Ellsbury.
None came back, and were replaced by Aaron Judge, Matt Ho l l i d a y, Greg Bird and Gary Sa nc h e z — and Gardner indicated he might be running more than he did in 2016.
No w, seven ga mes into the season, shortstop Didi Gregorius isn’t expected back until at least May 1, and Gary Sanchez is expected to miss at least four weeks with a strained brachialis muscle in his right arm. The hope is the catcher returns in the second week of May. Add in Bird dealing with a bruised right ankle and a cranky stomach, and the new lineup has key ingredients missing.
So, has that been the reason Gardner is running a lot more than he did a year ago?
“I think so. When you are feeling good, I think it’s important to take advantage of those opportunities,’’ Gardner said when asked if he was pushing it a little bit more with Sanchez, Gregorius and Bird not around to contribute with the bat. “The guys in the middle of the lineup would much rather see me on second and third instead of first. Just trying to be aggressive and put pressure on the defense and try to make things happen.’’
Gardner is 5-for-5 in steal attempts and has swiped two in the same game twice. That certainly is more activity than last season, when Gardner attempted nine steals in the first two months and was successful eight times. And after May disappeared, Gardner played 101 games, had an OPS of .354 and attempted just 11 steals and was safe on eight of them. So, in the f inal four months of 2016, Gardner attempted six more steals than he has in the f irst seven games this season.
Yes, it’s early, and Gard ne r is fu l ly heal t hy. And t he draining summer heat hasn’t bl ankete d bi g le a g ue ballparks yet.
“It’s a long season. Over the course of the season, you get beat up from time to time. There are times, there are days when you can’t be as aggressive, but right now I feel good,’’ Gardner said. “Taking advantage of opportunities that are given to me.’’
Gardner hasn’t taken advantage of feeble-throwing catchers, either. Derek Norris has caught four games against the Yankees and has thrown out 26 percent of runners trying to steal in his career. During that span, the league average has been 27 percent. Welington Castillo, who has caught two games against the Yankees, has nabbed 31 percent of runners, during a time when the league average was 28 percent. Last year Castillo caught 40 percent, compared to the league throwing out 29 percent.
Some scouts believe Gardner, who turns 34 in late August, has lost something running home to first. But one pointed out that speed running the other bases shouldn’t be ignored.
“That’s just as important as his times to first,’’ the scout said. “It doesn’t matter, it’s a moot point if he is stealing bases.’’
In 2011 Gardner played in 159 games and swiped 49 bags in 62 chances a year after getting 47 in 56 chances. Beginning in 2012 Gardner, has 81 steals in 113 chances and never more than the 24 in 32 chances in 2011.
It was supposed to be different without Beltran, Rodriguez, Teixeira and McCann, who ran like mud going uphill. Sanchez was supposed to supply the muscle from the No. 2 spot and he has vanished for a while. Which means the action has to come from somewhere else, and at f irst blush the indication is it will be from Gardner’s feet.