Red Sox: Where does the lineup rank among AL playoff teams?
This is where the offense really jumps up a notch. The New York Yankees come in at No. 3 behind the bats of their Baby Bombers. Before this season started, many predicted the Yankees would be good, however – not nearly as good as they so quickly became. While Gary Sanchez continued to build on his impressive power we saw on display in 2016, Aaron Judge burst onto the scene setting rookie records left and right on a day-to-day basis.
More from Red Sox News
- Red Sox news: Orioles eyeing former Boston arms, Dansby Swanson to Cubs, JD Martinez to Dodgers
- 3 players the Red Sox could’ve DFA’ed instead of Jeter Downs and Eric Hosmer
- Eric Hosmer DFA is latest questionable Red Sox roster decision
- Scott Boras rubs Xander Bogaerts failure in Red Sox faces at Masataka Yoshida introduction
- Did Alex Cora just drop a huge hint about Red Sox free-agent target?
Aside from these two young power bats, the Yankees won 91 games with the help of a phenomenal unheralded offensive season from Didi Gregorius, and consistent contributions from the likes of Starlin Castro, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Matt Holliday, and the deadline addition of Todd Frazier. A dominant force in not just the American League, but MLB as a whole, the Yankees ranked second in OPS+, slashed .262/.339/.449, posted the third-best team OPS at .785, hit the most home runs in the league, and posted the 2nd most runs per game at 5.30.
With the big power in the middle of their lineup, the Yankees will look to live for that three-run homer throughout the postseason – something they’ve already done once already. Unlike the Red Sox, the Yankees follow the old baseball adage of, “a bloop, a blast, and then the three-run HR.”
Much to Orioles fans dismay, Earl Weaver would love the way this Yankees team approaches the offensive side of the game. Their leadoff hitters get on, and then their power bats bring them in. Simple as that. They don’t hit doubles, triples, or even really steal many bases. This Yankees team is built to beat you with the home run. As long as their opposition can prevent the big blast, the Yankees will be vulnerable this fall.