Yankees need aggressive Notorious B.M.G.
In 2014, Brett Gardner played like he was in a contract year. He didn't have to. That's because the New York Yankees wisely locked him up before the season and came away with a bargain. Considering the deal the team inked with Jacoby Ellsbury and comparing the numbers, that four-year, $52-million dollar pact with Gardner, looks better and better.
The humble Gardner even balked at being given Derek Jeter's now vacant locker at Yankee Stadium. This season should yield an even more important role in the Yanks lineup for Gardner. The subsequent retirement of Jeter, necessitates the longest tenured home grown Yankee to bat second in the lineup and fill a leadership role.
Slotting Gardner in the two spot should pay huge dividends for the Yanks. While Gardner and Jeter batted an identical .256, Gardner posted a higher on-base percentage .327 to .304, slugging percentage .422 to .313 and OPS .749 to .617. In addition to those numbers, Gardner set career bests in home runs and RBI.
With the aforementioned Ellsbury placing pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses, things should only open up even more for Gardner at the plate. In fact, the two hole may be even more advantageous than the lead-off spot, last year Gardner's batting average jumped from .240 with no runners on, to .292 with runners on base.
Speaking of pressure, that's one part of Gardner's game that the Yanks hope he gets back to. An aggressiveness that saw Gardner swipe 96 bases between 2010 and 2011. Compare that to the combined 45 thefts he had in 2013 and 2014 and it's clear how important it is for Gardner to propel the offense forward.
Those numbers, coupled with Gardner's standout defense in left or even in center, may make for more Gatorade showers in the Bronx in 2015.