By letting Hideki Matsui walk at a Black Friday price, many fans, including us, are wondering what the Yankees’ plans are for the designated hitter slot. We’ve seen several times over the past few weeks that the front office is leaning towards a rotating DH.
But what does that even mean? By some media accounts, it sounds like literally there would be a different player every day occupying the DH slot. Obviously, that can’t be true. Unless you have an incredibly deep bench, that’s really difficult to pull off without having black holes in your lineup. Plus, it is it even possible to rotate your DH for 162 games? That’s a bit nutty.
Or will the Yankees do something similar to what they did in 2009? Have a primary DH that gives you about 120 games, and use the remaining games to rest some of your older players. The below table illustrates how the Yankees effectively “rotated” the DH this past season.
| Age | G | |
|---|---|---|
| Hideki Matsui | 35 | 116 |
| Jorge Posada | 37 | 9 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 33 | 9 |
| Derek Jeter | 35 | 5 |
| Mark Teixeira | 29 | 5 |
| Johnny Damon | 35 | 4 |
| Shelley Duncan | 29 | 1 |
| Eric Hinske | 31 | 1 |
| Jose Molina | 34 | 1 |
| Xavier Nady | 30 | 1 |
| Nick Swisher | 28 | 1 |
In our view, that is the best way to use a “rotating DH” and maximize offensive production. There needs to be a primary DH.
20 Comments
Joltin' Joe December 15, 2009 22:01
So in other words if we somehow land Holliday we still should grab another bat, aka Nick Johnson.
Kyle December 15, 2009 22:09
Getting a new LF isn’t really a necessity if they can sign a more cost effective DH like Nick Johnson.
Kevin G. December 15, 2009 22:22
Why was Jose Molina ever a DH?
Larry December 15, 2009 22:25
I couldn’t agree more
http://www.yankeeist.com/2009/12/rotating-dh-is-simply-not-acceptable.html
http://www.yankeeist.com/2009/12/yankee-blogosphere-to-brian-cashman-we.html
AndrewYF December 15, 2009 22:34
Molina DH’d October 2nd, presumably to give him some at-bats to prepare for the playoffs:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200910020.shtml
Brian Cashman is Watching December 15, 2009 23:03
Rotating DH means that the Yankees want someone that can play the field and play maybe 80 games as DH. Namely, they want Johnny Damon to fill the role. He would play 80 games at DH, while Posada filled in 40 and Granderson/Swisher/others fill in the others. Damon’s value as a fielder is very low, but he can still play in the outfield when Posada needs a day off, or when other guys need some time off. I very much like this idea. Maybe another outfielder would be nice with Damon, but Melky/Gardner/Hoffman can rotate in the outfield to improve the defense over Damon, while letting others slot in the DH.
Kyle December 16, 2009 00:43
Even if Damon comes back, there isn’t a need to have a different DH every single day. The team needs a player who can play like 70% of the time at DH. For the amount of money and years he signed for, I really don’t see why it couldn’t have been Matsui, but now the best option is probably Nick Johnson.
Brian Cashman is Watching December 16, 2009 01:17
Why does it nee to be 70% of games at DH? You figure Posada will DH 20% of the time, and A-rod will need some time off for his hip (maybe 10 games at DH, plus a few full off days). Granderson and Swisher need days too.
I like Johnson and have no problem with Johnson coming aboard. But I think I’d rather have Damon in that role and strengthen our outfield defense with Cabrera in left. If Damon’s poor defense was merely an anomaly (maybe, new stadium and his UZR from 2007 and 2008 are much higher in LF, so it might be a statistical anomaly), then even better. But I’d rather focus on Damon first, then Johnson, because of the flexibility.
frits December 16, 2009 09:04
nick johnson isn’t going to want to sign as a DH, IMO. a lot of his value comes from his defensive skill; i have to think theres a team willing to pay for that.
Manny December 16, 2009 09:12
truth is, we ALMOST need Damon at this point to be that primary DH/4OF. you got to figure that Cervelli/Molina’s Limp Noodle bat will be in the lineup every 5th game when AJ pitches… those are the days Melky/Gardner sit and Damon plays LF so Posada can still DH??
Sounds like an abortion of overthinking and uber-complications when there do not need to be…
Ray Stanz December 16, 2009 09:21
If the Yankees got Holliday, they would probably make Swisher the primary DH and move Melk to RF. They wouldn’t have the cash to go out and sign another big bat.
(Assuming they still need another arm)
Business Suit December 16, 2009 10:12
Maelky Cabrera is not a right fielder.
greg 23 December 16, 2009 12:05
F’ Nick Johnson , at this point if Damon isnt coming back grab J Dye.
the sheezy December 16, 2009 13:58
wait That list is wrong. there’s no way Cody Ranson was never the DH. no way.
Olddog December 16, 2009 15:02
As the article states rotating a DH would only work if you have a really deep bench which no one in the league does. Adding Nick Johnson would make more sense than signing Holliday, but I wouldn’t discount Juan Miranda getting a serious look here. He is cost effective, young, good hitter, good power, and we would save the 7 or 8 million it would take to sign say Nick Johnson and could invest somewhere else like another pitcher.
HC December 16, 2009 15:51
I’m getting to the point where, if we can’t get Johnny D for 2yrs, I’d rather get ready for the 2010 class (Mauer) by sticking with Melky/Garner in LF, signing DeRosa (short and cheap only) for supersub and LF (against tough LHP), and a cheap DH (Dye?). Also, go for one or two of J Duch, Sheets, and/or Escobar on ST deals.
Craig December 16, 2009 22:32
Has anyone mentioned Nick Johnson yet?
Craig December 16, 2009 22:34
Ah just kidding. I still have a man-crush on Nick the Stick, but really, we already have 1B covered with Tex, Swisher and Posada if need be, don’t you think? Maybe a guy who can play a position other than 1B would make more sense, even if he doesn’t have Johnson’s mad OBP skills.
Butcher December 17, 2009 08:01
I think the plan is to get Damon to come down. Sign him to play LF. Put Melky in RF and DH Swisher most of the time. They can swamp them out when needed, but to me it makes sense. That’d be my plan if I was Cash Money.
steve December 17, 2009 19:43
NJ near a completed deal for 1 yr @ 5.5 mil to DH