You know the N. Y Yankees are going to be a franchise to be dealt with each year. They have quality arms, but what truly makes this franchise go is one of the most talented batting orders in the big leagues. Let's have a look at who will be filling out the lineup in 2012. If you want to read about more teams have a look at our MLB predictions for 2012.
Projected Lineup
Russell Martin (Catcher) - Martin played well in his first season with the Yankees. His .237 batting average was the lowest of his career, but he was effective offensively with 18 homers and 65 RBI in just 125 games. We could see more of Martin behind the plate in 2012, particularly since Montero is no longer in the picture.
Mark Teixeira (First Base) - The slugging production for the veteran were a solid 39 home runs and 111 RBI, but he still only hit for an average of about .250 for the second consecutive year. If he will get back on track and boost his average closer to .300 with those nice power stats, we could see Teixeira be in the shortlist for the American League MVP.
Robinson Cano (Second Base) - Cano is coming off another impressive year with New York. He batted .302 with 28 home runs and 118 RBI last year. The 29-year-old All-Star 2nd baseman has now notched up three consecutive years with at least a .300 average to go with a median of 25 home runs and 85 RBI.
Derek Jeter (Shortstop) - Jeter started off the season battling with his bat, but got his 2nd wind after reaching the 3,000-hit mark. He hit .331 with 41 RBI from that point on, but his poor start meant he finished with a .297 average, a career-low 6 homers and just 61 RBI. Father Time might finally be catching up to the future Hall-of-Famer, as he's going to turn 38 in June, and you've got to wonder how much longer he can keep up this All-Star pace before suffering a steep decline.
Alex Rodriguez (3rd Base) - An injury-plagued season limited him to just 99 games last season. As a consequence, he snapped a 13-year run with at least 30 homers and 100 RBI when he hit just 16 homers and 62 RBI. The soon-to-be 37-year-old is still one of the better hitters in the game when healthy, so that the Yankees are hoping he'll bounce back with a big season in 2012.
Brett Gardner (Left Field) - Brett Gardner is one of a few Yankee hitters who don't flourish on hitting home runs. His bread and butter are on the defensive end and with his ability to wreak havoc with his base stealing. Gardner batted just .259, but scored 87 runs and tied for the American League lead with 49 steals.
Curtis Granderson (Center Fielder) - Granderson had a year for the ages when he exploded for 41 home runs and 119 RBI in his second year with New York last year. He also had 10 triples and 25 stolen bases; he became the 1st player in history to record 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases. The best part is that he's turning just 31 in a week or two, so there's still good reason for the Yankees organisation to hope that he will put up similar stats in 2012.
Nick Swisher (Right Field) - Swisher has put together a string of solid regular seasons in NY, batting .260 with 23 home runs and 85 RBI in 2011, but he continues to struggle mightily to supply in the playoffs. In three years with the Yankees, he has hit just .160 in the postseason.
Raul Ibanez (Designated Hitter) - The Yankees went out and added the vet Ibanez to supply a steady hand at DH. He turns 40 in June, but he could see a spike in his numbers playing in Yankee Stadium. Though he hit just .245 in 144 games with Philadelphia Phillies last season, he did manage to hit 20 homers and drive in 84 runs.
Projected Lineup
Russell Martin (Catcher) - Martin played well in his first season with the Yankees. His .237 batting average was the lowest of his career, but he was effective offensively with 18 homers and 65 RBI in just 125 games. We could see more of Martin behind the plate in 2012, particularly since Montero is no longer in the picture.
Mark Teixeira (First Base) - The slugging production for the veteran were a solid 39 home runs and 111 RBI, but he still only hit for an average of about .250 for the second consecutive year. If he will get back on track and boost his average closer to .300 with those nice power stats, we could see Teixeira be in the shortlist for the American League MVP.
Robinson Cano (Second Base) - Cano is coming off another impressive year with New York. He batted .302 with 28 home runs and 118 RBI last year. The 29-year-old All-Star 2nd baseman has now notched up three consecutive years with at least a .300 average to go with a median of 25 home runs and 85 RBI.
Derek Jeter (Shortstop) - Jeter started off the season battling with his bat, but got his 2nd wind after reaching the 3,000-hit mark. He hit .331 with 41 RBI from that point on, but his poor start meant he finished with a .297 average, a career-low 6 homers and just 61 RBI. Father Time might finally be catching up to the future Hall-of-Famer, as he's going to turn 38 in June, and you've got to wonder how much longer he can keep up this All-Star pace before suffering a steep decline.
Alex Rodriguez (3rd Base) - An injury-plagued season limited him to just 99 games last season. As a consequence, he snapped a 13-year run with at least 30 homers and 100 RBI when he hit just 16 homers and 62 RBI. The soon-to-be 37-year-old is still one of the better hitters in the game when healthy, so that the Yankees are hoping he'll bounce back with a big season in 2012.
Brett Gardner (Left Field) - Brett Gardner is one of a few Yankee hitters who don't flourish on hitting home runs. His bread and butter are on the defensive end and with his ability to wreak havoc with his base stealing. Gardner batted just .259, but scored 87 runs and tied for the American League lead with 49 steals.
Curtis Granderson (Center Fielder) - Granderson had a year for the ages when he exploded for 41 home runs and 119 RBI in his second year with New York last year. He also had 10 triples and 25 stolen bases; he became the 1st player in history to record 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases. The best part is that he's turning just 31 in a week or two, so there's still good reason for the Yankees organisation to hope that he will put up similar stats in 2012.
Nick Swisher (Right Field) - Swisher has put together a string of solid regular seasons in NY, batting .260 with 23 home runs and 85 RBI in 2011, but he continues to struggle mightily to supply in the playoffs. In three years with the Yankees, he has hit just .160 in the postseason.
Raul Ibanez (Designated Hitter) - The Yankees went out and added the vet Ibanez to supply a steady hand at DH. He turns 40 in June, but he could see a spike in his numbers playing in Yankee Stadium. Though he hit just .245 in 144 games with Philadelphia Phillies last season, he did manage to hit 20 homers and drive in 84 runs.
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