Yankees have sorely missed rock-solid version of DJ LeMahieu this year
BALTIMORE — DJ LeMahieu lamented last week that the Yankees are the streakiest team in baseball and he is right. He is also one of the reasons that the ups and downs of this season have seemed so drastic and dramatic. The past two seasons, LeMahieu has been one of the “stabilizers” in the lineup, a steady bat that kept the Yankees somewhat balanced through the streaks of their sluggers like Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.
This year, LeMahieu has had his own streaks and while having a respectable year, it’s not what was expected after his first two seasons with the Yankees were so impressive.
That was one thing a rival executive cited last week when asked why he thought the Yankees have had so many streaks this season.
“They have a lack of stabilizer hitters, guys who are not prone to those high and low streaks are missing in their lineup,” the exec said. “They have taxed their bullpen. Now that they’re healthy they no longer have that youthful energy in their lineup ... their defense is such that it’s more likely to lose a game then win a game for them.”
That’s too much to address in the final 16 games of the 2021 season for sure, but Aaron Boone was trying to get LeMahieu back on track Thursday night. The infielder was not in the lineup for the series finale against the Orioles at Camden Yards to try and get him in a better spot down the stretch as the Yankees chase an American League wild card spot.
LeMahieu dealt with an arm issue, which forced the Yankees to play him at second base to limit his throwing, but he was back to third when Gleyber Torres was demoted from shortstop on Monday, Boone said he was “fine,” but “just a little banged up.”
“And in the middle of this, whatever, 27 out of 28 days just felt like he needed a day today.”
LeMahieu had arguably been the Bombers’ offensive MVP the last two seasons, winning the AL batting title in 2020. This season, LeMahieu is hitting a respectable .266/.346/.362, but which is a considerable dropoff from the .327 and .364 he hit the past two seasons respectively. LeMahieu is hitting a fine, but disappointing .268/.348/.366 with 10 homers in 139 games this season. His strikeout rate (14%) is the third highest of his career. He is among the bottom 11% in barrels percentage and bottom 31% in expected slugging.
Aaron Boone does not see a huge difference between LeMahieu in 2019 and 2020, and the 2021 version, who is signed to a six-year, $90 million deal. He feels like it’s some bad luck.
“I feel like for much of the year, it’s similar at-bat quality.” the Yankees’ manager said. “Early on, there were some fastballs getting by him to swing and missing a little bit more, but by and large, you look at his games and he has a lot of the typical DJ games where it’s lined out to right field. He had a couple balls to the fence at Yankee Stadium, right up against the fence and right field. ... He’s put some balls on the ground. But by and large, I feel like the at-bat quality’s been there.
“I think last year, in the shortened season, I think he found more holes. I mean, there’s been a number of balls, almost night in night out, where he hits a ball sharply, where they maybe haven’t played perfectly or it just doesn’t get through,” Boone said. “So he just hasn’t put together that .330 type year, but I feel like he’s been steady.
“And he’s probably a little bit of tough luck, because I feel like it hasn’t been far off from the DJ we’ve seen the last couple years,” Boone said. “Other than not having some hits that typically have fallen for him in the past haven’t this year.”
LeMahieu is far from the biggest issue these inconsistent Yankees have, but if he could get back on track to his 2020 self, it would be a huge boost.
