You can’t have thunder without lightning.
The Yankees have purchased the best of both worlds. And you can see the difference this is going to make in the Battle with Boston.
The home runs were the story with the Yankees bashing five in their 7-4 wipeout Saturday of the Red Sox on a perfect spring day at the Stadium, but they also brought something else to the party — and he is a difference maker in the most subtle of ways over the long haul.
The Yankees are going to need a lot of offense to survive this summer against their opponents and against some of the bizarre shifts they have come up with as an organization when opposing teams have men on base.
Brian McCann’s two home runs, and shots by Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Kelly Johnson were the difference, but this all got started on a beautiful two-out bunt single by Jacoby Ellsbury in the first inning. Beltran followed with a two-run home run. Ellsbury was on base three times on the day and is hitting .372 to lead the Yankees. On the homestand he is 9-for-21.
By having Ellsbury on this side of the Battle with Boston, the Yankees have a terrific new dimension and by taking him away from the Red Sox, and it has left a large hole in the Boston lineup.
You can’t lose a talented player like Ellsbury. His on-base percentage is .438.
Manager Joe Girardi knows what his offense is about this season. It’s different. He said it is better and Saturday was a good example of what is different this season with the Yankees in the AL East.
“I think our offense is much more balanced than it was last year,’’ Girardi said. “Just because of the switch-hitters and having [Derek Jeter] back. Our lineup is much more balanced and I think it is much more explosive.’’
Here are some of the subtle pluses of having Ellsbury around:
“He’s unbelievable,’’ infielder Dean Anna said. “That’s a guy, he is just in control all the time. He’s in control of every at-bat. He’s in control of out in the field. He seems like he is two steps ahead of everyone else in what’s going to happen. I’m trying to watch him and just learn. He’s so comfortable out there.
“It settles the whole offense down, he is just fun to watch.’’
Ellsbury is a calming influence. His presence gives the Yankees a sense they can score a run in so many ways and before you know it, everyone is relaxed and on days like Saturday, the ball flies out of the ballpark.
Here’s the perspective from a pitcher, Adam Warren, who was excellent again in saving the bullpen. He knows how difficult an out Ellsbury can be.
“He can hit for average, he can hit for power, he is just a big time threat offensively,’’ Warren said. “I remember pitching to him and you are thinking, ‘Well, he can get a home run, he can get a base hit, if he gets a base hit he is probably going to steal.’ He puts a lot of stuff in your head. He’s a big weapon.’’
Beltran hit the Yankees’ first home run batting right behind Ellsbury. He has the perfect on-deck view of what Ellsbury can do for an offense.
“He’s such a dynamic player,’’ Beltran said. “He can play good defense, he can be a threat offensively, he’s a threat on the base paths, we just want him to stay healthy. If he stays healthy, there is no doubt he is going to be doing special things.’’
That adds up to Yankee Stadium fun.
“You got to hit it, you got to hit the baseball,’’ Beltran said of his home run. “I hit that one good, Soriano said he hit his a little bit off the end of the bat but that’s what happens when you play in a ballpark with a short porch in right field.’’
Good things happened, and it all started with a bunt.