FanPost

DET vs. NYY: The Age Factor

Underappreciated story of these playoffs: The Yankees are a significantly older team than the Tigers.

When you compare lineups, the Yankees' youngest everyday position players (Martin & Cano) are 29. The Tigers' <i>oldest</i> everyday position players (Peralta & Infante) are 30. At the end of a long season, you have to wonder if some of the Yankees' offensive woes aren't related to older bodies simply tiring out (or, in Jeter's case, breaking down entirely.)

Tigers:

<div class="sr_share_wrap">

<table class="sr_share" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:.83em; border: 1px sold #aaa;">

<colgroup><col><col><col><col class="sort_col"><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>

<thead>

<tr class="" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" tip="<strong>Position</strong>" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">Pos</th>

<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""></th>

<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting sorttable_sorted_reverse sort_col" tip="Player’s age at midnight of June 30th of that year" style="background-color: #ffa; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">Age<span id=""> ▾</span></th>

</tr>

</thead>

<tbody>

<tr class="" data-row="2" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="5" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>2B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Infante,Omar" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/infanom01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Omar Infante</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">30</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="3" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="6" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>SS</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Peralta,Jhonny" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peraljh01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jhonny Peralta</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">30</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="4" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="3" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>3B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Cabrera,Miguel" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabremi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Miguel Cabrera</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">29</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="1" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="2" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>1B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Fielder,Prince" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldpr01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Prince Fielder</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">28</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="7" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="11" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>RF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Boesch,Brennan" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boescbr01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Brennan Boesch</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">27</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="10" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="12.1" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">OF</td>

<td align="left" csk="Berry,Quintin" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berryqu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Quintin Berry</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">27</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="5" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="9" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>LF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Dirks,Andy" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dirksan01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Andy Dirks</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">26</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="8" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="14" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>DH</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Young,Delmon" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngde03.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Delmon Young</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">26</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="0" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="1" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>C</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Avila,Alex" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilaal01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Alex Avila</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">25</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="6" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>CF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Jackson,Austin" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksau01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Austin Jackson</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">25</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="16" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="11.1" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">RF</td>

<td align="left" csk="Garcia,Avisail" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garciav01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Avisail Garcia</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">21</td>

</tr></tbody>

<tfoot>

</tfoot>

</table><div id="" style="font-size: 0.83em; " class="sr_share">Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Baseball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2012.shtml?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#team_batting">View Original Table</a><br>Generated 10/16/2012.</div>

</div>

(BB-Ref has Boesch as the Tigers' everyday RF, I included Berry & Garcia for reference.)

Yankees:

<div class="sr_share_wrap">

<table class="sr_share" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:.83em; border: 1px sold #aaa;">

<colgroup><col><col><col><col class="sort_col"><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>

<thead>

<tr class="" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" tip="<strong>Position</strong>" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">Pos</th>

<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""></th>

<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting sorttable_sorted_reverse sort_col" tip="Player’s age at midnight of June 30th of that year" style="background-color: #ffa; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">Age<span id=""> ▾</span></th>

</tr>

</thead>

<tbody>

<tr class="" data-row="5" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="9" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>LF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Ibanez,Raul" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/ibanera01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Raul Ibanez</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">40</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="3" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="6" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>SS</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Jeter,Derek" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeterde01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Derek Jeter</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">38</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="4" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="3" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>3B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Rodriguez,Alex" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrial01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Alex Rodriguez</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">36</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="8" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="14" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>DH</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Chavez,Eric" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chaveer01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Eric Chavez</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">34</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="1" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="2" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>1B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Teixeira,Mark" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/teixema01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Mark Teixeira</a>#</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">32</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="6" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>CF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Granderson,Curtis" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandcu01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Curtis Granderson</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">31</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="7" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="11" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>RF</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Swisher,Nick" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swishni01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Nick Swisher</a>#</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">31</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="0" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="1" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>C</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Martin,Russell" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martiru01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Russell Martin</a></td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">29</td>

</tr><tr class="" data-row="2" style="" onmouseover="" onmouseout="" id="">

<td align="left" csk="5" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><strong>2B</strong></td>

<td align="left" csk="Cano,Robinson" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick=""><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/canoro01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Robinson Cano</a>*</td>

<td align="right" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " onmouseover="" onmouseout="" onclick="">29</td>

</tr></tbody>

<tfoot>

</tfoot>

</table><div id="" style="font-size: 0.83em; " class="sr_share">Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Baseball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/2012.shtml?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#team_batting">View Original Table</a><br>Generated 10/16/2012.</div>

</div>

Normally, this becomes a narrative of "age vs. experience," and we go down that path debating which is more valuable. But this crop of Tigers, with a very few exceptions, have been to the postseason before. For some, it's their third ALCS. They're not fresh-faced kids (except for Garcia). They're players with playoff experience and in the prime of their careers, and they're outplaying a lineup that's certainly looking like it's on the right-hand side of the age performance bell curve these days, regardless of its payroll or prior performance.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the <em>Bless You Boys</em> writing staff.