When the Yankees build a championship team, they almost always concentrate on strength up the middle. Even today, the team the Yankees field focuses on their shortstop, Didi Gregorius, their second baseman, Starlin Castro, catcher Gary Sanchez, and Aaron Hicks who is admirably filling in for Jacoby Ellsbury.
And before that, the Core Five tandem that included Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada won four World Championships in five years based on the same premise.
As we know, the game of baseball has changed, and the accent on power is expected from all positions.