The AL East: New York Yankees

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If there's one team that seems to exude an aura over baseball, it's the New York Yankees. 27 World Series Championships is a major feat to say the least. They did snare #27 in 2009. They make a somewhat historic run at the onset of the century as well. Still, the recent tide has flowed away from the pinstripes during the last decade. Cause for concern? Anytime the Yankees don't win the whole deal, red flags wave at an alarming rate for Yankees fans.

As I prepped myself for this, I asked myself a few questions. One. Was the whole Derek Jeter thing this past fall overblown? Two. Would a real offseason aid an aging Alex Rodriguez? Three. How would losing out of Cliff Lee affect the starting staff? Four. How deep would the Andy Pettitte retirement cut into the staff? All causes for concern. While I may not exactly provide an answer to each of those, I think we can get the picture.

Let me really delve into this and say that I believe the Yankees still have one of baseball's most potent offenses. Sure, I realize Jeter had his worst season last year. Maybe it's time shake up the lineup a bit. Put him at #2 in the order and have left fielder Brett Gardner have the opportunity to bat leadoff. The Captain can still handle a bat as well as anyone in the game. He will be more than happy to lay down a bunt to advance the speedy Gardner.

And let's not forget the power that this infield possesses. The other three guys (Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and A-Rod) are all capable of hitting 30 HR and driving in no less than 90 runs. All have the capability to hit .300 as well. The right side of the infield is almost as good as it gets defensively with Cano and Teixeira. The other side may be a different situation (No Jersey Shore mentions, please!).

While Jeter captured a Gold Glove last season, there was little doubt from number crunchers that he had no business in doing so. A-Rod has displayed problem in getting a throw to any base at any time. While neither hold the range they used to, it could be said the the left side of the infield is serviceable at best.

That's where Gardner and center fielder Curtis Granderson can come into play even more than your left and center guys do. They have to be more on the ready from a defensive stance that others that play the same positions. Their chances of seeing balls go through the infield are a little greater. But they they both wield a bat.

Gardner is as fast as anyone in baseball. In his 2+ seasons, he has 86 thefts while being caught only 15 times. Granderson isn't exactly chump change there, but his stolen base count is near as impressive. But Granderson can pop the ball on occasion. Over the last five seasons, he's averaged almost 24 dingers each year.

And what about Nick Swisher in right? Not a defensive wizard, but he will fight to get the job done out there. It's obvious in comparing his first two seasons in New York that he is becoming more acclimated not only to the position, but to the New Yankee Stadium as a whole. His bat arose from its 2009 slumber as Swisher posted one of his best offensive seasons since entering the league for good in 2005. He set career highs in SLG and OPS.


The position that is in a state of flux is behind the plate. Jorge Posada will be taking a different role this season as the primary DH...or so we're led to believe. This could open the door for Jesus Montero to claim the #1 catcher's spot, right? Wrong. The Yankees brought in former Dodger Russell Martin to hold down the fort for at least half a season. And don't forget that while Posada was battling injuries throughout last season, Francisco Cervelli manned the position. Martin and Cervelli are #1 and #2 for now.

The issues confronting the Yankee faithful has to be the starting rotation. The only sure thing is CC Sabathia. After that, who knows. Phil Hughes tired in the last half of the season. I don't expect that as much from Hughes this year, but the thought must reside in your mind. Andy Pettitte retired. A.J. Burnett and 2010 did not exactly mesh. Ivan Nova has only made 7 starts in his brief career. Sergio Mitre is listed as the #5 on the Yanks website. So how do the Yankees look...really?

Pretty woeful to be honest. Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia were brought in on minor league deals hoping to catch lightning in a bottle...or least the past of either. If both can succeed in the spring, it does bolster the experience factor. Early in the season, that's not such a big deal, but it would be going forward. That would also give Nova more time to develop into a quality starter and Mitre could be the spot guy/long reliever.

Ponder this for a moment. What if the Joba Chamberlain experiment in making him a starter had worked? We'd not be doubting this mear as much or be as critical as we are about this staff. But it didn't and Joba, for the moment, is fighting for a roster spot amongst the bullpen arms.

You can't say "bullpen" and "Yankees" and not mention Mariano Rivera. Best closer the game has seen and may ever see, save numbers aside. He's done it mostly one pitch. One that hardly anybody can get his bat on, too. But what does New York have after Rivera?

They shelled out a few bucks for Rafael Soriano who mounted an excellent season in Tampa in 2010. He's presumably the "closer in waiting". Not sure how that situation will pan out either.I suppose that as long as Soriano gets his check, it won't matter.

But the Yankees do have some nice bullpen arms after Rivera and Soriano in David Robertson, Boone Logan and Joba. They also added Pedro Feliciano as a lefty. It'll be a confidence thing for manager Joe Girardi, but it's still a pretty stout pen.

You have to get to the starters because if New York is ahead going into the 8th, you're pretty much done. And with the offense the Yankees have, it will be a high scoring affair.

Does New York have enough to keep up with the hated rivals in Boston? Offensively, no doubt.

2011 will rest on those starting arms.