 |
 |
|
|
2010 NEW YORK YANKEES PREVIEW
2009 was truly a year to remember for the New York Yankees. After a decade of heartbreak in the playoffs, the Yankees had the best record in baseball and finally broke through their postseason frustrations and won the World Series for a record 27th time. Furthermore, it was the first season in their new Billion Dollar Home, New Yankee Stadium, and they couldn’t have picked a more perfect way to begin things in their new house.
But playing for the Yankees means playing under the most intense scrutiny in all of baseball. While 2009’s accomplishments will go down in history, the fickle fans in the Bronx won’t hesitate to begin booing the same players who won last year’s title if they start off the season slow. With a few key offseason acquisitions (Curtis Granderson, Javy Vazquez, Nick Johnson), can the Yankees defend their Division Title in 2010?
 |
DFN Sports sites feature New York Yankees apparel & merchandise online. |
STARTING PITCHING
It took a major upheaval on the mound for the Yankees to contend last season. Ace C.C. Sabathia (19-8, 3.37 ERA, 34 Starts, 230 IP, 197 K) and 2nd Starter A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA, 33 Starts, 207 IP, 195 K) were lured by New York’s virtually unlimited financial resources in the offseason and both paid major dividends. The real question is whether the notoriously injury-prone Burnett can stay healthy because he has never gone more than two seasons without missing starts due to injury.
Also in the 2010 rotation will be grizzled veteran Andy Pettite (14-8, 4.16 ERA, 32 Starts, 194 IP) and new acquisition Javier Vazquez (15-10, 2.87 ERA, 32 Stats, 3 CG, 219 IP, 238 K), who came as part of the Melky Cabrera trade. Both men are excellent starters but both have their share of concerns. Pettite is over 40 years old and durability has to become an issue at this point. Furthermore, Vazquez had trouble dealing with the spotlight in his previous one year tenure in the Bronx and it will be interesting to see if he can match 2009’s career-best numbers in the media cauldron that is the Bronx.
Finally, the 5th starter will be either Joba Chamberlain (9-6, 4.75 ERA, 31 Starts, 157 IP) or Phil Hughes (3.03 ERA in 51 Games). Both men have a ton of talent but both have proven in their young careers to be significantly stronger options out of the bullpen. Expect Chamberlain to have an edge here with a full season starting under his belt but one of these men should be a solid 5th starter for the Bronx Bombers.
BULLPEN
The Yankees have been blessed by the presence of Mariano Rivera (1.76 ERA, 44 Saves in 66 Games), who is generally considered to be the best closer of all time. He should continue to dominate the 9 th inning with his virtually unhittable cutter and it really seems like age hasn’t affected him at all. Now 40, Rivera has posted a sub-2.00 ERA in six of the last seven seasons!
The rest of the bullpen is going to be interesting to watch. Will the loser of the Hughes-Chamberlain derby serve as the primary set up man or will the Yankees want him to get more seasoning at Triple A and maintain his arm strength? If so, who will fill the 8th inning role? Candidates include former starters Chad Gaudin (4.64 ERA in 26 Starts) and Sergio Mitre (6.79 ERA in 9 Starts), lefty Damaso Marte (who missed most of 2009 with a shoulder injury) and Boone Logan (5.19 ERA in 20 Games). Yech. The only bright spot appears to be Alfredo Aceves (10-1, 3.54 ERA in 43 Games) and the Yanks might struggle in the bullpen this season. This is a spot where you can expect the Yankees to open up the checkbook in July at the trading deadline.
INFIELD
The Yankees boast the preeminent infield in all of Major League Baseball. 1st Baseman Mark Teixeira (.292, 39 HR, 122 RBI, 103 R, .383 OBP) is not only an elite power hitter but a defensive wizard. 2nd Baseman Robinson Cano (.320, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 103 R, 204 Hits, .352 OBP) is one of the elite hitters at his position in all of baseball and is still only 27 years old. 3rd Baseman Alex Rodriguez (.286, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 14 SB, .402 OBP) is likely to break Barry Bonds’ record for career Home Runs by the time he retires and should play with renewed vigor now that the pressure of winning his first championship has been lifted. Also notable is 1st Baseman/Designated Hitter Nick Johnson (.291, 8 HR, 62 RBI, .426 OBP), who will fit in well with the Yankees’ patient lineup.
Finally, the heart and soul of the Yankees is their old guard: Shortstop Derek Jeter (.334, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 107 R, 212 Hits, 30 SB, .406 OBP) and Catcher Jorge Posada (.285, 22 HR, 81 RBI, .363 OBP). Both have spent the past 15 years in pinstripes and are already legends. Jeter might be the most popular athlete to play in New York in the last twenty years! The good news is that while both are getting up there in years, there is no question that both are still extremely productive players and will anchor the best infield in baseball.
Pro Baseball Fans and our partner sites feature New York Yankees jerseys & hats and Yankees Fathead wall murals online. |
OUTFIELD
It will be difficult for the outfield to compare to the solid gold group that was just covered, but there is a lot of talent here as well. Centerfielder Curtis Granderson (.249, 30 HR, 71 RBI, 20 SB, 91 R, .327 OBP) was the biggest acquisition during the offseason and his numbers should soar while playing in the hitter-friendly confines of New Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, rightfielder Nick Swisher (.249, 29 HR, 82 RBI, .371 OBP) acquitted himself well in 2009 and is expected to continue hitting with power this season.
The weak spot in the Yankee lineup appears to be in left field, where youngster Brett Gardner (.270, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 26 SB, .345 OBP in 108 Games) will compete with veteran Randy Winn (.262, 2 HR, 51 RBI, 16 SB, .318 OBP). Both are speedy players without a lot of power and whoever wins the job appears to be a lock for the 9 th spot in the batting order. This is another position that screams ‘Trade Deadline Upgrade!’ Compared to Yankee outfields of the past, this group is underwhelming.
OUTLOOK
There’s no question that the defending World Series Champions are extremely good. Their lineup is the most powerful in all of baseball thanks to their incredible infield and they should win a lot of games this year where their lineup simply obliterates the opponent’s starting pitching and makes the game into a laugher early.
It also helps that they appear to have a talented starting rotation as well that is a good mix of youth and experience. While there are certainly concerns about injury (Burnett, Pettite) and pressure (Vazquez), this rotation is more than talented enough to carry the Yankees to 100 wins and a 2 nd consecutive AL East crown.
Here’s the problem. Winning the division and 100 games in the regular season is a lot different than winning a seven game series, where pitching can be king. Match up the Yanks’ top three starters (Sabathia, Pettite, Burnett) against their dangerous archrivals from Boston and you’ll find that the Yankees are lacking in comparison to Boston’s trifecta of Lester, Beckett and Lackey. Furthermore, New York’s bullpen is rather underwhelming aside from the inexorable Rivera. Boston’s edge in starting pitching and middle relief is going to cost the Yankees in the AL Championship Series, where their repeat dreams will be dashed by the Red Sox.
By Matt Baxendell
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
Your team not getting enough respect? Complain to Matt Baxendell at matt.baxendell@gmail.com or follow all the MLB previews on Twitter.
> View all of the 2010 MLB team previews from MLB Center
Advertisement