Yankees yearning for #27
Once again ousted from the playoffs in the first round a year ago, the Yankees will shoot for their 27th trip to baseball's Promised Land this season.
The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name in 2006 with a brutal bunch of bats. The offense ranked first in the majors with 930 runs scored (5.74 per game), second in the American League with 210 homers, first in on-base average and second with a .285 batting average. And just to add a second dimension to the home run bats, New York ranked second in the AL with 139 stolen bases, proving they could run around the bases just as easily as they could trot around them following a bleacher bomb.
The Yankees also lived up the preseason expectations that many had going into last season. The consensus was that the loaded offense would net New York a bunch of victories over the long haul, but once the team got to shorter, postseason series, their pitching would let them down.
In truth, the Yankees’ 4-game loss to Detroit in the opening round of the playoffs was only partly the fault of the pitching staff. New York pitchers failed to hold the Tigers to under four runs in any of the games, surrendering 14 runs to the Motown Nine over the course of the final two games. At the same time, the Pinstripers plated eight of their 14 runs in the Game 1 win, then crossed the pay station just six more times in the next three games, including being blanked by Detroit in Game 3.
A lot of the blame for the offensive failure at the end went to Alex Rodriguez who managed just one hit in 14 at bats over the 4-game series. That showing comes on the heels of 2-for-15 performance with the bat in New York’s ALDS exit against the Angels in 2005. No doubt that going 3-for-29 in back-to-back postseason series opens one up to criticism, especially when that one is earning some $25 million per season.
But dumping the blame entirely on Rodriguez is also wrong. Several other Yankee bats went cold at the end as well last year - - Jason Giambi (1-8), Robinson Cano (2-15) and Gary Sheffield (1-12) - - and the truth is New York was facing a vastly superior pitching staff in the Tigers.
The Yankees did address some of their pitching concerns in the offseason. But as we enter the 2007 season, this is still very much like the squad they entered 2006 with. The everyday lineup is just about as scary as they come, but the questions on the mound could once again lead to the team having a short stay in the playoffs.
OFFENSE
After seeing him regularly in the lineup for 14 seasons, it’s going to be strange not to look out in the New York outfield this year and get a glimpse of Bernie Williams. He moved from center field being his home last season to being a fourth outfielder, so the change really took place last season. Still, it’s going to take some getting used to.
Of course, don’t think for one minute the Yankees are really going to miss William’s offense this year. No sir, not with this bunch of batting beasts.
Johnny Damon is back in center and flanked by Hideki Matsui in left and Bobby Abreu in right. Matsui (wrist) and Abreu (trade) were only part of the New York lineup 109 times between them last season, so having them in the lineup for 280-300 games combined this year could make this offense even better than it was in 2006.
Melky Cabrera, who would be starting for a lot of teams and hitting high in their order, is the fourth outfielder and will probably see plenty of late inning action along with 2-3 starts per week while manager Joe Torre rests his veteran outfield. Kevin Thompson might stick as the fifth outfielder.
Behind the plate and beginning his 10th full season as the regular New York backstop is switch-hitting Jorge Posada. The best bet to serve as his relief right now is 40-year-old veteran Todd Pratt.
Third base is once again A-Rod’s with Derek Jeter his partner at shortstop to form a super left side of an infield. Not only are they great players, but they are also the two biggest stars in the daily New York soap opera, if what the writers are saying is true.
Second base belongs to Cano, and how strong of a lineup is it when you have a guy who hit over .340 last year batting eighth or ninth in your order? First base will probably be shared by Doug Mientkiewicz and Andy Phillips. Mientkiewicz is known for his glove work while Phillips has been stuck behind the likes of Giambi and Tino Martinez for years. The Yankees would love to see Phillips’ bat push Mientkiewicz’ glove this year, but the Yankees may have wasted Phillips’ bat in the minors for too long now.
Giambi will DH the vast majority of the time this year, maybe seeing some action at first during some of the interleague games. Miguel Cairo is the backup at second, short and third, and that’s about as deep as the bench goes for the infield.
PITCHING
The Big Unit experience is over. After two short seasons in the Bronx, with last year seeing his ERA balloon to five-even, Randy Johnson has left town and returned to Arizona, scene of his glory with the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series title. One of the premier pitchers in the game over the past 15 years or so, Johnson just never did seem to be comfortable with the Yankees and the club dealt him back from whence he came for some minor leaguers and bullpen help.
Basically taking Johnson’s place in the rotation is a familiar face to Yankees fans, Andy Pettitte. New York coaxed the southpaw back to the Bronx from Houston via free agency this winter, giving the winner of 13 postseason games and four rings while with the Yankees previously a 2-year deal. Pettitte will pitch near the top of the rotation between right-handers Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang, winners of 34 games combined a year ago and the only two consistent pitchers New York had in their starting mix.
The fourth and fifth starting roles are still being fought over, though it looks like Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa are the leading candidates. Igawa was inked this winter from Japan after New York lost out to Boston in the bidding war for Daisuke Matsuzaka. The left-hander has not made a smooth transition to the majors if his spring numbers are any real indication.
Pavano missed all of last season coming back from an elbow injury as well as busted rubs he suffered in an auto accident. He made just 17 starts for New York in 2005 after signing a big deal the previous winter. If he doesn’t give the Yankees at least a little return on their investment this season, Pavano will down as the biggest dollar-for-dollar bust in New York history. And considering some of the free agents mistakes they’ve made, that’s saying something.
Jeff Karstens is still trying to push his way into the mix, and at least provides a little depth for the rotation if he doesn’t win a starting job out of spring. Darrell Rasner might also fill in as a starter, but is likely ticketed for middle relief.
Quite possibly the greatest reliever in MLB history, Mariano Rivera returns as the closer and will be looking to extend his streak of sub-2.00 ERA seasons to five. Since the start of the 2003 season, Rivera has 170 saves in 263 relief outings that cover over 300 innings with a 1.69 ERA.
Scott Proctor figures to be the primary setup arm at this time. There was some talk this winter about converting him to a starting pitcher, but that plan has been tabled, at least for the time being. Kyle Farnsworth and Luis Vizcaino, who came from Arizona in the Randy Johnson deal, also figure into the seventh and eighth inning plans. Mike Myers and Ron Villone will handle the left-handed relief chores.
Key Player(s): Without a lot of help on the bench outside of Melky Cabrera, keeping the regulars in the lineup is obviously crucial. But even if they lose one of the regulars long term, the offense should still be better than most. The team should win 90 even with below average pitching; above average and the win total could soar above 100 easily.
But the one player that means so much to this team is Mariano Rivera. Without him at the end of ballgames, and this club is in trouble.
Futures: Bodog has set their win break at 97 with the Yankees 1:2 to win their division, 9:5 to win the AL and 7:2 to go all the way. The Greek has New York +425 to win the World Series and the over/under on wins at 97½. And Pinnacle drops their win total down a notch to 96½ with the Yanks -170 in the AL East, +320 in the American League and +486 to win their 27th World Championship.
In one sim, the Yankees won 105 times, the most by any team in this year’s simulations. Their low total was 90 wins, the highest of any team for a low-tide mark in the sims. The average was 96 wins.
Once again ousted from the playoffs in the first round a year ago, the Yankees will shoot for their 27th trip to baseball's Promised Land this season.
The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name in 2006 with a brutal bunch of bats. The offense ranked first in the majors with 930 runs scored (5.74 per game), second in the American League with 210 homers, first in on-base average and second with a .285 batting average. And just to add a second dimension to the home run bats, New York ranked second in the AL with 139 stolen bases, proving they could run around the bases just as easily as they could trot around them following a bleacher bomb.
The Yankees also lived up the preseason expectations that many had going into last season. The consensus was that the loaded offense would net New York a bunch of victories over the long haul, but once the team got to shorter, postseason series, their pitching would let them down.
In truth, the Yankees’ 4-game loss to Detroit in the opening round of the playoffs was only partly the fault of the pitching staff. New York pitchers failed to hold the Tigers to under four runs in any of the games, surrendering 14 runs to the Motown Nine over the course of the final two games. At the same time, the Pinstripers plated eight of their 14 runs in the Game 1 win, then crossed the pay station just six more times in the next three games, including being blanked by Detroit in Game 3.
A lot of the blame for the offensive failure at the end went to Alex Rodriguez who managed just one hit in 14 at bats over the 4-game series. That showing comes on the heels of 2-for-15 performance with the bat in New York’s ALDS exit against the Angels in 2005. No doubt that going 3-for-29 in back-to-back postseason series opens one up to criticism, especially when that one is earning some $25 million per season.
But dumping the blame entirely on Rodriguez is also wrong. Several other Yankee bats went cold at the end as well last year - - Jason Giambi (1-8), Robinson Cano (2-15) and Gary Sheffield (1-12) - - and the truth is New York was facing a vastly superior pitching staff in the Tigers.
The Yankees did address some of their pitching concerns in the offseason. But as we enter the 2007 season, this is still very much like the squad they entered 2006 with. The everyday lineup is just about as scary as they come, but the questions on the mound could once again lead to the team having a short stay in the playoffs.
OFFENSE
After seeing him regularly in the lineup for 14 seasons, it’s going to be strange not to look out in the New York outfield this year and get a glimpse of Bernie Williams. He moved from center field being his home last season to being a fourth outfielder, so the change really took place last season. Still, it’s going to take some getting used to.
Of course, don’t think for one minute the Yankees are really going to miss William’s offense this year. No sir, not with this bunch of batting beasts.
Johnny Damon is back in center and flanked by Hideki Matsui in left and Bobby Abreu in right. Matsui (wrist) and Abreu (trade) were only part of the New York lineup 109 times between them last season, so having them in the lineup for 280-300 games combined this year could make this offense even better than it was in 2006.
Melky Cabrera, who would be starting for a lot of teams and hitting high in their order, is the fourth outfielder and will probably see plenty of late inning action along with 2-3 starts per week while manager Joe Torre rests his veteran outfield. Kevin Thompson might stick as the fifth outfielder.
Behind the plate and beginning his 10th full season as the regular New York backstop is switch-hitting Jorge Posada. The best bet to serve as his relief right now is 40-year-old veteran Todd Pratt.
Third base is once again A-Rod’s with Derek Jeter his partner at shortstop to form a super left side of an infield. Not only are they great players, but they are also the two biggest stars in the daily New York soap opera, if what the writers are saying is true.
Second base belongs to Cano, and how strong of a lineup is it when you have a guy who hit over .340 last year batting eighth or ninth in your order? First base will probably be shared by Doug Mientkiewicz and Andy Phillips. Mientkiewicz is known for his glove work while Phillips has been stuck behind the likes of Giambi and Tino Martinez for years. The Yankees would love to see Phillips’ bat push Mientkiewicz’ glove this year, but the Yankees may have wasted Phillips’ bat in the minors for too long now.
Giambi will DH the vast majority of the time this year, maybe seeing some action at first during some of the interleague games. Miguel Cairo is the backup at second, short and third, and that’s about as deep as the bench goes for the infield.
PITCHING
The Big Unit experience is over. After two short seasons in the Bronx, with last year seeing his ERA balloon to five-even, Randy Johnson has left town and returned to Arizona, scene of his glory with the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series title. One of the premier pitchers in the game over the past 15 years or so, Johnson just never did seem to be comfortable with the Yankees and the club dealt him back from whence he came for some minor leaguers and bullpen help.
Basically taking Johnson’s place in the rotation is a familiar face to Yankees fans, Andy Pettitte. New York coaxed the southpaw back to the Bronx from Houston via free agency this winter, giving the winner of 13 postseason games and four rings while with the Yankees previously a 2-year deal. Pettitte will pitch near the top of the rotation between right-handers Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang, winners of 34 games combined a year ago and the only two consistent pitchers New York had in their starting mix.
The fourth and fifth starting roles are still being fought over, though it looks like Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa are the leading candidates. Igawa was inked this winter from Japan after New York lost out to Boston in the bidding war for Daisuke Matsuzaka. The left-hander has not made a smooth transition to the majors if his spring numbers are any real indication.
Pavano missed all of last season coming back from an elbow injury as well as busted rubs he suffered in an auto accident. He made just 17 starts for New York in 2005 after signing a big deal the previous winter. If he doesn’t give the Yankees at least a little return on their investment this season, Pavano will down as the biggest dollar-for-dollar bust in New York history. And considering some of the free agents mistakes they’ve made, that’s saying something.
Jeff Karstens is still trying to push his way into the mix, and at least provides a little depth for the rotation if he doesn’t win a starting job out of spring. Darrell Rasner might also fill in as a starter, but is likely ticketed for middle relief.
Quite possibly the greatest reliever in MLB history, Mariano Rivera returns as the closer and will be looking to extend his streak of sub-2.00 ERA seasons to five. Since the start of the 2003 season, Rivera has 170 saves in 263 relief outings that cover over 300 innings with a 1.69 ERA.
Scott Proctor figures to be the primary setup arm at this time. There was some talk this winter about converting him to a starting pitcher, but that plan has been tabled, at least for the time being. Kyle Farnsworth and Luis Vizcaino, who came from Arizona in the Randy Johnson deal, also figure into the seventh and eighth inning plans. Mike Myers and Ron Villone will handle the left-handed relief chores.
Key Player(s): Without a lot of help on the bench outside of Melky Cabrera, keeping the regulars in the lineup is obviously crucial. But even if they lose one of the regulars long term, the offense should still be better than most. The team should win 90 even with below average pitching; above average and the win total could soar above 100 easily.
But the one player that means so much to this team is Mariano Rivera. Without him at the end of ballgames, and this club is in trouble.
Futures: Bodog has set their win break at 97 with the Yankees 1:2 to win their division, 9:5 to win the AL and 7:2 to go all the way. The Greek has New York +425 to win the World Series and the over/under on wins at 97½. And Pinnacle drops their win total down a notch to 96½ with the Yanks -170 in the AL East, +320 in the American League and +486 to win their 27th World Championship.
In one sim, the Yankees won 105 times, the most by any team in this year’s simulations. Their low total was 90 wins, the highest of any team for a low-tide mark in the sims. The average was 96 wins.
