LOUIE'S LINES
Yes, A Very Yankee View
From A Diehard Fan!
E-mail Me Your Comments Or Questions
UNDERDOGS? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!
During the long baseball off-season, one can read and hear many hilarious "hot stove" predictions. This past winter in New England was no exception. After the Boston Red Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford for close to a quarter of a billion dollars, many in the New England media declared Boston as a 100+ win, world championship baseball team. In addition to anointing the Red Sox as 2011 "World Champions", many media outlets here (and in New York, I may add) referred to the New York Yankees as "underdogs". While Brian Cashman, I and many Yankee fans, welcomed the tag of "underdog" during the off-season, I'm now here to say baloney! On the eve of the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball Season, I'm predicting that the New York Yankees will be kings of the American League Eastern Division, as they will beat out Boston for first place.
Here is a closer look why:
Bullpen:
After losing out in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, the Yankees did the next best thing as they elected to strengthen their already stellar bullpen. In acquiring Tampa closer, Rafael Soriano and New York Met lefty specialist, Pedro Feliciano, the Yanks come into the 2011 baseball season with baseball's best bullpen. This pen now has two closers, and one of them happens to be named Mariano Rivera. Soriano's main role will be the bridge to Rivera, but he will also enable the Yanks to rest "Mo" and keep baseball's best closer fresh throughout the year. With David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Bartolo Colon and Boone Logan representing the "supporting cast", it's going to be very tough to beat the Yankees if they are leading in the sixth inning of a game.
Offense:
In Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Cano, the Yankees "3-4-5" spots in the batting order is as good as any other in baseball. Cano became a superstar last year, and now in his prime, the Yankee second baseman may even get better. A-Rod had a fabulous spring, as he declared his hip now at 100%. While any one of the three could be considered a possible MVP candidate, I'm going to predict that Curtis Granderson will vault himself into the MVP mix on this team in the 2011 season. After getting over an injury and a very slow start in New York, the "Grandyman" had a terrific second half in the Bronx last year. Now, more comfortable in his surroundings, Granderson will become a major force in this Yankee lineup.
Towards the end of spring training, manager Joe Girardi said he would bat Brett Gardner leadoff against right-handed pitching, while Derek Jeter would hit in the second hole. When a lefty is on the mound, Brett will drop down to ninth and Jeter will be the Yankee leadoff man. I like Gardner in the leadoff spot, but I do hope this year, the speedy Yankee will get more aggressive on the base paths. Though he stole 47 bases last season, Brett was tentative at times when on base. If he learns the “base stealer’s mentality”, he will help the Yanks already potent offense immensely.
An interesting part of the Yankee offense to watch closely this season will be the performance of new DH, Jorge Posada. No longer having to deal with catching day in and day out, the Yankees feel a healthy and fresh Posada will become a very productive hitter in the lower part of the Yankee lineup.
Nick Swisher will be the Yankees swing man in the batting order. When Jeter bats leadoff, Nick will hit in the second spot, when Gardner hits at the top, “Swish” will bat sixth. The Yankees are hoping Swisher can match the stellar offensive numbers he put up last year. The new Yankee catcher, Russell Martin will bat eighth or ninth in the lineup.
The Yankees added two key bench players during the off-season in Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez. Keep a close eye on Chavez. The former Oakland A star had a very good spring, and he’s going to love the Yankee Stadium short porch in right field. Chavez can spell A-Rod at third, Teixeira at first and Posada at DH. Jones will see some playing time in right and left field.
Last season, the Yankees lead the majors in runs scored at 859. They put up that total with “off” years from A-Rod, Jeter, and Teixeira. If this lineup remains healthy, 900-Plus runs should be within reach.
The Starting Rotation:
The reason why many “experts” are not picking the Yankees to win the East, is because they feel the Yanks’ starting rotation is weak. On Opening Day, the Yankee Starting rotation is as follows:
1) CC Sabathia
2) Phil Hughes
3) A.J. Burnett
4) Ivan Nova
5) Freddy Garcia
In Sabathia and Hughes, the Yankee can stand toe-to-toe with any starting two in the division. Hughes tired towards the end of last year, which is not unusual for a young pitcher. Now with a full year under his belt, Phil may end up being a “1-A” to Sabathia’s “1”.
While many feel the Yankees fortunes may rest on the shoulders of Burnett, I do not. Instead, I feel Ivan Nova will be the key in this starting five. Nova looked very sharp this spring, and he has the right stuff and temperament to thrive in New York. He showed flashes of how good he could be last season with the big club, and he could be a major surprise in this year’s rotation.
Freddy Garcia will be just fine, pitching in the five slot for the Yankees. His days of blowing people away with hard stuff are over, but as he proved last season, he still knows how to get guys out. With an offense like the Yankees have, that's all a number five has to do.
Now when you talk about the Yankees 2011 starting rotation, you better mention the following names:
Jesus Montero
Austin Romine
Manny Banuelos
Delin Betances
Andrew Brackman
Eduardo Nunez
Why, you ask?
Well, come the July 31’st trading deadline (or earlier if necessary) you can be sure Brian Cashman will be perusing a “top of rotation” starter if this Yankee rotation falters. Even if this starting five has a great first half, “Cash” will be in hot pursuit to strengthen his starting five. He now has the ability to do it because of the above listed names. They are all highly regarded and highly sought after young players.
So there you have it. Arguably baseball’s best bullpen. An offense that should put up over 900 runs, and a starting five that is good enough, with a chance to get even better. To me, this adds up to a team that will win 95 games and finish 3 games ahead of Boston.
Sorry, New England.
..
..
.
..
.
A Tribute To George Steinbrenner
Yankee Tradition History Facts
Little Rudy Visits The New Yankee Stadium-2005
Someone Is Missing From Monument Park
Yankeetradition.com is site for Yankee diehards that embrace the past with the present. It is in no way affiliated with the New York Yankee Baseball Club. All comments or suggestions may be sent to ldilullo@aol.com. Yes that's me, a Yankee fan since 1967 who has seen the likes of Celerino Sanchez, Charlie Spikes, Jimmy Lyttle, and Walt "NoNeck"Williams. Yes, thank God for the George Steinbrenner era!
.
.
.
