Yankee 21
02-06-2002, 06:55 PM
Yankees set for Spring Training
An in-depth look at the 2002 Yankees
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
MLB.com takes an in-depth look at some issues facing the Yankees as they enter Spring Training 2002.
New-look Yanks eye another division title
SPRING CLEANING
1. Will Alfonso Soriano become an All-Star? The sophomore second baseman put up numbers in 2001 (.268, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 43 SB) that would have made him the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award in most seasons. Unfortunately for Soriano, he debuted in the same campaign as Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who also captured the league MVP award. This season, Soriano will have a good chance to make the American League All-Star team, as 11-time AL star Roberto Alomar has moved to the National League, joining the crosstown Mets. His primary competition includes Seattle's Bret Boone and Chicago's Ray Durham.
2. Will Shane Spencer finally get his chance to start every day? Spencer, who turns 30 this month, will finally have a chance to win the starting job in right field after the retirement of Paul O'Neill., Not that the Yankees have him penciled in to the position - they brought in veteran left-hander John Vander Wal to challenge him, citing Spencer's inability to hit right-handed pitching consistently.
3. Will Derek Jeter succeed in the leadoff spot? Jeter, who has excelled in the No. 2 spot in New York's lineup, steps into the leadoff spot after the departure of free agent Chuck Knoblauch. Jeter is speedy enough to bat first, and his career OBP of .392 is a major improvement over the .339 Knoblauch posted in 2001. Jeter has swiped 49 bases in the past two seasons, getting caught just seven times. Look for a 40-steal season from the Yankees' shortstop in 2002.
4. Can Roger Clemens stay young forever? The Rocket will celebrate his 40th birthday this season, but coming off his sixth Cy Young season, why should another birthday stop him now? After going 20-3 in 2001, Clemens is just 20 victories shy of reaching 300. That should be incentive enough for Clemens to continue his rigid workout regimen, and give the Yankees another stellar year from their aging ace.
5. How will Jason Giambi fit into the Yankees' clubhouse? The Yankees' clubhouse has always been considered the most professional in sports. There is no loud music, few practical jokes and most players keep to themselves. Giambi comes to the Bronx from Oakland, where the A's clubhouse has been commonly confused with the Delta House. But Giambi knew what he was signing up for when he put his name on the dotted line, and should have no problem fitting in. One thing that helps him is the return of David Wells, who may be even more outgoing than Giambi.
NEW FACES
1B Jason Giambi -- Though Tino Martinez hit 34 home runs and drove in 113 runs, Giambi will give the Yankees so much more offensively as their starting first baseman. His .477 OBP led the AL last season - by 54 points. While he hit just four more homers and drove in just seven more runs than Martinez, Giambi led the league in slugging percentage at .660 and finished second in batting average at .342 - 62 points higher than Martinez. His glove may not be as good, but his bat will more than make up for it.
3B Robin Ventura -- Acquired by the Yankees in their first trade with the Mets since 1993, Ventura steps in for what appears to be a one-year stint in pinstripes. With phenom Drew Henson not quite ready to make the jump to the Majors, the Yankees needed to find someone to replace the retired Scott Brosius until Henson can take his place at the hot corner. Ventura, who has one year left on his contract, came to the Yankees for David Justice and could put up good power numbers at Yankee Stadium, aided by the short porch in right field.
OF Rondell White -- No one questions White's talent. It's his ability to stay on the field that people question. After playing just 189 games over the past two seasons, White has worked with Sacramento Kings strength coach Al Biancani throughout the entire offseason, and says he's ready to play an injury-free season for the first time since 1997. If he does, he should give the Yankees a solid bat in left field, a position that was shaky at best in 2001.
OF John Vander Wal -- The 35-year-old outfielder, acquired by New York from the San Francisco Giants for Jay Witasick, will compete with Shane Spencer for the starting right field job. Vander Wal played in 146 games for San Francisco and Pittsburgh in 2001, and gives the Yankees a fourth outfielder capable of starting in left or right field. Given the injury history to White, Vander Wal my play an important role for the Yankees this season.
RHP Steve Karsay -- When the Yankees let Jeff Nelson leave via free agency after the 2000 season, it left a huge hole in the bullpen. Neither Jay Witasick nor Mark Wohlers could fill that spot in 2001, so New York went out and gave Karsay low-end closer money to become the team's right-handed bridge to Mariano Rivera. Karsay, who had a 1.25 ERA for Cleveland last season, returns to the AL after spending the second half of the season in Atlanta.
LHP David Wells -- A fan favorite in New York, "Boomer" returns to the Big Apple after an injury-riddled 2001 season with the Chicago White Sox. With back surgery out of the way and 25 pounds off his 250-lb frame, Wells is out to prove that he can still dominate hitters the way he did from 1997-2000, when he won 71 games for the Yankees and Blue Jays.
IF Ron Coomer -- With left-handers at first (Giambi), third (Ventura) and DH (Nick Johnson), Coomer's right-handed bat could come in handy off the bench, or against a tough southpaw. Can play first or third base.
C Alberto Castillo -- Former Blue Jays backstop will compete with Todd Greene and Bobby Estalella for backup catching gig.
LONG GONE
Tino Martinez -- While the signing of Jason Giambi was cause for celebration for the Yankees' lineup, the loss of Martinez may be felt most by the rest of New York's infield. Martinez, a leader in the clubhouse during the Joe Torre era, filled the shoes of Don Mattingly when he joined New York. Now, he moves to St. Louis to take over for Mark McGwire.
Chuck Knoblauch -- After moving from second base to left field last season, Knoblauch went through an up-and-down season. By the end of 2001, Knoblauch was sharing time with Shane Spencer, so his departure from New York was no surprise. By signing with the Kansas City Royals, Knoblauch will have the chance to play in an environment with considerably less pressure than the media circus he faced in the Big Apple.
Scott Brosius -- Not many people thought that Brosius would return to the Yankees when his contract expired, but few thought he would hang up his spikes for good. That's precisely what Brosius did, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and his church in Oregon. Brosius leaves the Yankees having appeared in four World Series, capturing three rings in his four years in New York.
Paul O'Neill -- The Yankees' "Warrior" called it a career following the World Series, closing out a 15-year career that brought O'Neill five World Series rings. For the first time since 1992, the Yankees will have someone other than No. 21 in right field, but O'Neill will still be part of the Yankee family, working as a broadcaster for the new YES Network.
David Justice -- After carrying the Yankees in the second half of the 2000 season and into the playoffs, Justice spent a considerable amount of time on the DL in 2001. Hernia surgery and a nagging groin injury forced Justice to miss 51 games, and his .241 average, 18 home runs and 51 RBIs were the weakest outputs of his career for a season in which he played more than 100 games. After being traded to the Mets, he was then shipped to the Oakland A's, where he will be counted on to make up for some of the offense lost by Giambi's departure.
Jay Witasick/Mark Wohlers -- The two relievers, acquired in mid-season trades, were unable to fill the void left by Jeff Nelson, leaving the Yankees without a tested set-up man. The signing of Steve Karsay spelled the end of these two short-lived Yankee careers. Witasick was traded to the Giants for John Vander Wal, while Wohlers signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.
Clay Bellinger -- This utility man was a roster casualty this offseason, released to make room for David Wells on the roster. Bellinger's ability to play every position on the diamond helped land him with the Anaheim Angels.
Randy Velarde -- The Yankees brought Velarde back to the organization last season as insurance for Scott Brosius' fractured hand. Now, with Robin Ventura at third and Alfonso Soriano at second, Velarde has no position to play. With cheaper utility infielders available, the Yankees weren't going to pay Velarde what he wanted, so he signed with the Oakland A's.
RETURNING FROM INJURY
C Jorge Posada -- Posada underwent shoulder surgery in December to repair partially torn labrum. Posada resides in Tampa in the offseason, and has been rehabbing with team trainer Gene Monahan this winter. He should be ready by Opening Day.
LHP David Wells -- Wells, who had back surgery last season, said he has felt no pain since the surgery. Throw in a new diet and workout regimen, which has resulted in a 25-pound weight loss, and Wells should be in shape for a spot in the rotation.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
1B/DH Nick Johnson -- Though many felt that Johnson was the Yankees' future first baseman, the signing of Jason Giambi left Johnson without a position to play. New York loves his bat, and his patience at the plate fits into Joe Torre's hitting philosophy. Look for Johnson to spell Giambi at first from time to time, while getting the bulk of the at-bats as the team's designated hitter.
An in-depth look at the 2002 Yankees
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
MLB.com takes an in-depth look at some issues facing the Yankees as they enter Spring Training 2002.
New-look Yanks eye another division title
SPRING CLEANING
1. Will Alfonso Soriano become an All-Star? The sophomore second baseman put up numbers in 2001 (.268, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 43 SB) that would have made him the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award in most seasons. Unfortunately for Soriano, he debuted in the same campaign as Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who also captured the league MVP award. This season, Soriano will have a good chance to make the American League All-Star team, as 11-time AL star Roberto Alomar has moved to the National League, joining the crosstown Mets. His primary competition includes Seattle's Bret Boone and Chicago's Ray Durham.
2. Will Shane Spencer finally get his chance to start every day? Spencer, who turns 30 this month, will finally have a chance to win the starting job in right field after the retirement of Paul O'Neill., Not that the Yankees have him penciled in to the position - they brought in veteran left-hander John Vander Wal to challenge him, citing Spencer's inability to hit right-handed pitching consistently.
3. Will Derek Jeter succeed in the leadoff spot? Jeter, who has excelled in the No. 2 spot in New York's lineup, steps into the leadoff spot after the departure of free agent Chuck Knoblauch. Jeter is speedy enough to bat first, and his career OBP of .392 is a major improvement over the .339 Knoblauch posted in 2001. Jeter has swiped 49 bases in the past two seasons, getting caught just seven times. Look for a 40-steal season from the Yankees' shortstop in 2002.
4. Can Roger Clemens stay young forever? The Rocket will celebrate his 40th birthday this season, but coming off his sixth Cy Young season, why should another birthday stop him now? After going 20-3 in 2001, Clemens is just 20 victories shy of reaching 300. That should be incentive enough for Clemens to continue his rigid workout regimen, and give the Yankees another stellar year from their aging ace.
5. How will Jason Giambi fit into the Yankees' clubhouse? The Yankees' clubhouse has always been considered the most professional in sports. There is no loud music, few practical jokes and most players keep to themselves. Giambi comes to the Bronx from Oakland, where the A's clubhouse has been commonly confused with the Delta House. But Giambi knew what he was signing up for when he put his name on the dotted line, and should have no problem fitting in. One thing that helps him is the return of David Wells, who may be even more outgoing than Giambi.
NEW FACES
1B Jason Giambi -- Though Tino Martinez hit 34 home runs and drove in 113 runs, Giambi will give the Yankees so much more offensively as their starting first baseman. His .477 OBP led the AL last season - by 54 points. While he hit just four more homers and drove in just seven more runs than Martinez, Giambi led the league in slugging percentage at .660 and finished second in batting average at .342 - 62 points higher than Martinez. His glove may not be as good, but his bat will more than make up for it.
3B Robin Ventura -- Acquired by the Yankees in their first trade with the Mets since 1993, Ventura steps in for what appears to be a one-year stint in pinstripes. With phenom Drew Henson not quite ready to make the jump to the Majors, the Yankees needed to find someone to replace the retired Scott Brosius until Henson can take his place at the hot corner. Ventura, who has one year left on his contract, came to the Yankees for David Justice and could put up good power numbers at Yankee Stadium, aided by the short porch in right field.
OF Rondell White -- No one questions White's talent. It's his ability to stay on the field that people question. After playing just 189 games over the past two seasons, White has worked with Sacramento Kings strength coach Al Biancani throughout the entire offseason, and says he's ready to play an injury-free season for the first time since 1997. If he does, he should give the Yankees a solid bat in left field, a position that was shaky at best in 2001.
OF John Vander Wal -- The 35-year-old outfielder, acquired by New York from the San Francisco Giants for Jay Witasick, will compete with Shane Spencer for the starting right field job. Vander Wal played in 146 games for San Francisco and Pittsburgh in 2001, and gives the Yankees a fourth outfielder capable of starting in left or right field. Given the injury history to White, Vander Wal my play an important role for the Yankees this season.
RHP Steve Karsay -- When the Yankees let Jeff Nelson leave via free agency after the 2000 season, it left a huge hole in the bullpen. Neither Jay Witasick nor Mark Wohlers could fill that spot in 2001, so New York went out and gave Karsay low-end closer money to become the team's right-handed bridge to Mariano Rivera. Karsay, who had a 1.25 ERA for Cleveland last season, returns to the AL after spending the second half of the season in Atlanta.
LHP David Wells -- A fan favorite in New York, "Boomer" returns to the Big Apple after an injury-riddled 2001 season with the Chicago White Sox. With back surgery out of the way and 25 pounds off his 250-lb frame, Wells is out to prove that he can still dominate hitters the way he did from 1997-2000, when he won 71 games for the Yankees and Blue Jays.
IF Ron Coomer -- With left-handers at first (Giambi), third (Ventura) and DH (Nick Johnson), Coomer's right-handed bat could come in handy off the bench, or against a tough southpaw. Can play first or third base.
C Alberto Castillo -- Former Blue Jays backstop will compete with Todd Greene and Bobby Estalella for backup catching gig.
LONG GONE
Tino Martinez -- While the signing of Jason Giambi was cause for celebration for the Yankees' lineup, the loss of Martinez may be felt most by the rest of New York's infield. Martinez, a leader in the clubhouse during the Joe Torre era, filled the shoes of Don Mattingly when he joined New York. Now, he moves to St. Louis to take over for Mark McGwire.
Chuck Knoblauch -- After moving from second base to left field last season, Knoblauch went through an up-and-down season. By the end of 2001, Knoblauch was sharing time with Shane Spencer, so his departure from New York was no surprise. By signing with the Kansas City Royals, Knoblauch will have the chance to play in an environment with considerably less pressure than the media circus he faced in the Big Apple.
Scott Brosius -- Not many people thought that Brosius would return to the Yankees when his contract expired, but few thought he would hang up his spikes for good. That's precisely what Brosius did, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and his church in Oregon. Brosius leaves the Yankees having appeared in four World Series, capturing three rings in his four years in New York.
Paul O'Neill -- The Yankees' "Warrior" called it a career following the World Series, closing out a 15-year career that brought O'Neill five World Series rings. For the first time since 1992, the Yankees will have someone other than No. 21 in right field, but O'Neill will still be part of the Yankee family, working as a broadcaster for the new YES Network.
David Justice -- After carrying the Yankees in the second half of the 2000 season and into the playoffs, Justice spent a considerable amount of time on the DL in 2001. Hernia surgery and a nagging groin injury forced Justice to miss 51 games, and his .241 average, 18 home runs and 51 RBIs were the weakest outputs of his career for a season in which he played more than 100 games. After being traded to the Mets, he was then shipped to the Oakland A's, where he will be counted on to make up for some of the offense lost by Giambi's departure.
Jay Witasick/Mark Wohlers -- The two relievers, acquired in mid-season trades, were unable to fill the void left by Jeff Nelson, leaving the Yankees without a tested set-up man. The signing of Steve Karsay spelled the end of these two short-lived Yankee careers. Witasick was traded to the Giants for John Vander Wal, while Wohlers signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.
Clay Bellinger -- This utility man was a roster casualty this offseason, released to make room for David Wells on the roster. Bellinger's ability to play every position on the diamond helped land him with the Anaheim Angels.
Randy Velarde -- The Yankees brought Velarde back to the organization last season as insurance for Scott Brosius' fractured hand. Now, with Robin Ventura at third and Alfonso Soriano at second, Velarde has no position to play. With cheaper utility infielders available, the Yankees weren't going to pay Velarde what he wanted, so he signed with the Oakland A's.
RETURNING FROM INJURY
C Jorge Posada -- Posada underwent shoulder surgery in December to repair partially torn labrum. Posada resides in Tampa in the offseason, and has been rehabbing with team trainer Gene Monahan this winter. He should be ready by Opening Day.
LHP David Wells -- Wells, who had back surgery last season, said he has felt no pain since the surgery. Throw in a new diet and workout regimen, which has resulted in a 25-pound weight loss, and Wells should be in shape for a spot in the rotation.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
1B/DH Nick Johnson -- Though many felt that Johnson was the Yankees' future first baseman, the signing of Jason Giambi left Johnson without a position to play. New York loves his bat, and his patience at the plate fits into Joe Torre's hitting philosophy. Look for Johnson to spell Giambi at first from time to time, while getting the bulk of the at-bats as the team's designated hitter.