Baseball Guru
04-03-2006, 10:38 AM
It is that wonderful time of the year again! It is that very brief time of the year between when the heat in the buildings goes off and the air conditioning goes on. You can sleep with the windows open and wake up with a soft breeze coming through the room. The trees are in full bloom and people are bustling in the streets looking for the perfect outdoor sidewalk table while exposing as much skin as possible, regardless of how pale they may be.
It is Spring in New York City and it's opening day of another season of New York Yankees baseball!
We wait all winter for this: warm weather and baseball.
While we waited, the Yankees were busy making some significant off-season moves to help strengthen an already proud and powerful roster.
The most notable acquisition was that of our new center fielder and lead off batter, Johnny Damon. His age, recent injuries to his arm and his being the face of the enemy for so many years have raised questions about how well he will fit in and succeed here in New York. Only time and his performance on the field will answer those questions, but I hope you will all welcome him to Pinstipes with me. He may be a self-proclaimed "idiot", but he is still one of the most prolific lead off men and run scorers in the game and with his addition to the lineup, the Yankees now have 5 of the top 8 run scorers in all of the American League from last year.
But as you know, to win Championships, you need good pitching. And toward this tenet, further significant changes occurred in the bullpen, though the starting rotation was left unchanged. We acquired relievers Kyle Farnsworth, Octavio Dotel, Mike Myers and Ron Villone who will all serve as the bridge to the greatest closer in the game today and the crown jewel of our bull pen for the past decade, Mariano Rivera.
If our starting pitching can stay healthy and the trio of young talented pitchers, Shawn Chacon, Chien-Ming Wang and Aaron Small, who we discovered last year, continue to pitch well and produce low eras and wins, we could be one of the greatest teams in recent Yankees history. They won't have it easy though, as Blue Jays, Orioles and even the Devil Rays made vast improvements to their teams and the Red Sox are always a formidable opponent.
So break out your flip flops, sharpen your scoring pencils and settle in to enjoy the season as our beloved Yankees play to win their ninth straight American East Division title and 27th World Championship!
Let's meet our team*:
BATTING ORDER
1. Johnny Damon, CF:
Damon gives the Yankees their first true leadoff hitter since Chuck Knoblauch left after the 2001 season, allowing Derek Jeter to move back to his customary No. 2 slot.
2. Derek Jeter, SS:
Considered the best No. 2 hitter in the game, Jeter's ability to hit to the opposite field makes him ideal for this position. He and Damon should combine for about 250 runs.
3. Alex Rodriguez, 3B:
A-Rod is clearly comfortable in New York now, having captured his second MVP award last year. Another monster season is expected from the third baseman.
4. Jason Giambi, 1B:
After winning American League Comeback Player of the Year honors, Giambi is out to show he can produce over a full season.
5. Gary Sheffield, RF:
When you have Sheffield batting fifth, that's a pretty good lineup. Sheff will be looking to show the Yankees why they should pick up his 2007 option.
6. Hideki Matsui, LF:
Matsui has been Mr. Consistency in his first three years in the Majors. A fat new contract shouldn't do anything to change that.
7. Jorge Posada, C:
Posada may not be a 30-homer, 100-RBI guy anymore, but he remains one of the more productive catchers in the American League.
8. Bernie Williams, DH:
No longer the everyday center fielder, Williams has enough life left in his bat to help the Yankees in his new role.
9. Robinson Cano, 2B:
Sophomore slump or sensation? Based on his finish to 2005 (.381 in September) and ability to hit on the road (his .335 average led the Majors), the guess here is the latter.
ROTATION
1. Randy Johnson, LHP:
The Big Unit wasn't happy with his 17-win season in 2005. With a year under his belt in New York, a 20-win season wouldn't be a surprise.
2. Mike Mussina, RHP:
Mussina has battled elbow problems in each of the last two years, but he has no health issues entering the season. At 37, Mussina is playing for his final contract.
3. Chien-Ming Wang, RHP:
Wang was the Yankees' most consistent pitcher in the first half last year before being sidelined by a shoulder injury. If he can stay healthy, Wang could have a breakout season.
4. Shawn Chacon, RHP:
Chacon was one of the Yankees' saviors in 2005 after an unlikely second-half run. The Yankees need the right-hander to do it for a full year now.
5. Jaret Wright, RHP:
Wright will step in for Carl Pavano, who will start the year on the disabled list. Wright will likely move to a long-relief role by May.
BULLPEN
Mariano Rivera remains the gold standard among closers, even at the age of 36. Rivera posted one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame career in 2005, posting 43 saves, a 1.38 ERA and allowing just 50 hits and 18 walks in 78 1/3 innings, striking out 80 in the process.
New York brought in Kyle Farnsworth to replace Tom Gordon as Rivera's primary setup man, signing the hard-throwing right-hander to a three-year deal. Tanyon Sturtze will help Farnsworth bridge the late-inning gap to Rivera, as the tired arm Sturtze dealt with in the second half appears to be healthy again. Octavio Dotel was also signed to help in the seventh and eighth innings, though he won't return from 2005 Tommy John surgery until May or June.
Mike Myers and Ron Villone give the Yanks a pair of reliable left-handers to go to, with Myers serving as the left-handed specialist. Villone's role will be a wide-ranging one, as he could pitch short or long relief.
With seven starters on the roster, New York will have two of them in the bullpen for much of the year, making Aaron Small and Wright the long relievers. Scott Proctor will likely open the year with the club while Small is on the DL.
OPENING DELAYED
Pavano (back) won't be ready to rejoin the rotation until the end of April or even May, but the team has said that he will be slotted back in the rotation as soon as he returns. ... Small will open on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, but he should be ready to return about a week into the season. ... Dotel is finishing his rehab, and he could join the bullpen in late May or early June.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Yankees avoid the injury bug? Last season, the Bombers were forced to use 14 starting pitchers, as Pavano, Wright, Mussina, Wang and Kevin Brown each missed significant time with health issues. Yes, that helped the club discover Wang, Small and Chacon, but the Yankees would be more than happy to get through 2006 without any major injuries. The concerns aren't just on the pitching staff, where Johnson, Mussina and Rivera are in their late-30s and early-40s. The lineup features just one player under 30 (Robinson Cano), and Sheffield, Giambi and Posada aren't getting any younger.
*Source of stats: www.Yankees.com
Yankee Fun Fact: Lou Gehrig was the first Yankee to have his number retired (#4). The Yankees had one of the bats Gehrig used while he was on the team bronzed and made into a weather vane at Yankees Stadium. Next time you are there look at top of the American flag pole. There you will see the Iron Horse's bat showing the players which way the wind is blowing.
Until next time,
GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!
It is Spring in New York City and it's opening day of another season of New York Yankees baseball!
We wait all winter for this: warm weather and baseball.
While we waited, the Yankees were busy making some significant off-season moves to help strengthen an already proud and powerful roster.
The most notable acquisition was that of our new center fielder and lead off batter, Johnny Damon. His age, recent injuries to his arm and his being the face of the enemy for so many years have raised questions about how well he will fit in and succeed here in New York. Only time and his performance on the field will answer those questions, but I hope you will all welcome him to Pinstipes with me. He may be a self-proclaimed "idiot", but he is still one of the most prolific lead off men and run scorers in the game and with his addition to the lineup, the Yankees now have 5 of the top 8 run scorers in all of the American League from last year.
But as you know, to win Championships, you need good pitching. And toward this tenet, further significant changes occurred in the bullpen, though the starting rotation was left unchanged. We acquired relievers Kyle Farnsworth, Octavio Dotel, Mike Myers and Ron Villone who will all serve as the bridge to the greatest closer in the game today and the crown jewel of our bull pen for the past decade, Mariano Rivera.
If our starting pitching can stay healthy and the trio of young talented pitchers, Shawn Chacon, Chien-Ming Wang and Aaron Small, who we discovered last year, continue to pitch well and produce low eras and wins, we could be one of the greatest teams in recent Yankees history. They won't have it easy though, as Blue Jays, Orioles and even the Devil Rays made vast improvements to their teams and the Red Sox are always a formidable opponent.
So break out your flip flops, sharpen your scoring pencils and settle in to enjoy the season as our beloved Yankees play to win their ninth straight American East Division title and 27th World Championship!
Let's meet our team*:
BATTING ORDER
1. Johnny Damon, CF:
Damon gives the Yankees their first true leadoff hitter since Chuck Knoblauch left after the 2001 season, allowing Derek Jeter to move back to his customary No. 2 slot.
2. Derek Jeter, SS:
Considered the best No. 2 hitter in the game, Jeter's ability to hit to the opposite field makes him ideal for this position. He and Damon should combine for about 250 runs.
3. Alex Rodriguez, 3B:
A-Rod is clearly comfortable in New York now, having captured his second MVP award last year. Another monster season is expected from the third baseman.
4. Jason Giambi, 1B:
After winning American League Comeback Player of the Year honors, Giambi is out to show he can produce over a full season.
5. Gary Sheffield, RF:
When you have Sheffield batting fifth, that's a pretty good lineup. Sheff will be looking to show the Yankees why they should pick up his 2007 option.
6. Hideki Matsui, LF:
Matsui has been Mr. Consistency in his first three years in the Majors. A fat new contract shouldn't do anything to change that.
7. Jorge Posada, C:
Posada may not be a 30-homer, 100-RBI guy anymore, but he remains one of the more productive catchers in the American League.
8. Bernie Williams, DH:
No longer the everyday center fielder, Williams has enough life left in his bat to help the Yankees in his new role.
9. Robinson Cano, 2B:
Sophomore slump or sensation? Based on his finish to 2005 (.381 in September) and ability to hit on the road (his .335 average led the Majors), the guess here is the latter.
ROTATION
1. Randy Johnson, LHP:
The Big Unit wasn't happy with his 17-win season in 2005. With a year under his belt in New York, a 20-win season wouldn't be a surprise.
2. Mike Mussina, RHP:
Mussina has battled elbow problems in each of the last two years, but he has no health issues entering the season. At 37, Mussina is playing for his final contract.
3. Chien-Ming Wang, RHP:
Wang was the Yankees' most consistent pitcher in the first half last year before being sidelined by a shoulder injury. If he can stay healthy, Wang could have a breakout season.
4. Shawn Chacon, RHP:
Chacon was one of the Yankees' saviors in 2005 after an unlikely second-half run. The Yankees need the right-hander to do it for a full year now.
5. Jaret Wright, RHP:
Wright will step in for Carl Pavano, who will start the year on the disabled list. Wright will likely move to a long-relief role by May.
BULLPEN
Mariano Rivera remains the gold standard among closers, even at the age of 36. Rivera posted one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame career in 2005, posting 43 saves, a 1.38 ERA and allowing just 50 hits and 18 walks in 78 1/3 innings, striking out 80 in the process.
New York brought in Kyle Farnsworth to replace Tom Gordon as Rivera's primary setup man, signing the hard-throwing right-hander to a three-year deal. Tanyon Sturtze will help Farnsworth bridge the late-inning gap to Rivera, as the tired arm Sturtze dealt with in the second half appears to be healthy again. Octavio Dotel was also signed to help in the seventh and eighth innings, though he won't return from 2005 Tommy John surgery until May or June.
Mike Myers and Ron Villone give the Yanks a pair of reliable left-handers to go to, with Myers serving as the left-handed specialist. Villone's role will be a wide-ranging one, as he could pitch short or long relief.
With seven starters on the roster, New York will have two of them in the bullpen for much of the year, making Aaron Small and Wright the long relievers. Scott Proctor will likely open the year with the club while Small is on the DL.
OPENING DELAYED
Pavano (back) won't be ready to rejoin the rotation until the end of April or even May, but the team has said that he will be slotted back in the rotation as soon as he returns. ... Small will open on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, but he should be ready to return about a week into the season. ... Dotel is finishing his rehab, and he could join the bullpen in late May or early June.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Yankees avoid the injury bug? Last season, the Bombers were forced to use 14 starting pitchers, as Pavano, Wright, Mussina, Wang and Kevin Brown each missed significant time with health issues. Yes, that helped the club discover Wang, Small and Chacon, but the Yankees would be more than happy to get through 2006 without any major injuries. The concerns aren't just on the pitching staff, where Johnson, Mussina and Rivera are in their late-30s and early-40s. The lineup features just one player under 30 (Robinson Cano), and Sheffield, Giambi and Posada aren't getting any younger.
*Source of stats: www.Yankees.com
Yankee Fun Fact: Lou Gehrig was the first Yankee to have his number retired (#4). The Yankees had one of the bats Gehrig used while he was on the team bronzed and made into a weather vane at Yankees Stadium. Next time you are there look at top of the American flag pole. There you will see the Iron Horse's bat showing the players which way the wind is blowing.
Until next time,
GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!