New York Yankees 2010 Preview

Its that time of year again. The time when your putting away the shovels and the boots you find that dusty baseball glove laying in the corner of the garage. Time to dust that baby off. Spring is here, and that means baseball is here too.

The New York Yankees are coming off their record 27th World Series Title and 40th American League Pennant after an exhilarating 2009 season. The new stadium opened and the atmosphere could not have been better last season. However last season is last season, and we Yankee fans know, its no good unless you can do it all over again. Lets take a look at the projected lineup, starting rotation, and key additions and losses.

Starting Rotation
L C.C. Sabathia
R A.J. Burnett
L And Pettitte
R Javier Vazquez
R Phil Hughes

Starting Lineup
SS Derek Jeter
DH Nick Johnson
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
C Jorge Posada
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Swisher
LF Brett Gardner

Key Additions: Curtis Granderson (OF); Chan Ho Park (RHP); Marcus Thames (OF); Randy Winn (OF); Nick Johnson (DH/1B)

Key Subtractions: Johnny Damon (OF); Phil Coke (LHP); Hideki Matsui (DH); Ian Kennedy (RHP); Chad Gaudin (RHP)

The Yankees traded for Curtis Granderson early in the off-season and said goodbye to Melky Cabrera, who came on last season but was very inconsistent in his time with the Yankees. Granderson is the perfect clubhouse guy and an outstanding team player with a great swing suited for Yankee Stadium, but his defense in the later part of last season is a concern for me and I'm sure a lot of other Yankee fans. You wouldn't mind lesser numbers from Granderson this year if his defense is significantly better. With all the power in front of him, he just needs to be consistent.

After what could have been a disaster for the Yankees last year in the playoffs, the Yankees do not want to go through what they went through last season, and that is carrying only 3 starting pitchers in the postseason. Even though it worked out, the downfall is far too great in a best of 7 series. So the Yankees went out and worked out a deal with Javier Vazquez. Many Yankees fans cringed when they heard of the signing. Not me. Vazquez is perfect for the role he will play on this team. He will not be called upon to be their ace like he was in 2004. The pressure is no where near the level this year it was back in his first stint with the Yankees. The Yankees didn't have to go out and sign John Lackey or trade for Halladay or Cliff Lee. They have their top of the rotation set, and anything more would just be greed and an overkill.

The biggest question entering spring training was who was going to be the fifth starter. After a month of competition, Phil Hughes will be the fifth srater, leaving Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen, where he belongs. Another year learning from the greatest of greats Mariano Rivera will mold Joba into the closing role once Rivera retires, which I believe will be after this season. Joba had a bad spring and Hughes won the job decisively. With Joba and Rivera, along with Mitre, Marte, Robertson, and Aceves, the bullpen is in good hands. With Hughes in the rotation, if Pettitte stays healthy, the Yankees have a rock solid starting five, definitely one of the top five in the MLB.

There were some losses for this team. Johnny Damon is an irreplaceable clutch hitter. The Yankees will definitely miss his presence both in the clubhouse and once October rolls around. But the blame can only go to Damon. He was offered a 2 year $14 million contract by the Yankees but declined it, seeking more. The Yankees parted their ways and went and traded for Granderson. Damon reluctantly signed a one year $8 million dollar contract with the Tigers after he tried to go back to the Yankees who had moved on. Damon will be missed, but I thought the Yankees treated Damon fairly. Hideki Matsui on the other hand I don't understand. I thought when the Yankees got rid of Nick Johnson the first time it was a mistake, and Brian Cashman desperately wanted to bring him back. But after the postseason Matsui had, it is mind boggling to me that the Yankees did not even offer him a contract. If I had my choice at DH of either Matsui or Johnson, I choose Matsui any day of the week. But Matsui is not getting any younger, and whether or not he can play in the field is still a question. Nick Johnson is versatile and can give a few guys here and there a day off by playing the field.

With everything still intact and a few minor moves this off-season, the Yankees look poised to defend their World Series Title in 2010.



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