Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 20, 2008 21:12:10 GMT -5
Last season: 94-68, 2nd in A.L. East
Lost in ALDS to Cleveland 3-1
Manager: Joe Girardi, First season, 78-84 (.481) career record
New faces: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo (WSH), 3B Morgan Ensberg (SD), RHP LaTroy Hawkins (COL), OF Jason Lane (SD), RHP Heath Phillips (CWS), IF Cody Ransom (HOU), LHP Billy Traber (WSH), IF Chris Woodward (ATL)
Left town: RHP Jim Brower (CIN), RHP Roger Clemens (free agent), RHP Tyler Clippard (WSH), RHP Matt DeSalvo (ATL), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (PIT), C Wil Nieves (WSH), 1B Andy Phillips (CIN), OF Bronson Sardinha (SEA), LHP Ron Villone (STL), RHP Luis Vizcaino (COL), RHP Scott Willamson (SF)
Overview: Every season, this team is put together with winning the World Series in mind. Well, I hate to remind you, Yankee fans, but it's been eight years since the team won its 26th title. After they were dispatched by the Indians in the first round of the playoffs, Joe Torre turned down a contract offer that he deemed insulting and is replaced by Joe Girardi, the 2006 N.L. Manager of the Year and a former Yankees catcher. With some top flight talent arriving from the farm system, no one of any consequence was brought in and the only departure was Roger Clemens, who won only six times in 17 starts and should stay retired. Whether Girardi can return his team to past glory remains to be seen. Age and injuries are the great equalizers and the Yankees have cornered the market on both. We'll also find out how much patience Hank Steinbrenner has in his first full season sitting atop the Yankee pyramid, especially if the Red Sox rub their noses in it again in 2008.
Stat to ponder: The Yankees have made the post-season in 13-straight seasons. Anywhere else that would be fine, except in New York where anything short of a World Series title is considered a failure. Top prospect: RHP Joba Chamberlain. I know he had an impact on the squad last season, but he's still a rookie after just 24.0 innings in the majors. They have to decide if he's best suited as a setup man for Mariano Rivera or as a member of the rotation.
Hitting
'07 AVG (RANK): .290 (1st), RUNS/GAME: 5.98 (1st), HR: 201 (4th)
There's no doubt that this team can rake. Their 968 runs scored last season was the most by a Yankees line-up in 70 years, averaging just shy of six runs per game. Despite those lofty numbers, injuries kept Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi from earning their massive salaries and the replacements showed just how thin the bench is. This offense still revolves around Alex Rodriguez who re-signed for ten more years after it looked like he would exercise an opt-out clause in his massive contract. Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Jorge Posada are still great clutch hitters but are slowing down due to age. If there was an off-season where bringing in another bat or two made sense, this was it. But Girardi will pencil in the same nine day in and day out and cross his fingers that they'll stay healthy. If they don't, their final season in the 'House That Ruth Built' will not be a memorable one.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 4.49 (17th), OPP AVG: .268 (14th)
Chien-Ming Wang is the reluctant ace of a rotation in flux. His 38 wins over the last two seasons is the most in the Majors and he can thank a lot of those wins to the bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Andy Pettitte reacts after spending a lot energy defending his past HGH use. Youngsters Phil Hughes and Chamberlain will make up the back end of the rotation, while Mike Mussina, who looks like the end is near, will hold down the middle spot in the rotation but might be on a short leash. Rivera is still one of the game's clutch closers but the rest of the bullpen isn't as solid as in past seasons. This might be the Achilles' heel, especially with solid relief needed to get the ball to Rivera.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: If healthy, the Yankees will finish second. If not, they'll battle with the Blue Jays and a host of other teams for the Wild Card.
Lost in ALDS to Cleveland 3-1
Manager: Joe Girardi, First season, 78-84 (.481) career record
New faces: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo (WSH), 3B Morgan Ensberg (SD), RHP LaTroy Hawkins (COL), OF Jason Lane (SD), RHP Heath Phillips (CWS), IF Cody Ransom (HOU), LHP Billy Traber (WSH), IF Chris Woodward (ATL)
Left town: RHP Jim Brower (CIN), RHP Roger Clemens (free agent), RHP Tyler Clippard (WSH), RHP Matt DeSalvo (ATL), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (PIT), C Wil Nieves (WSH), 1B Andy Phillips (CIN), OF Bronson Sardinha (SEA), LHP Ron Villone (STL), RHP Luis Vizcaino (COL), RHP Scott Willamson (SF)
Overview: Every season, this team is put together with winning the World Series in mind. Well, I hate to remind you, Yankee fans, but it's been eight years since the team won its 26th title. After they were dispatched by the Indians in the first round of the playoffs, Joe Torre turned down a contract offer that he deemed insulting and is replaced by Joe Girardi, the 2006 N.L. Manager of the Year and a former Yankees catcher. With some top flight talent arriving from the farm system, no one of any consequence was brought in and the only departure was Roger Clemens, who won only six times in 17 starts and should stay retired. Whether Girardi can return his team to past glory remains to be seen. Age and injuries are the great equalizers and the Yankees have cornered the market on both. We'll also find out how much patience Hank Steinbrenner has in his first full season sitting atop the Yankee pyramid, especially if the Red Sox rub their noses in it again in 2008.
Stat to ponder: The Yankees have made the post-season in 13-straight seasons. Anywhere else that would be fine, except in New York where anything short of a World Series title is considered a failure. Top prospect: RHP Joba Chamberlain. I know he had an impact on the squad last season, but he's still a rookie after just 24.0 innings in the majors. They have to decide if he's best suited as a setup man for Mariano Rivera or as a member of the rotation.
Hitting
'07 AVG (RANK): .290 (1st), RUNS/GAME: 5.98 (1st), HR: 201 (4th)
There's no doubt that this team can rake. Their 968 runs scored last season was the most by a Yankees line-up in 70 years, averaging just shy of six runs per game. Despite those lofty numbers, injuries kept Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi from earning their massive salaries and the replacements showed just how thin the bench is. This offense still revolves around Alex Rodriguez who re-signed for ten more years after it looked like he would exercise an opt-out clause in his massive contract. Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Jorge Posada are still great clutch hitters but are slowing down due to age. If there was an off-season where bringing in another bat or two made sense, this was it. But Girardi will pencil in the same nine day in and day out and cross his fingers that they'll stay healthy. If they don't, their final season in the 'House That Ruth Built' will not be a memorable one.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 4.49 (17th), OPP AVG: .268 (14th)
Chien-Ming Wang is the reluctant ace of a rotation in flux. His 38 wins over the last two seasons is the most in the Majors and he can thank a lot of those wins to the bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Andy Pettitte reacts after spending a lot energy defending his past HGH use. Youngsters Phil Hughes and Chamberlain will make up the back end of the rotation, while Mike Mussina, who looks like the end is near, will hold down the middle spot in the rotation but might be on a short leash. Rivera is still one of the game's clutch closers but the rest of the bullpen isn't as solid as in past seasons. This might be the Achilles' heel, especially with solid relief needed to get the ball to Rivera.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: If healthy, the Yankees will finish second. If not, they'll battle with the Blue Jays and a host of other teams for the Wild Card.
