Sunday, March 02, 2008

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Labels: 2008, preview, Red Sox, Yankees

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Biggest surprise: The projected first-base platoon of Doug Mientkiewicz and Josh Phelps somehow morphed into Andy Phillips and Miguel Cairo by midseason.

Team needs: The talent is on the team. The Yankees need to figure out what they can do to tweak the relief corps, which shows signs of overuse and general ineffectiveness, but those are smaller bandages on the whole body of the club. The Yankees desperately need to challenge their run of 14 of 17 wins, and July is a perfect time to do it -- after the All-Star break, they won't see another team with a winning record until Aug. 10 at Cleveland.

Oh, doctor:

• Johnny Damon -- For a while, it was another day, another malady for the banged-up Damon, who has seen his reliability improve since moving to the DH role. Damon has battled calf cramps all season, as well as a sore back and a mild abdominal strain that was eased when he had four ribs realigned during a recent Yankees off-day.

• Jason Giambi -- Giambi recently had a walking boot removed from his left foot. He had a partial tear of his plantar fascia while running out a home run at Toronto; no return date has been announced.

• Phil Hughes -- The organization's top pitching prospect suffered a strained left hamstring while pitching a no-hitter on May 1 at Texas, then rolled his left ankle while performing conditioning drills and had a severe sprain. He has resumed throwing.

• Derek Jeter -- Ice has been his friend this season, as Jeter consistently makes himself available for the lineup. A left hip flexor and knee tendinitis have been among his ailments.

• Jeff Karstens -- Karstens had his right leg fractured by a Julio Lugo comebacker on April 28 at Yankee Stadium and has resumed throwing at the club's facilities in Tampa, Fla.

• Hideki Matsui -- A strained hamstring forced him out of the lineup in the season's first homestand, but he returned on April 23 at Tampa.

• Mientkiewicz -- He was steamrolled by Boston's Mike Lowell on a play at first base at Fenway Park on June 2, suffering a concussion and a fractured right wrist. He is targeting an Aug. 1 return.

• Mike Mussina -- Moose suffered a strained left hamstring in an April 12 start at Minnesota and missed three weeks.

• Carl Pavano -- The hurler's career with the Yankees is likely over after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in early June. The club's $39.95 million investment yielded just 19 starts and six victories, including one in two starts this season.

• Jorge Posada -- The catcher has quietly been gritting through pain in his right knee that Torre periodically reports is "barking."

• Darrell Rasner -- The hurler fractured his right index finger on a ball hit back to him at Shea Stadium by the Mets' Endy Chavez. The right-hander is slated to resume throwing in early July.

He said it: "We've got a group of guys here that we have to win with. If they make changes, they make changes, but we can't sit around here and think about players who aren't here. Guys need to do the job."
-- Jeter

Mark your calendar: Aug. 10-12 at Cleveland; Aug. 28-30 vs. Boston; Sept. 14-16 at Boston; Sept. 28-30 at Baltimore

Fearless second-half prediction: Thinking back to their string of 14 victories in 17 games in June, the Yankees have at least one more similar run left in them this season. Two runs of that nature would vault them right back into serious contention.

Labels: 2007, preview, review, Yankees

Saturday, March 17, 2007

In 2001, the Yankees lost one of the most grueling World Series with an error by one of the most dominate and near-perfect closers in baseball history.
In 2002, the Yankees fell to the tough Anaheim Angels in the Championship Series.
In 2003, the Yankees reached the pinnacle of sports with a stunning home run only to fall short again.
In 2004, the Yankees were stunned by the most remarkable comeback in sports history.
In 2005, the Yankees fell to the mighty Angels, this time in the first round.
In 2006, the Yankees, heavily favored to win the World Series, came victim to a team who had lost 119 games only a few short years ago.

Welcome to 2007, a new year, a new season, and a new team.

Following the stunning series against the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees had questions that needed to be answered.
How can the pitching improve, who will return, what changes will take place?

The first item on the agenda was pitching. The Yankees traded Gary Sheffield to the Tigers for a few young pitchers including Humberto Sanchez, who may have his share of injuries, but is also dependable and the possible new closer. The Sheffield trade also made the outfield selections more simpler and allowed more playing time to be split between the four currently sharing the field.

Randy Johnson was sent back to Arizona for three more pitchers, all whom will be playing in the minors and preparing themselves for the majors.

Jorge Posada (23 HR/93 RBI/.277 Avg.) remains one of the top catchers in the game. After replacing Joe Girardi for the permanent role, Posada has done everything right and coming close to breaking Yogi Berra's home run record. His outlook for this season still remains optimistic and is predicted to hit over 15 home runs with 75 RBI.

The first base issue was resolved with the signing Doug Mientkiewicz (4/43/.283) sending slugger Jason Giambi (37/113/.253) to the designated hitter slot. Mientkiewicz was signed primarily as a defensive signing rather than an offensive one. In this line up, Meinty is expected to his 5 home runs with 50 RBI.

The shift of Giambi to the DH role allows the Yankees to keep his bat in the line up so he can hit 35 home runs and drive in 90.

Second base remained secured by Robinson Cano (15/78/.342) as he was resigned to a one-year contract. His surprising sophomore season last year was a much needed one, ranking third in the batting title race behind team mate Derek Jeter. Robby's glove also provides an up-the-middle defense one of the best in baseball. If Cano has a great encore season, he will duplicate his stats and be in the MVP race this year as his offensive totals increase.

It seems as the Yankees had placed a franchise tag on Derek Jeter (14/97/.343) by naming him captain of the Yankees a few years ago and have not regretted that decision. Jeter was the front runner for the AL MVP award falling just short and placed second in the batting race. His timely hitting and clutch performances keeps him atop in the shortstop ranking and always a threat at the plate. Jeter had never let down the Yankees and he will once again help guide the Yankees to the playoffs.

Third base hosts Alex Rodriguez (35/121/.290) who's 2006 season was below average. His 24 fielding errors ties his career mark and his clutch production was anything but. However, his offensive production was still available hitting 35 home runs with 121 RBIs. He won the 2004 MVP award and will most likely see a rebound year. Rodriguez will have a comeback season now that some personal issues have been resolved. A-Rod should see around 45 home runs pushing him into the exclusive 500 home run club at a tender age of 32.

The outfield consists of Hideki Matsui (8/29/.302), Johnny Damon (24/80/.285), and Bobby Abreu (15/107/.297) with Melky Cabrera (7/50/.280) ready to play any side.

Matsui missed most of last season due to a wrist fracture making a diving catch and would not return until the Yankees were in a pennant race. Matsui will bounce back from his injury and use his wrists to snap 25 home runs with 80 RBI.

Johnny Damon came over from Boston and thanks to the short right field porch, saw his home run totals increase to a career high 24, and he says that he was playing under pressure. Damon has a very good chance of breaking his home run mark and could hit close to 30 this year with 90 RBI in the lead off position.

Gary Sheffield roamed right field whose presence at the plate us still a scary sight striking fear in all personnel down the third base side. Sheffield's stats are slightly obscure to an injury that led way to Cabrera's debut.

Melky provided both a glove and a bat much needed and his game saving catch of a home run from Manny Ramirez won him the "This Year in Baseball" award for defensive play of the year.

Bobby Abreu, who came in from the July 31 trade deadline last season was a huge help. His offensive numbers par better than his days in Philadelphia and will be an insurgent force. Watch for him as he hits close to 35 home runs and 110 RBI.

The starting pitching rotation was the largest concern. The Johnson trade helped out the Yankees by dumping a player who had elbow issues and back surgery in the off season.

Chein-Ming Wang (19 W/76 KO/3.63 ERA) rose as the ace of the staff tying the major league mark in wins and placing second on the Cy Young award voting. His style of pitching allows more induced ground ball outs replacing his low strike out count.

Mike Mussina (15/172/3.51) had a strong first half season fighting for the league lead in wins only to see some time on the disabled list in the second half with elbow injuries. This season, the aging pitcher will not only be valuable on the mound, but also as a tutor for the surplus of young pitchers in the bullpen.

Andy Pettitte (14/178/4.20) is making his return to New York after spending three years in Houston. People say that his elbow injuries will be a distraction and the weak spot in the rotation. All I can say is 17 wins is a reachable goal.

Carl Pavano (0/0/0.00), whose name is said next to physicians constantly last year and a target for batted balls. Pavano will be under the watchful eye of both Joe Torre and millions of Yankees fans.

Japanese import Kei Igawa (14/194/2.97 [Japanese baseball]) who is so far having a rough spring could improve to be the possible final rotation spot. Although Japanese and American pitchers are different, both have one goal, pitch like you want to win.

The middle relief consisting of Jeff Karstens, Mike Myers, Kyle Farnsworth, Brian Bruney, Ron Villone, Scott Proctor, and Darrell Rasner have been the sore spot last season giving up enough runs to lose over 25% of the games that the Yankees should have won.

Mariano Rivera (5/55/1.80/34 SV), in his last year of his contract, once again proved how valuable he is to the Yankees. Rivera is only 25 saves away from ranking third all-time and has won all two DHL Delivery Man of the Year awards handed out to the best closer in baseball including three Rolaids Relief Man awards. In his career, Rivera has received votes in both the MVP and Cy Young awards.

2007 Projections:

101-61 1st in AL East
World Series champions

LINE UP:
1 - CF - Johnny Damon
2 - SS - Derek Jeter
3 - DH - Jason Giambi
4 - 3B - Alex Rodriguez
5 - LF - Hideki Matsui
6 - C - Jorge Posada
7 - RF - Bobby Abreu
8 - 2B - Robinson Cano
9 - 1B - Doug Mientkiewicz

STARTING ROTATION:
1 - Chein-Ming Wang
2 - Mike Mussina
3 - Andy Pettitte
4 - Carl Pavano
5 - Kei Igawa

Labels: 2007, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, hitting, pitching, predictions, preview, projections, Yankees

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Labels: Andy Pettitte, baseball, Chriss Britton, Doug Mientkiewicz, Josh Phelps, Kei Igawa, Luis Vizcaino, preview, Yankees