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A preview of the 2011 New York Yankees

In the previous post we looked at the Yankees rotation. There are a lot of question marks surrounding their rotation, but if the Yankees have one thing going for them it is their offense.

Even if the Bombers pitchers get bombed on a consistent basis, you would have to think that the Yankee offense will find ways to pull them out of the fire.

The lineup has very little change over from the last two seasons.
Derek Jeter -SS
Curtis Granderson-CF
Robinson Cano -2B
Alex Rodriguez -3B
Mark Teixiera -1B
Nick Swisher - RF
Jorge Posado - DH
Russell Martin - C
Brett Gardner - LF
The Yankees known what they will get from Jeter, Tiexiera and A-Rod. Tiexiera has spent the spring working extremly hard on his swing, trying to make sure that he gets off to a faster start this April, compared to previous seasons. Even if he does get off to a slow start, Tiexeria is good for 35 homers and 110 RBI.

Word out of camp this year is that Rodriguez is in the best shape of his career. He hit six homers and drove in 16 this spring, which means he could be on pace for another 40 plus homer season.

Then there is Robinson Cano. Once considered a lazy player, Cano has turned into a MVP candidate. He has recorded 200 plus hit seasons in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and was in the middle of the MVP race last year with 41 doubles, 29 homers and 109 RBI, with a .319 batting average.

Cano will move up to the number three spot, with Tiexeria moving down to five. Not a big deal, but it means that Cano will get more RBI opportunities and at bats.

Of course there are question marks. Jorge Posada is in the final year of his contract, and the Yankees are clearly done with him. Posada will be the DH this year, after the Bombers brought in former Dodger Russell Martin to be the starting catcher. Francisco Cervelli will be the back up catcher.

Martin really disappointed in LA. A guy who once showed great promise a few years ago, has watched his numbers dive the last three seasons. Last year, Martin hit only five homers and drove in 26 in 97 games with the Dodgers. He has become a light hitter, and if he fails behind the plate, Yankee fans will clamor for Posada to be the catcher again. Will Yankee management budge when that happens?

As for the Yankees bullpen, it looks rock solid. With Mariano Rivera, the unquestioned greatest closer in the game, the Yankees still have the perfect weapon to close out games.

He will have a better supporting cast this year, with former Rays closer Rafael Soriano joining him. Soriano had a 1.73 ERA with 45 saves last year for the Rays; he could close some games for the Yankees this year, and may even by Rivera's heir apparent, but right now having those two together in the same bullpen really shortens the game for the Bronx Bombers.

Along with Soriano and Rivera will be former Met Pedro Feliciano, a lefty specialist who is very effective at getting both right and left handed batters out, as well as a slimmer Joba Chamberlain.

So how will the Yankees do in 2011?

A lot has been made about the off-season moves of the Red Sox, who added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Many have predicted that the Red Sox will compete in the World Series later this year.

But we will have to wait and see. Gonzalez has to adjust to American League pitching, and BoSox pitching has about as many question marks as the Yankees.

As usual the race for the division title and wild card will run through New York and Boston. Doesn't matter who win the East, because both team will be in the playoffs.
Prediction: Yankees 92-70 2nd place AL East.

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