The Yankees have been very fortunate. They play in New York, and they use it to their advantage. Since 1920, they've fielded some of the best players to ever wear a uniform. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, Maris, Rizzuto, Ford, Munson, Stengel. They Field an amazing all star team at almost every position. Of course, all those names were before Steinbrenner. Maybe I don't hate the Yankees. Maybe I just hate George Steinbrenner.
George Steinbrenner could be referred to as the father of the modern era of baseball. I don't mean the game on the field, I mean the game off the field. Right after Steinbrenner took Yankees' ownership in 1973, Curt Flood happened. Curt Flood was an outfielder in St. Louis who questioned the legality of the "indentured servitude" of the players when he balked after being traded to Philadelphia. Because of Curt Flood, free agency was born.
Steinbrenner then decided to open his pocketbook, and he signed the best players money could buy. First he signed Jim "Catfish" Hunter away from the A's. Then, he lured Reggie Jackson away from the A's the next year. During his tenure, he took other A's greats like Rickey Henderson and Jason Giambi. No wonder I hate the Yankees. They've also bought guys like Paul O'Neil, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera, David Wells, David Cone, Roger Clemens, and others. They're perennially one of the best teams money can buy. They are the Goliath of baseball.
Which is the Yankees?
With George departed from us now, the Yankees still bear his mark. Their offense in 2010 could best be described as "potent", and it's mostly intact for 2011. They scored 859 runs last year, 41 more than the second place team. That's over five runs a game. They hit 201 home runs, third in the majors, and slugged .436, good for fourth. They also led in on base percentage at .350, over a runner per out. What does this mean, as they were only 8th in batting average? They took 662 walks.
Leading this team, as he has since 1996, will be the captain, shortstop Derek Jeter (.270/10/67).
I hate him with a burning passion. Mostly because of this play:
SLIDE YOU IDIOT
I will admit, the play is slick. But what in the hell was Jeter doing there?! He was out of position! It should have been one of the most boneheaded plays ever, but instead it is one of the best of his career. I also hate his smugness, his seeming ability to post great stats while only expected to be the number two hitter ahead of Texiera or A-Rod. Anyway, he probably has at least one good season left in him.
Robinson Cano (.391/19/109) is a homegrown Yankee talent, something few on this team can say, and he was probably the most consistent Yankee power threat last year. On the corners will be the aforementioned ARod (.270/30/105) and Teixiera (.256/33/108). Two of the best in the game at their positions. Teixiera "struggled" to 33 home runs last season. A-Rod may be the guy to break the career home run record.
Like the infield, the outfield returns intact from 2010. Brett Gardner (.277/5/47), Curtis Granderson (.247/24/67), and Nick Swisher (.288/29/89) will be on the grass from left to right. Gardner could be maturing into a great leadoff man. Granderson was less than desired last summer, and a return to his 2009 numbers would make the Yankees inhuman. Nick Swisher very quietly reached his line last year, becoming one of the best fantasy steals this year. Finally relieved of his catching duties will be Jorge Posada (.248/18/67). The career Yankee has one more season hitting in him. The only difference in the offense will be Russel Martin (.248/5/26). The Yankees are giving him a second chance after his stats have gone downhill for two straight years with the Dodgers. He'll probably share a few games with young prospects Francisco Cervelli and Jesus Montero.
As good as they were with the bats, last year was not the best on the mound, leading to their playoff exit. They had a team ERA of 4.06, lowest of any playoff team. Most of this was difficulty in middle relief and the back end of the rotation, but things haven't been shaken up too much.
C.C. Sabathia (21-7, 3.18) was another big free agent signing, and he will lead the pitching staff. This Cy Young contender will then give way to young pitcher Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19), who had a great first half before seeming to tire last year. Third will be big free agent signing and so far flop A.J. Burnett (10-15, 5.26). He needs to have a much better season before Yankee fans give him the Bronx cheer nightly. Because the Yankees were snubbed by Cliff Lee in the offseason, the 4 and 5 starters are less accomplished. Prospect Ivan Nova (1-2, 4.50) will take the number 4 spot, while (according to the depth chart) journeyman Sergio Mitre (0-3, 3.33) was going to get the fifth spot. They have also signed veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia to deals, and have a good shot at those spots as well. At present, they have traded Mitre away, so Colon Colon will make the rotation as the number 5. The Yankees have also said Garcia, who went 12-6 last year, may get the five spot, pushing Colon to fourth and knocking off Nova. Today, they also signed Kevin Millwood to a minor league deal, adding depth. Still, it could potentially be a soft spot for the Yankees. They do, however, have a fantastic 8-9 combination in Rafael Soriano (45 SV, 1.73) and Mariano Rivera (33 SV, 1.80). Soriano will probably take the closing job at the end of this season, and is an insurance policy in case the 41 year old Rivera breaks down.
The Yankees in 2011 will once again be a contender. But, because of their weak 4 and 5 starters, they may not be a juggernaut. I sincerely believe they may be in a 3-4 team contest in the AL East that might eliminate all four of them from the Wild Card race.
Ladies and Gents, the Yankees:
C Russel Martin
1B Mark Teixiera
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Derek Jeter
LF Brett Gardner
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Swisher
DH Jorge Posada
SP C.C. Sabathia
SP Phil Hughes
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Ivan Nova
SP Bartolo Colon
CL Mariano Rivera
The Yankees win the World Series as their offense proves too dominating for the tired young Giants arms. Jeter is handed his eighteenth key to the city in a lavish ceremony. The Red Sox are thoroughly humiliated when they once again lose to the Yankees in the playoffs while hitting a combined .133. Russel Martin gets hurt during the year, but Jesus Montero waltzes into the role with gusto, hitting 17 homeruns after June 1. His addition to the lineup solidifies the idea that the Yankees have one of the best farm systems in baseball. Nova finishes 12-8 and proves to be one of the biggest surprises of 2011. Hank Steinbrenner oversees a new Yankees dynasty after Rivera and Jeter retire. No unicorns are ever seen.
The season goes well through about July first, but then it is revealed that Hank Steinbrenner has lost his father's entire fortune in a Ponzi scheme. He is forced to sell the Yankees at discount cost to Mark Cuban, who doesn't really have enough money to run both the Yankees and the Mavericks. The turmoil leads to a 2-20 record in July, dropping the Yankees out of contention. The team is dismantled to reduce payroll. The Rays take Teixiera, Jeter retires after realizing he has enough money and fame and would rather just pose for GQ, and Sabathia goes to Philadelphia, who didn't have enough pitching already. The lack of depth in the organization is exposed for the joke that it is, and the Yankees plummet to the bottom of the AL East. Unfortunately, it's all they can afford, so the Yankees are forced to build up their farm system. The Steinbrenner curse haunts them for the next 90 years before they make the World Series. The Libyan Revolution ends peacefully and the first unicorn in the world is seen flying over Tibet.
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