New York Yankees Team Preview 2012

New York Yankees Team Preview 2012

As Per Usual, Big Contract Guys Will Be Key for the Yanks

Year in and year out, the success of the New York Yankees depends on basically one thing. The performance of their big ticket players, like Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, with the latter two in decline. Jeter is one of the most overpayed players in the history of baseball in my opinion, with a 3 year, $51 million contract with a player option for 2014. Jeter has a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 2.3 according to fangraphs.com, good enough for thirteenth in the Major Leagues. The highest paid shortstop has been in decline for some time, but actually was solid offensively last season. He hit .297 with 6 home runs anf 61 Runs Batted In (RBI). He also had 162 hitsin 133 games, the most important being one of his six home runs, where it became hit number 3,000. Now lets move on to Teixeira, who has maintained his power and production over the last two years, but has seen a sharp decline in his batting average (AVG). He only had 146 hits last season, and his average dipped to .248. He did have 39 home runs and 111 RBI, which ranked near the top of the American League. Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez had 373 at bats, with 16 home runs and 62 RBI, one less than Jeter. He is under a huge contract, and is deteriorating and has been ever since the news of when he tested positive for steroids. If Jeter and Rodriguez produce at a decent way, the Yanks will be fine.

Offense

Past the players I mentioned above, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira will lead the offense. Those three combined for 348 RBI, which basically lifted the Yankees offense, which never has problems. Russell Martin is a good hitting catcher, and Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher are good corner outfielder, but are not fantastic. Jorge Posada’s prescence will not be that missed, but the DH problem has not been solved yet, due to the trade of Jesus Montero. Backup shortstop. Eduardo Nunez, Francisco Cervelli and Chris Dickerson will fill in, and Nunez projects as Derek Jeter’s heir. The Yankees like Lee so much, rumor has it that they refused to include him in a deal that would have brought them Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners.

Pitching

Up until a few weeks ago, the Yankees had questions in the rotation. Now all of those questions have been solved, without them commiting too much money. Right Hander Hiroki Kuroda was signed to a one year , $10 million contract in January. They shocked the baseball world, not for trading C/DH prospect Jesus Montero, but getting a young pitcher in return , RHP Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners. Pineda was an all star last season, and went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA. His most impressive stat was his 9.11 K/9. He projects kind of like his former teammate, Felix Hernandez, and that is certainly what the Bronx Bombers would hope, which is why they traded one of the best hitting prospects in the game. Lefty C.C. Sabathia will lead the staff. Sabathia led the staff with a 19-8 record, and a 3.00 ERA in the toughest division in baseball. RHP A.J. Burnett has been a flop given his huge contract, but has helped them win a World Series. RHP’s Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia will vie for the 5th starter role, either one could go to the bullpen. Nova was 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA and was their second best starter last season.

Of course, closer Mariano Rivera will once again lead the bullpen. Last season, in 61.1 innings, Rivera had 44 saves with a 1.91 ERA and a 8.80 K/9. Set Up Man, David Robertson and his “High Socks for Cancer” proved he was one of the best pitchers in the game, earning a spot in Arizona for the All-Star Game. He had a sparkling 1.08 ERA and a whopping 13.5 K/9. ( The reason I include strikeouts per nine innings is that it is considered an integral part of scouting a relief pitcher. The Yankees will have a good bullpen, with Rafael Soriano looking for a rebound season, after the Yanks gave up their first round pick in compensation for Soriano. ( General Manager Brian Cashman disagreed when Owner Hal Steinbrenner kind of went behind Cashman’s back to sign the former Tampa Bay Rays reliever. Soriano had injury problems last season, and in 39.1 innings, he had a 4.12 ERS and a 8.82 K/9. Newly signed lefty Corey Wade can be a loogy, (left handed specialist) along with Boone Logan, the former White Sox reliever.

Top Ten Prospects

1.Manny Banuelos LHP   2. Dellin Betances RHP  3. Gary Sanchez  C  4. Jose Campos  LHP  5. Slade Heathcott OF  6. Austin Romine  C  7. Adam Warren RHP  8. Cito Culver  9. David Phelps RHP 10. Cesar Cabral  LHP