Results tagged ‘ World Series ’
Five Burning Questions
The defending World Series champion New York Yankees.
Doesn’t saying that give you chills all over your body?
Starting tomorrow night, it’s a phrase the baseball world will have to deal with all season. And the first victims? None other than the hated Red Sox. As much as we may gripe about starting the season on the road after winning World Series #27, it’s probably going to be much harder for Sox fans to stomach the idea of their chief rivals as defending World Series champions.
Now, the Yankees winning the title last season doesn’t mean they are without questions. Fan favorites were replaced. Team roles were shifted. Worries of team complacency were echoed. The key will be how the Yankees respond to these questions in this the second season of the new Yankee Stadium.
1) How will the Yankees fight complacency?
No one knows the difficulty of repeating more than the Yankees. They’ve only done it a record 12 times (1928, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1962, 1978, 1999, 2000) and are looking to add to that in 2010. The moves that Brian Cashman made over the winter show that he is very dedicated to put a team on the field that will not succumb to the complacency issue and bring home World Series #28. It also doesn’t hurt to have veterans like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera to keep the team hungry (insert CC Sabathia joke here) and focused at all times.
2) What can we expect from Brett Gardner in 2010?
It was believed that with the acquisition of Curtis Granderson, Gardner would fill the same role as he did in 2009 as an defensive upgrade and pinch-runner off the bench. That changed once negotiations with Johnny Damon broke down and Melky Cabrera was traded to Atlanta for Javier Vazquez. Now Brett The Jet is expected to start in LF alongside Granderson and Nick Swisher. As long as he doesn’t play outside his talents, Brett should have himself a good season. Oh, and don’t forget to check out his hair.
3) Can Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson make Yankees fans forget Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui?
We all know how important Damon and Godzilla were to the Yankees’ run last season — both came through with clutch hit after clutch hit and provided some veteran presence in the clubhouse. Both men were also on the wrong side of age 35, and questions about their durability led the front office into a different direction. While Granderson (LH pitchers) and Johnson (injuries) both have question marks, both also make the lineup more dynamic. Granderson hit 30 HRs last season in spacious Comerica Park and has a swing that should translate well in Yankee Stadium, not to mention he can run and field with the best of them. Johnson’s biggest asset is his .402 career OBP and should also benefit from the famed short porch. No matter if you prefer Damon-Matsui or Granderson-Johnson, you have to love what the two new imports bring to the Yankees offense.
Judging by his numbers last season (.320 average, 204 hits, 25 HR, 85 RBI) and his track record so far, one might ask why Cano wasn’t already hitting higher in the lineup. Then you see his numbers with RISP last season (an atrocious .207 AVG). He may be tremendously streaky, but Robbie can rake with the best 2B in the game. With an improved approach and torrid Spring Training, look for our 2B/ninja to successfully fill the void left by Hideki Matsui in the #5 spot — and hopefully NEVER bunt on 3-0 again (No matter what I do, I can’t get that sequence out of my head).
5) Will David Robertson be this season’s breakout pitcher?
I believe this kid can be Mariano’s successor (yes, I still believe Joba Chamberlain will be a starter beginning next season). In his first significant action last season, D. Robby pitched in medium spots — he would come in when the Yankees were losing but still had a chance to win in the middle innings. With his sneaky-fast fastball (Michael Kay absolutely butchered explaining this in a game last year) he garnered 13 K/9 and delivered the relief performance of the year by escaping a bases-loaded jam against the Twins in the ALDS. With a likely expanded role as the late-inning right-handed counterpart to Damaso Marte, D. Robby should only improve his numbers and establish himself as one the best-kept secrets in the American League.
For those of you that don’t know, 161st & River colleague Hiba, author of Pretty in Pinstripes on MLBlogs, has developed a major-league crush on Logan. Unfortunately Logan is headed for the dreaded Scranton Shuffle, but can be called up at any point to take pressure off Marte as the lefty specialist. As stated on her blog Hiba will be visiting her native New York City from Dubai in August, and her sights will undoubtedly be on using her Lebanese lovin’ to her advantage. Beware, NYC — a Biba-storm is coming in August!
Look for these questions to be answered over the course of the season. Remember, tomorrow is Easter Sunday as well as Opening Night — enjoy the whole day and however you celebrate, please be safe.
Say it with me one more time — LET’S GO YANKEES!!!!!!
cjsmoov
Recent Comments