MLB Preview 2015: New York Yankees
New York Yankees 2014 Record: 84-78
Team overview:
The Yankees will enter the 2015 season as one of the older and more experienced teams. Outside of Shortstop Didi Gregorius, 25, the entire projected starting lineup is over the age of 30. If this team can get to October there is no doubt that experience will help; My question is, can they stay together long enough to get there? The team was bitten by the injury bug last year and I have many serious questions as to whether that was bad luck, or the times catching up with the names on the roster.
In Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran you have big name performers who had posted poor numbers due to lingering injuries. Teixeira will be 35, and although he played in over 100 games last season, his average took a turn for the worst and it seems like he hasn’t been the same since injuring his wrist two years back. He has also had a variety of hamstring issues over the past two years. Beltran fought through an elbow injury all season to put up by far his worst numbers that I can remember. He will turn 38 this season and that is pushing a level where not many players at all can be effective, let alone one with an injury. McCann is only 31, and while he gained power last season, his average had tumbled do to his inability to pull the ball away from a shift and I am unsure how he will get that back.
The middle infield will be a bad spot for hitters to attack this season as Gregorius combines with veteran Steven Drew to give one of the better defensive middles out there. Jacoby Ellsbury completes it with speed and a nice glove in center field.
Ellsbury and left fielder Brett Gardner are where I see the brightest spots on this team. The two both have 20-20 potential and can both get on base efficiently. They can make it tough on pitchers and if the "Power 3" of McCann, Tex and Beltran can get production, this team will be able to score.
There are some possible lingering injuries in the lineup, but the pitching staff is where the big questions lie. CC Sabathia and Mashahiro Tanaka both have ace potential, but both have big time questions. Sabathia has a history and pedigree of being the man, but after knee surgery shut him down from a woeful 2014 campaign, I wonder how well the 34 year old can get back on top. Tanaka had all the signs of needing Tommy John surgery only to elect to rehab and wait instead of getting the procedure done. That is a rare decision in this time of day but it puts him back in rotation for opening day. He says he is fine but for a young pitcher who has thrown as many pitches as he has, and with a lot of spin on them I am skeptical. Michael Pineda is keyed into the third or fourth spot in the rotation but he, like the two above, has injury concerns. He hasn’t played anything near a full season in 3 years now and no one truly knows what he would bring when healthy. In Ivan Nova and Nathan Eovaldi they have two potentially good back end pitchers that can complete a rotation. Of course Nova is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, so the team may look to Chris Capuono to start throughout the season as well. While this could indeed be a strong back end, if these names are thrust into spots where they need to carry a rotation they may struggle.
With all the questions elsewhere at least the Yankees can say that few should question their bullpen. Despite losing Dave Robertson, this should be one of the best pens in the MLB. Dellin Betances throws fire and should be a fine closer, and bringing in Andrew Miller was a key offseason pick up. If the Yankees can get leads by the 7th inning expect wins to rack up.
What to Watch for:
As a baseball fan for almost 20 years now, I will certainly be following the saga that is Alex Rodriguez. Although I wish A-Rod would just go away (and I think the Yankees feel the same) he has publicly stated he isn’t going anywhere. This is going to be a media frenzy and clubhouse issue until he (probably) gets hurt. Already the Yankees have told him that Chase Headley is the starter at his position despite the Yanks paying Rodriguez over $20 million this year. The team added Garrett Jones for first base protection and to be a DH/RF option, depending on how well Carlos Beltran can play the field. A platoon at DH between A-Rod and Jones makes sense but it will be interesting to see how the Yankees handle it as they have also been rumored to be handicapping Rodriguez’ training and progression. I don’t see a Disney ending for A-Rods career and I would assume this is his last dance. Whether he takes the clubhouse down with him will be what needs to be seen.
Where Do They Rank:
The team got through troubles and a Derek Jeter USA tour before finishing second in the division last year. However, I feel the Blue Jays can improve on what they started last year, and the Red Sox certainly look different than last season. There are just too many questions when it comes to the age and injury history of the entire core of this team for me to get behind them. Although I could see them winning the division, I currently rank them 4th.
