I repeat.. The Yankees will win the AL East in 2015.
When looking forward to the upcoming season, the range of possibilities for this Yankees team seems endless. Could they finish in first and win the division? Sure. Could they fall apart at the seams and finish at the bottom of the division? Yes, that’s possible too. Heading into the 2015 campaign, all teams in the East have major questions that could end up meaning a post-season berth, or another early off-season.
This post is the second entry in a two-part series diving into the best and worst case scenarios for this team. In the first post, we looked at all of the ways this season could implode and send the Yankees into a free-for-all downward spiral. In this post, let’s look at how the stars align and the Bronx Bombers capture their 19th division title.
Questions Heading Into The Season:
We have heard all of the questions and concerns about this team for months. Are they too old? Will they stay healthy? How will the losses of Jeter (and Rivera two years before) impact leadership? What will Alex Rodriguez bring to the table (other than his three-ring circus)? Will they get production from their young players-which ones will get an opportunity this season? How much have the other teams in the division improved?
What if everything goes right? What if everyone stays healthy and produces? How do things look if the dominoes fall in the Yankees favor?
Fountain of Youth?
This team has aging veterans at almost every position and will count on each of them for quality production this year. With a core of Mark Teixeira (34), Alex Rodriguez (39), Carlos Beltran (37) and CC Sabathia (34), not only is there experience, but post-season and championship pedigree. After an injury filled season for Teixeira, he showed up to camp in better shape after swearing off sugar and carbs. He has thinned out and added muscle to help his body get through another grueling season. As he gains more confidence in his wrist, we will see the power return and the dazzling scoops and diving stops at first base return. Having his left-handed power in the lineup is a major boost to this offense. On the other side of the infield, A-Rod is coming back with a chip on his shoulder, determined to show the Yankees, fans and Major League Baseball he is back with vengeance. Having a full year off to rediscover his passion and need for the game, Rodriguez will look to have a season full of success and proving his doubters wrong.
Also looking to come back strong will be switch-hitting Carlos Beltran and the hefty lefty CC Sabathia. Beltran’s ability to return to the level of play we saw him at a couple years ago with St. Louis, will round out this Yankee lineup. Being able to have a .300 hitter in the middle of the lineup will give any opposing pitchers headaches trying to find an easy out. Beltran’s success in October is well documented as well, and if all goes right (which by the end of this post, you should believe that it will) he will be able to step into the role Jeter played so well.
On the mound, Sabathia is back to his “fighting” weight at 300 pounds and will be looking to regain his “ace” status in the rotation. The last time we saw him at this weight he had more velocity and stamina getting deeper into games. Getting a productive lefty at the top of the rotation could cement this staff as one of the best in the division and the American League.
With a new training staff, and more emphasis on conditioning and training, the Yankees should find themselves healthier. Not to mention having a number of guys who can play multiple positions, will allow these older veterans days off to keep them fresh for the entire season.
Clean Bill of Health?
The Yankees have shown a new focus on better training methods and dietary adjustments to keep their bodies fresh. Several of the younger Yankees have gritty, aggressive styles of play that have led to trips to the disabled list for wrist, hamstring and ankle injuries. Speedy outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner go all out for deep fly balls hit into the gaps, or bloopers trying to drop in. Both guys, despite their aggressive play were able to play 149 and 148 games respectively last year. There is no reason to think that without each of them playing 150 games or more the Yankees outfield will (rarely) ever see a ball drop in the outfield.
Nine out of ten pitchers who injure their UCL in their pitching arm end up getting the dreaded Tommy John Surgery. Not Masahiro Tanaka. Five doctors gave the same plan for recovery; rest. No surgery was done and an off-season of rest has Tanaka ready to roll for the start of the 2015 campaign. With a clean bill of health, Yankees fans are looking forward to a full season with Tanaka making batters look silly while swinging out of their shoes on his splitter.
Aside from the Spring Training injury to Chris Capuano, the Yankees have a number of arms ready to join Sabathia and Tanaka in the rotation. Michael Pineda will show the league that he has some of the most electric stuff in the entire league. Newcomer, Nathan Eovaldi is a young flamethrower who is just figuring out his niche in the league but his ready to showcase his young power arm. With a healthy starting rotation, the Yankees should be able to control the path to the division title.
Bullpen Bullies?
After the departure of Mariano Rivera two seasons ago, the Yankees needed to find a new closer. David Robertson was able to step into the ninth inning role and became a top closer in the league. His success led to his departing the Bronx this off-season for the South Side of Chicago with the White Sox. Once again the Yankees are looking for someone to take the ball with the game on the line. In steps young phenom Dellin Betances. Last season Betances broke onto the scene making his first All-Star game as he posted a 1.40 ERA with 135 strikes in just 90 innings of work. Stepping into the closer-role for the first time will present a new set of challenges and pressures for the young stud, but if we have learned anything from his work already, the “Big Guy” is ready for the big moments.
With a new closer, you need to shuffle the rest of the bullpen and late inning arms. Spending big money on left-handed Andrew Miller, the Yankees brought in a reliever with established success in the division. Previously with Boston and Baltimore, Miller has proved himself as a power arm out of the pen who can shutdown both sides of the plate.
In addition the Yankees brought in David Carpenter from the Braves, Justin Wilson from the Pirates and have Jacob Lindgren waiting in the wings in the farm system. Andrew Bailey is another name we should add to the equation as well as he comes back from missing two seasons with multiple injuries.
Looking ahead, the Yankees bullpen looks to be one of, if not the, biggest strengths of this team. Having the arms to close out games gives the starters more wiggle room and gives the offense a chance to shorten games.
Baby Bombers Ready to Bloom?
We have to give credit where credit is due. The front office of the New York Yankees have listened and made major improvements to their farm system. Whether it was changing a philosophy, or the people executing the plan, the Yankees have turned a minor league system with little hope into one with budding stars ready to make the jump to the big leagues. Names like Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Jose Pirela and Rob Refsynder have Yankees fans thinking of a new Core Four (or Five). Throughout the spring, each of these prospects has shown flashes of future greatness. If they can continue to improve over time and produce when called upon, the future of the Baby Bombers is very bright.
Flawed Rivals?Â
The Red Sox have grabbed the headlines this winter with splashes on the offensive side of the ball, but when it comes down to it, their rotation and bullpen have taken some major hits. Heading into this season, the Sox are counting on Rick Porcello and Clay Buchholz to anchor their rotations. Behind them are serious question marks with little to no prior success. We have seen how important pitching is in recent years thanks to championship pushes by the Giants last year and even the battle we saw between the Sox and Cardinals the year before. The defending division champion, Orioles, have lost Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis to free agency. They have gotten by in years past by timely hitting and better than expected pitching. Losing Cruz is a major loss to their lineup, and Markakis was a clubhouse leader for years. Both losses are bound to set Baltimore back a couple steps this season.
Speaking of major losses, the Rays have lost manager Joe Maddon to the Cubs. Maddon was the mad scientist behind the revival of the Rays franchise. He changed the way they approached the game and there is no better manager at getting the most out of his players. North of the border, the Jays have already lost their young starter Marcus Stroman for the season to knee surgery. His loss is a major hit to their projected rotation heading into this season. The Jays always bring a dangerous offense to the table behind Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, but they fall flat once again in starting pitching.
Projection:
The Yankees have set themselves up very nicely heading into this season. They have gotten younger. They have dominant arms in the bullpen. They have major pieces back in the fold after serious injuries. They have upgraded their defense immensely. The pieces are there for the Yankees to have major success in the AL East and in the American League. There is no clear favorite in the division, or for that matter the entire league, so why not? Why not the Yankees? Why can’t they capture their 19th division championship? Why can’t they win their 28th World Series?
To me, it seems as though Yankee fans should be excited to start this new season, I know I am because I truly believe; the Yankees will win the AL East.
