Games aren’t played on paper, they’re played inside of TV sets. That line from ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, applies to almost any off-season acquisition. When the New York Yankees went on a spending spree in the lead up to the 2014 campaign, I pondered which player would live up his respective contract and be worth it in value to the team.
That player with the least amount of risk, most “reasonable” contract and biggest upgrade at a position of need, I thought was Brian McCann. I thought, here’s a fiery guy, who knows how to handle a pitching staff and should yield a boost to a lineup that was lethargic in 2013. Well, McCann may still assume that leadership role with a year under his belt in the Bronx but he wasn’t quite the sure bet I thought he’d be in year one. McCann did have a solid rapport with the pitching staff and popped 23 home runs, yet the higher risk-reward players like Masahiro Tanaka and Jacoby Ellsbury, proved to be a better buy.
Taking a look at some of the new acquisitions for 2015, which player will ultimately live up to the hype?
Didi Gregorius – Ideally, on a 98-win Yankees club, he is allowed to fly under the radar and just play ball. While no one expects him to fully replace Derek Jeter, if he struggles, there will predictably be grumblings of, “Derek would’ve come through in the clutch there or Derek would’ve made that play.” If Gregorius is the glue at shortstop and woos the fans, along with hitting around .250, while hitting between 10-to-12 home runs, New York fans would be thrilled.
Andrew Miller – I’m not saying the expectations are high but if the Yankees are going to seriously contend this season, Miller will pitch like another former Boston Red Sox turned Yankee lefty reliever, Sparky Lyle. Regardless of whether he or Dellin Betances closes, he’ll be viewed as the guy who replaced the guy (David Robertson), who took over for Mariano Rivera. Being left-handed, Miller brings a new wrinkle to what has been a filthy bullpen across the past two seasons. Assuming he stays on the trajectory he’s been on since 2012, Yankee fans could be just smitten with Miller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOiuJAs-XhE
Garrett Jones – Yankee fans will be happy with Jones, if he is Nick Swisher 2.0. Given that the Yanks didn’t have a suitable caddy for Mark Teixeira in 2014, Jones already has that attribute going for him. Plus, Jones and his lefty stroke, should lift 20 home runs playing at Yankee Stadium. Yes, he’s going to need to adjust to New York, the AL (even though there’s inter-league play every day) and DH but if the Yanks don’t miss a beat when Tex and or Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez go through nagging injuries, his value will be fulfilled.
Nathan Eovaldi – While not in rotation hierarchy, Eovaldi is essentially slotting into the vacancy created by the defection of Hiroki Kuroda and injury to Ivan Nova. Eovaldi by default, appears to be the most durable of the lot but it’s all about consistency. Honing location on the fastball and trusting secondary pitches will be the key to Eovaldi’s success in 2015 and beyond. Watching guys like Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Tyler Clippard and Mark Melancon leave and have success elsewhere, maybe Eovaldi is their young gun, who struggled with other organizations but finally gets it. Conversely, you hope it’s not another case of a guy with “stuff” that can’t cut the mustard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tECVIkPCPMk
Justin Wilson/David Carpenter/Chasen Shreve – All three relievers give the Yankees plenty of options coming out of the pen. With questions pertaining to the health and durability of the Yanks starting rotation, not only do these guys become important in terms of mixing and matching but they are also key in keeping the club in games when said starter falter or when the back end of the bullpen is over used. Look, I believe the Yankees will hit better this year but if these guys come through and shortening the game is your goal, they can go a long way toward achieving that end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3VoHWQZkwo
