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February 7, 2010 – Despite the addition of a 30-homer centerfielder and a steady righty starter, I’m not sold on the Yankees repeat in 2010. Curtis Granderson is an excellent speaker, but can’t hit lefties, slumps in September and has flies bounce off his mitt. That might be why there is talk of playing him in left, where at least he can throw better than Johnny Damon. Adding Javier Vasquez and Jaba Chamberlain to the rotation of Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte also doesn’t guarantee anything except not having to throw Sergio Mitre in a five-man rotation. If you remember correctly, Jaba was in limbo at the end of last year, searching for his jazz, either as a reliever or starter. Vasquez is a steady innings-eater, but maybe not really the pitcher they were looking for in last year’s post-season run, when a fourth starter could have come in handy. Then again, he’s an upgrade from Jaba and Mitre. I wonder if this is the year that the “leadership four” falters. Andy Pettitte (38 in June) is now year-to-year. Jorge Posada (38 in August) needs a back-up and Derek Jeter (36 in June) and Mariano Rivera (41 in November) are future Hall of Famers looking at taking their first steps backward into decline.
So, Alex Rodriguez, up-and-down Robinson Cano (without his amigo Melky Cabrera) and Mark Texeira provide the basis for a Murderer’s row. Jeter and Posada certainly have to be considered factors as (possible) offensive additions. Nick Swisher, Nick Johnson and Granderson, at this point, are hopefuls. Brett Gardner still hasn’t convinced anyone that he has the bat to be in the big leagues.
It doesn’t look likely that the Yankees money will lure Joe Mauer, a traditional type of Yankee pick up (top dog young hitter and takes over for Posada), as the Twins are amassing money to keep him put. They had a shot at Roy Halliday but went a different way. The losses of Damon and Hideki Matsui were decisions that had to be made, but it says here they haven’t replaced what they contributed to a World Champion team.
