There is a lot of hype about the addition of Giancarlo Stanton on the Yankees and how they are surely World Series bound. This may all be true as they were just one game short last year of making it to the final round. But SU asks: have they really improved themselves in the areas that needed improving? Let’s take a look:
- Everyone loves having Stanton on the team. SU has been lukewarm on this from the start as he is a big strikeout guy and tends not to stay healthy for a full season. True, he adds a lot of home runs and batting practice is a must see event now for any fan going to a game. The team scored plenty of runs last season. Was this really the issue?
- Cashman talked about going young and they rolled out Andujar at 3rd base and Torres at 2nd base this spring. Well, both are now down with the minor league teams as Neil Walker will play 2nd base until he gets hurt and Drury will be slotted into 3rd base. Starlin Castro was very good last year at 2nd base – hard to think Walker improves on that. Drury is probably an improvement over the Headley/Frazier combo but I guess that remains to be seen.
- From what I can tell, the pitching staff is identical to last year. No upgrades.
- Clint Frazier has had a concussion all spring and will have to play his way back up to the majors in April and May. Ellsbury beat the rush and got his oblique injury out of the way. He is supposedly healed from that but now has flu like symptoms. I think it’s safe to say that Cal Ripken’s consecutive game playing streak is safe.
Soooooo, you win the Wild Card game last year which is always a crapshoot and then beat the Indians in 5 games and lose to the Astros in 7. Have you improved enough to beat Houston? Cleveland is probably worse given some roster moves. Cashman may still look to add a stud starting pitcher during the season. Chance Adams had a bad spring unfortunately so he did not threaten to make the starting staff.
Bottom line: still a very good team that should make the playoffs but not a sure thing to win it all. SU would still prefer to go with the youth movement and look to get both Andujar and Torres up to the parent club sooner vs. later. I cannot say there is a marked improvement over last year but they will be interesting to watch if you like home runs and strikeouts.
Yankee fans: how optimistic are you for this season?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Agreed. I’m always optimistic this time of year but that’s because I’m a fan, not because I think the team is much improved. And there are plenty of questions.
Starting pitching is largely the same except a year older which may benefit Severino and Montgomery but can’t help Sabbathia and Tanaka.
Bullpen is largely the same. This was generally a strength last year although there were a couple of stretches where the whole thing fell apart.
Stanton did not address an area of weakness and now there’s logjam in the OF and at DH. This can be solved by injury which is good because otherwise every slump will be accompanied by the inevitable questions: ‘are you more comfortable playing RF?’ ‘Does playing DH upset your approach?’
I think the infield looks worse with the loss of Castro. The talk is that Bird will hit third and this bothers me. I don’t think you win championships if you’re counting on a hitter like Bird to be a key piece in the middle of the lineup.
Do we expect Sanchez to be solid behind the plate if the manager isn’t allowed to hurt his feelings?
So, plenty to worry about. But most teams have longer lists than this one. I’m feeling pretty good.
Same team plus Stanton, minus Headley, Frazier and Castro is on balance still better than last year. Bullpen is the best in league. Starters are more than adequate to go 6 innings and turn it over the bullpen. Pitching injuries will happen and are the wildcard but if they are all healthy come playoff time, we are going to have a shot. Still think an Alex Cobb might be in our future. Seems like expectations for Bird are very high but it is time for him to show up for a full season. I think we will see Andujar and Torres before June should Walker or Drury or both become Chase Headley circa 2016, or get hurt. I am looking forward to watching games this year, so many must see at bats with Judge/Stanton/Sanchez trio and Didi and Bird sprinkled into the mix-Under/Over: 250 homers and 1500 strikeouts. That’s a lot of all or nothing.
Judge, Sanchez, Didi and Bird are a year wiser. there is no reason why to think there is less upside to these players. Stanton was an MVP. This award isn’t given baes on mirrors but many stats that make him an MVP. Now he is on a team where you can’t pitch around him. Gardner is the perfect #1 batter…. with patience and a contact hitter whether you throw a lefty or righty at him. Like Jeter for most of his years you can’t pitch around him with the heavy lumber coming up. I still think Jeter’s average would have been 15 points less if he didn’t have such hitters behind him. Gardner will do very well this year.
Andujar and Torres will be fine and make their way back in less than 2 months. If you recall Bernie Williams always had a terrible spring and see what he did most of his years here.
The challenge is going to be how well our Manager manages. Steady by keeping everyone hungry but relaxed will be the trick.
We are 1 Verlander away… which we will get one like him when the teams who are out of the race are willing to sell their marquee players for the future… in which we have plenty of. Yes, it would be nice to go through our minor league system… and we are…. but winning the World Series is what its truly all about. 102-60 record coming up. You heard it here brother…..