The ReclinerGM’s 2009 MLB Preview: New York Yankees

explanation of rankings and other team previews here

2008 Record: 89-73
Offseason Additions: CC Sabathia, Mark Teixiera, A.J. Burnett, Nick Swisher
Offseason Subtractions: Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina
Ranks (MLB):
Line-Up – 4th
Rotation – 3rd
Bullpen – 8th
Defense – 2nd tier (out of 5)
Baserunning – 3rd tier (out of 5)

KEY PLAYER: MARK TEIXIERA                                                    

When Mark Teixiera signed on with the Yankees, I don’t think he was quite ready for A-Rod’s steroid admission, followed by A-Rod’s surgery, followed by him all-of-a-sudden being the centerpiece of the Yankees offensive attack. The Yanks have a deep line-up, but the vast majority of their position players are on the downswing of their career. With A-Rod out and Abreu and Giambi gone, the highest returning RBI guy for the Yankees is… Robinson Cano and his 72 RBI. Until A-Rod returns, Teixiera is going to have to carry a huge load for this team. As if the pressure of being a Yankee, opening the new Yankee stadium, and being owed $180 million dollars for the next 8 years wasn’t enough, now all the eyes that were on A-Rod are now on him. Best of luck, Mark. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: MARIANO RIVERA                              

Watch him because you never know when his arm will finally slow down and because you will likely never see a pitcher like him again.

• 1,023.2 IP, 851 games
• 2.29 ERA, 1.02 WHIP
• 934 K, 482 Saves
• 9 all-star appearances, 4 World Series titles
• 0.77 postseason ERA in 117.1 IP
• ONE pitch

The key to pitching is messing with a hitters timing. This means multiple pitches and multiple speeds. A fastball and at least one breaking ball. The only types of pitchers that throw one pitch are knuckleballers who throw more or less a ‘trick’ pitch. No pitcher can get by with one pitch. No pitcher except Mariano Rivera and his 95 mph cut fastball. The hitters know its coming every time, and they still have no shot. Catch it while you can. 

PHILLY ANGLE

How much does money matter?

It was always the stand by for fans that were frustrated their teams didn’t spend a lot of money or go after the best free agent in the market…”the Yankees can spend $200 million, why can’t we?” Without going into the financial advantage that the Yankees have over other teams, my response to this statement was usually to point out that since the Yankees adopted the strategy of signing the biggest free agent or trading their entire farm system for the first available superstar, they had won 0 World Series. Since winning the World Series in 2000, the Yankees have signed or traded for the following future (or possibly future) HOFers…

• Mike Mussina
• Kevin Brown
• Gary Sheffield
• Alex Rodriguez
• Randy Johnson
• Ivan Rodriguez

and the following all-stars…

• Sterling Hitchcock
• Robin Ventura
• Jason Giambi
• David Wells
• Steve Karsay
• Jeff Weaver
• Hideki Matsui
• Jose Contreras
• Tom Gordon
• Javier Vasquez
• Kenny Lofton
• Esteban Loaiza
• Carl Pavano
• Jared Wright
• Johnny Damon
• Octavio Dotel
• Al Leiter
• Bobby Abreu

and some other notables…

• Rondell White
• Cory Lidle
• Kei Igawa
• Xavier Nady

That means, on average, the Yankees have added 1 HOFer and 2-3 all-stars every season. There were several times during this period that 70% of the Yankees team had made an all-star team at some point. But for all the money they spent, all the guys the acquired, they haven’t won a World Series. Obviously it takes some luck to win a World Series, but I think that they have created an atmosphere where the fans don’t particularly like the players on the team because they are all overpaid and very few are homegrown. The locker room is full of guys who are too uptight because of the pressure put on them by the city and their contracts. They get by, and usually make the playoffs, on their embarrassment of riches, but they have yet to win since the O’Neil, Brosius, B. Williams teams because ownership hasn’t figured out that this isn’t one big fantasy baseball league. They need to learn that, like the Red Sox, the best way to build a team is from the inside out, with your own homegrown talent mixed with thought-out FA signings. Sure, they might win a WS by accident, but with their assets, they should win 100+ games every season without blinking. 

QUICK HITS                                                                    

Worst Contract: Alex Rodriguez (10 yrs, $238 million, ends in 2017) *the Yankees outbid a huge offer from another team to land A-Rod. That other deal has been confirmed to be 0 years for $0 million. 
Best Pitch: Mariano Rivera’s Cut Fastball
Best Player in a Contract Year: Johnny Damon
Top Prospect: Austin Jackson, OF
Best Individual Season: Babe Ruth, 1921 (.378 BA, 59 HR, 171 RBI, .512 OBP, .846 SLG%, 1.358 OPS, 177 R, 44 2B, 16 3B, 17 sB, 457 total bases) – This is the best season in MLB history. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion. 
Worst Uniforms: 1905
Where’d They Come From?

- Free Agent, 5
- Draft, 4
- Trade, 3
- Amateur FA, 3

2009 OUTLOOK

2nd AL East, 2nd AL, 2nd MLB

So, in addition to the huge list above, the Yankees added CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira this off-season. I think that while obviously over-priced, Mark Texeira was actually a good addition to the team and will be a solid contributor throughout his contract. Sabathia showed during his playoff start against the Phillies (and his 7.92 career playoff ERA) that he isn’t a big-game pitcher right now, despite his gaudy regular season numbers. He’ll get the to the playoffs, but is a wild card after that. Burnett, who only pitches well in contract years and is often injured, was an laughably stupid signing. ALL that being said, the Yankees still have a deep rotation with Joba, Andy Pettitte and Chien Ming Wang complementing the new additions. They might lack some power with A-Rod out, but they are still dangerous top-to-bottom. It’s tempting to pick them to miss the playoffs again given the A-Rod saga, but their bevy of all-stars will pound the bad teams, play .500 against the good ones, and meet another 1st round exit.

Tagged as: 2009 MLB Preview

March 17, 2009