Hello again Major League Baseball!  SO much has happened since the last time I’ve posted, the biggest obviously being. . .

 

 

 

 Yes the Yankees winning their 27th World Championship would definitely be considered pretty big.  That World Series was the first I have have ever witnessed or at least that I can remember.  The greatest force the Yanks had during the entire post season was their pitching, and with just three starters the whole time it was simply unbelievable. 

But now four months from that game six win at the taj majal of the Bronx, our Wolrd Series heroes have all but disappeared.  With Matsui being signed by one of the Yankees postseason vicitms, the Angels, and Johnny Damon being exiled (More because of his agent then his performance) from New York. 

 

 

 

This sight makes me either want to cry or vomit.

Another off season loss was Melky Cabrera who was a team, fan, and one my favorites.  The electric, young outfielder was one of the three casualties from the championship team.  Melky was THE BEST!  His personality and attitude were always great.  He was a good, above average defender and offender.  He was also Robinson Cano’s team buddy and i’ll like to see how he responds to the loss of his best frined on the team next season. 

One of Melky’s many walk off hits as a Yankee,

 and one of the many reasons he was loved by all.

 

But as the saying goes “Out with the old, In with the new”.  Even with the three losses the Yankees also added three replacements (And some lesser players) that will do a great job at filling their shoes.  First up would be Curtis Granderson.  Yes, I know many people are turned off by his performance against lefties, but hopefully Kevin Long can fix or at least help that problem. With the short porch in right field for lefties Granderson should be able to hit at 35-45 homers.  He is a very good replacement to Damon, he hits for more power than Johnny but less average, he is faster than Damon, is a better fielder and has a much better arm.

Next on the list would be Javier Vazquez who was acquired in the trade that cost the Yankees Phil Coke, Melky Cabrera, and up and coming prospect Austin Jackson.  The Yanks gave up a lot in this trade, but I think the plus for 2010 is greater than the loss.  Javy can go over 200 innings and 200 K’s.  I think a pitcher like this is a great addition because now we will have 4 solid starters (As long as they stay healthy) with CC, AJ, Andy, and Javy.  He can eat up a ton of innings for our bullpen and during the postseason he can make the work load lighter for the rest of the starters with 4 starters instead of the 3 we used last season (Although we still won  it all).  The ’04 season was plagued with an arm injury during the second half for Vazquez so hopefully that was just a fluke season and the pressure will have no effect on his season.  Great addition!

Last and also probably least of the three major deals was Nick Johnson, another ex-Yankee.  Let’s be serious here Johnson has NO speed, NO glove, and has had a terrible injury record lately but with him being an all-time DH that will most likely not be an issue.  I think Johnson will have increased production with him being a lefty in Yankee stadium.  NJ is probably the only decrease in talent from the off season pickups.

The other free agent signings were Randy Winn, the 35 year old OF veteran, and Marcus Thames the 32 year outfielder who is another ex-Yankee.  Thames was only signed to a minor league contract, but I listed him because I feel he has a much better chance to be the LF than Winn.  Winn leads in batting average by 10 points and he also leads in RBI’s with 51 over Thames’s 36 but RBIs aren’t a good measurement of players because it all depends on how many people get on base in front of the player.  Thames leads in homers but Yankee stadium won’t help him out any in that category but Comerica Field (His last stadium) was even worse than Yankee stadium for righties.  But the deep outfield might help Thames out in SLG % which he already leads by 100 points because all those deep flies will either go out or just roll out to the wall for a double.

Thames: BA- .252, HR-13, RBI-36, OBP-.323, SLG-.453

Winn:BA-.262, HR-2, RBI-51, OBP-.318,SLG=.353

 

Well this season still hasn’t started yet, but it seems like its going to be promising, hopefully just as great as last year!  The losses are hard but the additions are a step in the right direction and are all pluses.  There’s a look at the team for next year hopefully it will be as successful as the last.

 

For everyone to see what our team will look like . . .

 
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