We'll see what this team and its completion are made of early this season. Five games against Chicago Cubs & Houston. Three at Toronto, Seven at home vs Baltimore and Boston. Seven on the road at Tampa (4) then Boston (3) The nemesis Angels come in for three followed by Seattle and our old buddy Cano. The Bostons and Tpa Bay have made CC look like a chump time for that to change.
Rick and I were forecasting the first 20 games, I said 13-7, he went 14-6. I think we will know early on what to expect from this Yankee team. I am going on record that the Starting Pitchers will be the backbone of the team this year. That is what so great about April, everybody has a dream.
The staff is improved with the addition of Tanaka and having McCann behind the dish and Cervelli as back up. I look for better season this year from CC, Kuroda, and Nova. I think the Yankees made the right move bypassing free agent pitchers like Garza, Santana, Jiminez and the like. I'm hoping someone like Phelps or Nuno can come in and put up nice numbers as a 5th starter. Not only will McCann handle the staff well, we won't shudder when he comes to the plate.
I think we all are Rick, he is such a run producer when healthy and as a switch hitter lends balance to the attack.
And if he goes down, maybe a phone call to one of my old favorites....................."Hello Mr. Pepitone"
Well the infield situation is full of what ifs. I'm not a fan of Tex especially when he came up with that I'm getting older crap, now the wrist. In the case of Roberts whom I've always liked and Mr. Yankee Jeter I'm pulling for both to have a great year. Johnson and Ryan are ample back up there. Then we have iron glove Nunez, 3rd base backup???????? Outfield looks great, Gardner, Elsbury, and Beltran with Ichiro and Soriano back up. This team looks much better, I want to see them kick butt.
Maybe the Yankees should have hung on to Reynolds, struck out a lot but could play between first & third. Morales is still out there but now the Pirates are looking for a first baseman. We shall see.
