Spring at Last!

Spring at last! OK, not really. It's only February, but spring training is ready to begin with pitchers and catchers reporting. So that's good enough, isn't it? For me, it is. Another long winter for the rest of baseball, but kind of quick for the reigning World Champions and their fans. Didn't they just beat the Phillies for #27? Time to pursue #28 already? Yes, it is - ready or not!

Things have changed since they hoisted the trophy over their heads. Bye, bye World Series MVP, Hideki Matsui. Bye Game 4 hero, Johnny Damon. Bye Melky Cabrera, Jose Molina, Eric Hinske, Jerry Hairston, Brian Bruney, Phil Coke, and the injured Xavier Nady and Chien-Ming Wang. We hardly knew you Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson, Michael Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino. They will be missed especially the clutch Matsui and Damon.

Oh well, time to turn the page. Welcome back Javier Vazquez, Nick Johnson and Marcus Thames. Hello Curtis Granderson, Randy Winn, Boone Logan and Jamie Hoffmann. So let's get down to business. Let the training, competition, and games begin, and let the best men win!

Who goes north with the final 25? In reality, the majority of the them are already known barring injury or trade. Here's the 20 we know:

Catchers- Posada, Cervelli
Infield- Tex, Cano, Jeter, Arod
Outfield- Granderson, Swisher, Gardner, Winn
DH- Johnson
Rotation- CC, AJ, Pettitte, Vazquez
Bullpen- Mo, Marte, Robertson
Rotation/Bullpen- Joba, Hughes

So who are the remaining 5? Well, lets's reexamine the 20 we know first. Looks like a backup infielder is needed. The favorite: Ramiro Pena. The darkhorse: Kevin Russo. As an aside, all the infield backups are young guys. Nothing wrong with that, but shouldn't they be playing everyday and developing their skills? Wouldn't a veteran backup serve the team better? Felipe Lopez is still available. I'm not sure he wants to be a backup, or if the Yanks can fit him into their "budget". But it wouldn't hurt his career to be a bench player for the World Champion Yankees, right?

The catching is good as long as there are no injuries. But are you confident knowing the next veteran receiver in line is Mike Rivera? I'm not sure I am. Jesus Montero probably isn't ready yet to be a big league catcher, and Austin Romine is a couple of years away.

Now to the outfield. Granderson was weak against lefties last year, so the Yanks wanted another OF who can hit righties. Thames can do that but his defense isn't great. Winn can play defense but hit lefties poorly last year. Hoffmann is a Rule 5 pickup that goes back to the Dodgers unless he stays on the 25 man roster all year. The favorite - Thames Darkhorse- Hoffmann. One comment- Juan Miranda could get himself into the picture as a bench player with a good spring. The problem is he plays first and hits lefty so that doesn't fit the need for a righty hitting OF, but if the others flop and he excels; then he may force his way onto the opening roster.

Pitching, pitching, pitching. Isn't that the battle cry every year for every team? No different in New York. Going in the team feels confident with their front four so the 5th spot isn't critical unless you are one of the candidates vying for that job. The main event will be Joba versus Phil. Joba without the "rules" and Phil with them. The winner starts and the loser sets up Mo unless neither of them seizes the opportunity. Then bring in the reinforcements- Gaudin, Mitre and Aceves. Could one of those pull the upset? They could, but both Joba and Phil have to show they can't do it as a starter, and one of these 3 will have to be lights out. However this shakes out is a win for the Yankees because the "worse" case scenario of having both Joba and Phil fail and go to the pen may be the best thing that could happen to the pitching staff.

Favorite- Joba Darkhorse- Gaudin. Also, lookout for young guys like Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister. They probably won't make the team, but an outstanding spring will have them knocking on the door to the Bronx.

That leaves the bullpen, and as long as Mo is alive and well the closing of games will be safer and more secure than your money with the FDIC. What happens with the starting candidates will determine the composition of the pen. Marte and Robertson will be the left/right complement to get the ball to the setup guy like Hughes. Gaudin will be long relief if he doesn't start, and Aceves will be the all-purpose guy. That leaves the rest fighting to make the roster. Girardi likes Mitre but he'll have to pitch well in the spring to make the team. Mark Melancon looks ready to show he belongs in the big leagues. Jonathan Albaladejo and Edwar Ramirez are still around to make some noise. However, does Joe want a second lefty in the pen? If so, it will be up to Logan, Royce Ring or should I say it, Kei Igawa to prove they can be counted on to get lefties out.


The favorite - Mitre The darkhorse - Melancon. Keep an eye on Romulo Sanchez, a hard-throwing righty who can start or relieve. A good spring could vault him into contention for a bullpen role.


So my final five are- Pena (infield), Thames (outfield), Gaudin, Melancon, and Aceves. Who are yours?