Here's
who I think will be starting rotation
CC
Sabathia
Micheal
Pineda
Ivan
Nova
Phil
Hughes
Hiroki
Kuroda
If
AJ Burnett doesn't get traded you can slip him into the
number 4 spot and move Hughes into the Bullpen.
The
Yankees will have a strong bullpen with alot of arms like
David Robertson, Rafeal Soriano, Boone Logan, Cory Wade, Freddy
Garcia, and to closeout the 9th inning....I shouldn't even have to
say his name...The best ever.. Mariano Rivera.
As
for Joba Chamberlain, he's making progress in his return from
Tommy John surgery last June. He has thrown from a 15 inch mound
twice. 15 throws each. Joba told the AP he was "happy with
progress and feeling good." He hopes to rejoin the Yankees
before the All-Star break.
My
sleeper pick from the minors will be catcher Austin Romine.
He did see some time last year with the big club but most likely will
begin the season in Triple-A Scranton. Should Russell Martin or
Fransisco Cervelli go on the DL for any length of time Romine could
get a call up. I could have chosen any one of the pitching prospects.
Either Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Both finished the year at
the Triple-A level but I don't think their ready yet. Should a Yankee
starter go down they have Garcia to spot start if need be. So if he's
my sleeper is Romine, then yes I anticipate an injury at the catchers
position. Sorry guys.
Every
season there's always talk about what position needs improvement.
Well this year I really can't decide. Catcher ? Martin was ok last
season. Just as long as he stays healthy, handles the pitching staff,
and plays well defensively that position is fine. He doesn't need to
hit .300 on this team. DH ? Do they need a steady DH ?think not. That
position will be used to give bench guys playing time and give others
some rest. So what needs improvement ? Clutch hitting, that's what !!
Especially in October !! We don't need a homerun in a big spot, just
a base hit would be fine.
Here
are my picks for the AL East Division in 2012
1st
: Yankees...Who else !
2nd
: Tampa Rays....Good pitching
3rd
: Toronto Blue Jays...Much improved bullpen
4th
:Boston Red Sox..LOL !
5th
: Baltimore Orioles....Poor Buck
Bomber
Spring Training opens February 19th for pitchers and
catchers. But guess who's already getting in his ABs early this
year.....Derek Jeter !!
Stay
tuned for updates.
NY
YANKEES
97-65,
1st place in the AL East
Projected
batting order
1.
SS Derek Jeter:
.297 BA, .355 OBP, .388 SLG, 6 HR, 61 RBIs
in 2011
2. CF Curtis Granderson:
.262 BA, .364 OBP, .552
SLG, 41 HR, 119 RBIs in 2011
3. 2B Robinson Cano:
.302
BA, .349 OBP, .533 SLG, 28 HR, 118 RBIs in 2011
4. 3B Alex
Rodriguez:
.276 BA, .362 OBP, .461 SLG, 16 HR, 62 RBIs in
2011
5. 1B Mark Teixeira:
.248 BA, .341 OBP, .494 SLG,
39 HR, 111 RBIs in 2011
6. RF Nick Swisher:
.260 BA,
.374 OBP, .449 SLG, 23 HR, 85 RBIs in 2011
7. DH Andruw
Jones:
.247 BA, .356 OBP, .495 SLG, 13 HR, 33 RBIs in 2011
8.
C Russell Martin:
.237 BA, .324 OBP, .408 SLG, 18 HR, 65
RBIs in 2011
9. LF Brett Gardner:
.259 BA, .345 OBP,
.369 SLG, 7 HR, 36 RBIs in 2011
Projected
rotation
1.CC
Sabathia, 19-8, 3.00 ERA in 2011
2.Ivan Nova, 16-4,
3.70 ERA in 2011
3.Hiroki Kuroda, 13-16, 3.07 ERA in
2011
4.Michael Pineda, 9-10, 3.74 ERA in 2011
5a.Freddy
Garcia, 12-8, 3.62 ERA in 2011
5b.Phil Hughes, 5-5,
5.79 ERA in 2011
5c.A.J. Burnett, 11-11, 5.15 ERA in 2011
Projected
bullpen
Closer:Mariano
Rivera, 44/49 saves, 1.91 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: David
Robertson, 1.08 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: Rafael Soriano,
4.12 ERA in 2011
LH setup man: Boone Logan, 3.46 ERA in
2011
