30 In 30 Part 23: New York Yankees

Andy Pettite signed a minor league contract with the Yankees
and might just crack their rotation in 2012.

More Pitchers, more problems.

Every spring features a plethora of stories that involve baseball's most storied franchise.  2012 is no exception.  A lot of those stories involve pitchers so I am going to be quick in describing their offense.

Household Names.  Jeter, A-Rod, Gardner, Swisher, Andruw Jones, Eric Chavez, Russell Martin, Granderson, Cano, Teixiera, Ibanez.  These are all established players, most of which are on the decline.  They will produce a lot of runs and will power the Yankees into October.  Granderson is coming off of a 40/25 season.  Jeter is the worst bat in the starting lineup.  The addition of Raul Ibanez should only help this offense.

The issue this spring is pitching.  Coming into Spring Training the rotation was C.C. Sabathia followed by take your pick of Freddy Garcia, Huroki Kuroda, Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova.  Then the Yankees signed Andy Pettite.  Today, Michael Pineda was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List with Shoulder Tendonitis.  In the meantime, this should bump Freddy Garcia into the rotation.  He will be a spot starter this year and I love him in that role at his age.

What I gather from all of this is that C.C. is the only sure thing.  Huroki has a good track record and is penciled in as the #2.  We will see what Pineda looks like when he comes back and we may have an early winner in the Pineda/Montero trade if Montero has an All-Star season in Seattle.  Phil Hughes will be very average.  Ivan Nova has given me no reason to say that he will not have a solid season.  Like I said earlier, Garcia will amount to a spot starter this season.  He will thrive in this role.  Don't count out Andy Pettite in 2012.  Jamie Moyer made the Rockies rotation this season.  If Kuroda and Nova pitch like I expect them to, the Yankees can show up and win 95 games.

FUN FACT: If Jamie Moyer pitched for the inaugural 1993 Colorado Rockies, he would have been the oldest pitcher on the staff.  They also had a Catcher named Jayhawk Owens.  He was from Ohio so there is some Final Four irony there.

X-FACTORS:

Lineup: 3B Alex Rodriguez.  If he can stay healthy all season, it would make a world of difference for the Yankees.

Rotation: SP Phil Hughes.  He will be thrust into this rotation for now.  He needs to live up to the hype he came into the league with.

Bullpen: Freddy Garcia.  He figures to spend most of the season spot starting or fulfilling Mopup duty.  He needs to limit how often he falls apart this season.

The Kids: SP Michael Pineda.  Will he return and stay healthy?  Will he be first half Pineda or second half Pineda?  He has the tools to be a future ace of this rotation.

ROYAL LIST:

#29 LHP Manny Banuelos: Perhaps Banuelos can answer some of the Bombers' pitching questions if they are not solved by midseason

#63 RHP Dellin Betances: A late bloomer, Betances will see time on the major league roster at some point this season.  Not expected to become a permanent fixture until he is 25 or 26.

#81 C Gary Sanchez: I don't see this kid panning out as a Catcher.

#85 OF Mason Williams: A big reason that the Yankees are excited for their rookie class of 2014.

PROJECTION: 2nd Place AL East

-Red Sox have better pitching and Yankees have a more potent offense.  This will be a very interesting division race.