New York Yankees Season Preview

2012 Season: 95-67 1st in AL East

The Yankees offseason has been interesting to say the least. The saga that was the 2013 offseason had a huge impact on their lineup, which finished second in the American League in runs scored last year. There’s no questioning that the Yankees relied heavily on their offense last year to win games and if the Yankees can’t put up the same offensive numbers that they did last year they are going to have a tough time making the playoffs in an improved AL East. So what exactly happened this winter that could dethrone the perennial power of the AL East? Lets keep a running total

Jeter’s ankle injury that he suffered in the playoffs designated him to the couch for the offseason, so it will take him a while to get back into playing shape, which is no easy task at the tender age of 38. Nevertheless, you can never count Jeter out; he’s a legend and will undoubtedly find a way to make himself a useful tool for the Yankees in 2013.  However, the combination of age, lack of an offseason and a big injury leads me to believe he won’t be able to put up the same numbers that he did last year (.316 BA and 216 hits). So they’ve, in effect, gotten worse at shortstop.

Alex Rodriguez had a rough October in 2012 which involved a well publicized benching due to dismal performance. To top it off, he found himself linked to steroids yet again and also has to have hip surgery which will sideline him for two months. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if A-Rod was done forever, but that’s a separate debate. In response to the A-Rod saga, Cashman signed Youkilis who batted under .240 last year which is worse than Rodriguez’s .270. Now the entire left side of their infield has gotten worse.

Nick Swisher left via free agency to the Cleveland Indians. I mean, how hard is it to replace .270 with 25 bombs right? At least they got Ichiro right? Bad news Yankees fans, Ichiro had an awful year last year by his standards and he wont hit that many homeruns even with the short porch in right field. Hopefully that was just a blip in his stellar career, and maybe Ichiro still has a 210+ hit season left in that body, but at the age of 39 depreciation is a real thing.

Russell Martin also left via free agency to the Pirates and now Francisco Cervelli will take over. He hit .246 in Triple A last year and last time I checked major league pitchers are a little tougher to hit. Decrease at catcher production.    

Then the ultimate boom exploded on the Yankees, Curtis Granderson has a broken forearm and will be out for ten weeks. There goes 43 homeruns from last year and an overall decrease in the Yankees outfield production. 

So if team that relies heavily on their offense gets worse at 6 of the 8 offensive positions, don’t expect them to have much success the following year. The Yankees may try to make a big move in the middle of the season and but in the most competitive division in the world a slow start will break your season.

Prediction: 82-80 4th in AL East

The Yankees will dig themselves in a deep hole going into the All Star break. With an average pitching staff their offense needs to be elite throughout the whole season. Don't worry Yankees fans, once Trout's contract is up with the Angels he'll be dressed in pinstripes and you'll be back to your winning ways. 

-Blake Dale Lepire