A Biased Look at the New York Yankees, the Greatest Franchise in the History of Sports
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The Hardball Times does their season previews in a five question format. The Yankees are so important, they get not one, but two columns and the end result is TEN questions. It all means squat though. Yankees win the World Series this year, bet the house, no doubt about it.
Alex Belth previewed the Yankees at Baseball Prospectus today. Not too much to add, because the Yankees are the team to beat. He does finish things up with the fact that health will be the primary issue this year for the Yankees. Once again, Belth nails this dead on.
Sigh, well it looks like Chien-Ming Wang’s hamstring injury was a pulled muscle so he’s going to start the season on the DL. They’re eyeing a late April debut but for anyone who’s ever hurt their hamstring (I have), it’s a tricky thing. It feels, but it also lingers and the moment you test it could be the time you reinjure it. Hopefully this isn’t a recurring problem or we could be seeing Phillip Hughes a lot quicker then expected.
In the meantime, there’s a rotation spot to fill and it also means Carl Pavano is safe at the moment. My vote goes to Jeff Karstans, who’s had a pretty impressive spring. He’s struck out eleven, walk none and has a 2.70 ERA in four spring games (three starts).
The Yankees definitely don’t need this. Chien-Ming Wang felt some pain in his right hamstring during conditioning drills today and while he was sent for some tests, they think it’s just cramps. He was also shut down for the rest of practice, which is justifiable.
I’m not sure if I’ve said this before, but spring training is too long. I know it’s a money game at this point but when guys start getting hurt in the final weeks, it bugs the crap out of me because it could be prevented. My opinion would be to shut Wang down until opening day so there’s no further problems.
Good news. Bobby Abreu is going to be back in a game today. He’ll be the DH, but it looks like they’re hoping he’ll be back on the field by Thursday.
Bobby Abreu took batting practice for the first time since he hurt his oblique at the opening of spring training. Fifty five swings is nothing to scoff at and he said his side felt fine and he’s still hoping to be ready for opening day.
This is big news because Abreu is going to be a big piece of this team. The Yankees need a table setter like Abreu and a full season of him in the lineup will only make guys like A-Rod even better. PECOTA has him at .277/.389/.447 which is right about right. I could easily see him scoring 100 runs this season.
Yankees whipping boy Carl Pavano recently was profiled by Yahoo’s Jeff Passan. It’s a pretty funny read and while he gets some digs in, there’s also some good stuff about Pavano the player.
For an elite club like the Yankees, the spring season is more of a nuisance then anything but so far so good. I guess you’d rather still win even if it doesn’t matter then lose when it doesn’t matter. Regardless, the Yankees lead all American League teams with a 6-1 record this spring.
Mike Mussina got the start today and he got roughed up in three innings of work. He gave up two runs on four hits and he struck out just one. Scott Proctor and Ron Villone threw shutout frames though and Chris Britton picked up the win despite giving up a run in the eighth.
Jason Giambi went yard for the Yanks. and Bronson Sardinha had three hits, a run and an RBI. Josh Phelps had the game winner with an RBI single in the tenth inning. The Yankees play tomorrow night and Carl Pavano will get the start for the Yanks.
Prospect guru John Sickels recently took a look at what he things Phillip Hughes might do throughout his career. Not too shabby and if doesn’t have that injured season in there, he’s a 200 win pitcher with well over 2,000 strikeouts. I don’t like that 20 win season for the Dodgers though. If he’s that good, the Yankees will lock him up. Forever.
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