While the most obnoxious Yankee fans are already making plans for a parade up Lower Broadway in late October; there is the matter of 162 regular-season games and three postseason series to be held before tickertape smothers the Bombers.
In dissecting the Yankees’ offseason, you have to put it into two categories: Before A-Rod and After A-Rod. The former was filled with angst over losing Curt Schilling to the Red Sox, Andy Pettitte to free agency and Aaron Boone blowing out his left knee playing basketball. That all changed on Feb. 16 when Alex Rodriguez was acquired from Texas for Alfonso Soriano. Suddenly, everybody not only installed the Yankees as the favorite to win the AL East but to post their 27th World Series title.
You would be foolish to bet against them on either count, but it’s not going to be as easy as many people believe. The Red Sox were five outs away from the World Series last year and on paper have a better club this season.
Here is a closer look, position-by-position, at the $180 million Yankees.
FIRST BASE
A left-knee problem that required offseason surgery played a big part in Jason Giambi, a .302 career hitter, batting .250. Biggest question is how much the BALCO steroid mess – Giambi testified in front of the grand jury – will affect him. Smooth-fielding Travis Lee will play first when Giambi is the DH and may be used as a late-game defensive replacement.
SECOND BASE
After getting 77 homers over two years from Alfonso Soriano, the Yankees have a different look here in switch-hitting Enrique Wilson. Wilson has good hands and a very strong and accurate arm. He turns the double play well but doesn’t have outstanding range. Not an automatic out in the ninth spot.
SHORTSTOP
Before acquiring A-Rod, the Yankees had to be assured he would shift to third base because the captain Derek Jeter wasn’t going to move. A dislocated left shoulder on Opening Day forced him to miss the first six weeks of the season and limited him to a career-low 119 games. Jeter failed to score 100 runs (89) for the first time in his eight big-league seasons. But his .324 average was third in the league.
THIRD BASE
The best player in baseball is doing what many players tell you is the hardest thing to accomplish in the big leagues: switch positions. Short-to-third doesn’t seem that difficult, but the nuances take time to adjust. At the plate, A-Rod shouldn’t have much trouble duplicating last year’s MVP season and has to be the early candidate to repeat.
LEFT FIELD
A year ago, New York was awaiting the arrival of “Godzilla.” Hideki Matsui didn’t approach the 50 homers he belted in Japan the previous season, but he was the Yankees’ steadiest player all year and should improve this summer because not much will be new to him. Twenty-five homers and 115 RBIs aren’t too much to ask.
CENTER FIELD
After watching Bernie Williams be slowed by injuries last year, the Yankees invested $6.2 million in Kenny Lofton and figured Williams would be the DH. But Williams responded to the Lofton signing by working out harder during the offseason than he had in recent winters. Early spring appendectomy set Williams back, but Lofton didn’t have the type of spring that would win him the every-day job from Williams.
RIGHT FIELD
First it was Gary Sheffield’s part in the BALCO mess because he testified before the grand jury. Then it was a torn right-thumb ligament and the way the Yankees revealed he could miss two to three months without asking him, he says. Whatever, Sheffield was in the news a lot during spring training. He also showed why George Steinbrenner gave him $39 million for three years by hitting very well. If the thumb isn’t a problem, Sheffield should challenge A-Rod for AL MVP honors.
CATCHER
Losing Jeter, A-Rod, Sheffield, Kevin Brown, Mike Mussina or Mariano Rivera would be costly. Not having Posada would be lethal. Taking away nothing from John Flaherty, but the Yankees are naked behind Posada when it comes to every-day catching replacements. Posada has developed into the best catcher in the AL and finished third in the MVP race last year when he batted .281 with 30 homers and 101 RBIs. Numbers should remain the same this year.
DESIGNATED HITTER
The loser of the center-field derby’s the favorite to be the DH. If that’s Lofton, he doesn’t supply the typical muscle from the spot but would fill the need for a true leadoff man the Yankees haven’t had since Chuck Knoblauch’s first two years. Williams would offer power, but can he make the adjustment to not playing the field? Giambi could see a lot of time here if the knee acts up. Switch-hitting Ruben Sierra is a candidate, too.
STARTING ROTATION
Mussina anchors a staff that has the potential to be very good or could need major renovation by the All-Star break. This is the year Mussina wins 20 for the first time. In Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez the Yankees traded for quality right-handers who arrive with questions. Can Brown stay healthy? Can Vazquez handle New York? Jose Contreras must display more consistency and Jon Lieber has to prove he is all the way back from Tommy John surgery and spring training groin trouble.
BULLPEN
When future Hall of Famer Rivera is at the end of the game, your pen is in good hands. But after last year’s futile efforts to provide pitchers to bridge the gap between starters and Rivera, the Yankees made the pen a priority this past winter. They brought in veteran right-handers Paul Quantrill and Tom Gordon to go with lefties Gabe White and Felix Heredia. Steve Karsay should be back by June.
BENCH
Miguel Cairo offers protection at second, short and third and has some pop in his bat. Sierra contributed off the bench last year although the opportunities for a pinch-hitter will be scarce in this lineup if everybody stays healthy. Lee will play first and pick up Giambi for defense late in the game. Flaherty’s a solid backup to Posada.
MANAGER
Joe Torre, quite simply, has been the most indispensable person the Yankees have had since they became a force again.
PREDICTION
The Yankees will win as many as 115 games to overwhelm the Red Sox in the AL East. From there, it’s on to a 27th World Championship.