2011 Record:97-65
Key Additions: David Aardsma, Russell Branyan, Raul Ibanez, Hiroki Kuroda, Jayson Nix, Michael Pineda, Clay Rapada, Dewayne Wise
Subtractions: A.J Burnett, Bartolo Colon, Andrew Brackman, Jesus Montero, Hideki Okajima, Jorge Posada
2012 Outlook: The Yankees are reloaded and ready to go on a run for their 28th World Series title in 2012. After spending the first two months of the off-season being quiet, all of a sudden, on Friday the 13th in January, the Evil Empire restocked their rotation, and by doing that, became instant World Series favourites. Brian Cashman, GM of the Yankees, signed Hiroki Kuroda, and traded for Michael Pineda. The only problem with trading for Pineda, they had to give up Jesus Montero, the Yankees top catching prospect.
The scary thing about the Yankees is that when their starters had a combined ERA of 4.03(2011), they won 97 games. This year, their rotaion improved a ton by acquring Kuroda and Pineda,so imagine how many wins they will get this season! The Bronx Bombers offence is led by perennial MVP candidate Robinson Cano, while the supporting cast around him isn't too bad. Mark Teixera and Curtis Granderson will both hit 30+ homers this year, and drive in 200 runs between the two. A third tier of offence comes from SS Mr.3000 Derek Jeter,3B A-Roid, and C Russel Martin. The key to winning the World Series for the Yankees in my mind is Martin. The rest of the lineup will be good, and the pitching will be amazing, but Martin can make this team so much scarier. All he has to do is get his OPS to what it was in 2007(.843), and he will be the difference maker. This offence will lead the Yankees to the playoffs, but it is their pitching that will get the their 28th title.
Although all the talk about the Yankees pitching is usually focused on the starters, which include CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and Hiroki Kuroda, I want to talk about their famed bullpen led by the best closer of all time, Mariano Rivera. If the Yankees starters last 6 or 7 innings each game they pitch, the Yankees will have their 28th Championship in no time. The 8th inning is over before it starts, as David Robertson and Rafael Soriano combine for a shutdown team. When it comes to the 9th, the cutter sits batters down in order, and the Yankees win games as easy as that. Led by Rivera and Robertson, the Yankees pen is once again one of the best in the game, and is another reason why they are arguably the best team in the league once again this year.
Final Count: 97-65
97 wins again will likely not happen, but anything is possible. 101 wins is probably more realistic, but age will most defentily be a factor this season. If Rivera/Jeter/Pettite slow down, and one major injury occurs to Cano/Teixera, then this could be a wild card team. Yes, they are that good, even when things go wrong, they will still make the playoffs.
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