Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas Time is Here (Bronx Edition)



C.C. Sabathia, gone. A.J. Burnett, gone. Where have they gone to? Easy answer, to the Bronx. The Yankees are coming off of a bad year they didnt even reach the first round of the playoffs. So whats the best thing to do? Re-alter your club of course. Since the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, they finally put the old "Generation Tre" or "Youth Movement" aside for the backburnner and hired some top guns.

By the Yankees landing CC and AJ, they have filled the top three spots in their rotation. With the big three of CC, Wang, and AJ, the Yankees have a killer 1-2-3 punch and it doesnt even include Joba just yet. He will most likely take the 5 spot in order to keep his innings limit low. So who goes into the number 4 hole? Thats a spot that the Yankees cold fill either with an old, dear friend or another guy outta Milwaukee. Its a choice that isnt the make or break of the Yankees rotation but it has to be adressed.

So, whats on the ageneda from here on out (meaning until spring training)?

Well, the Yankees need to aquire a bat. They already have a glove in Nick Swisher, who for now is the everyday first baseman, but in my eyes, he doesn't fit the bill. The Yankees must sign Mark Teixeria. He has a phenominal glove at first base, and there would be no platoons there, and his bat can easily protect Alex Rodriguez by putting Tex in the 3 spot. If it means giving up one of our hundreds of outfielders, go do it. Nady perhaps has the higest value amongst the ones they can afford to give up. As of right now, on this day, the opening day lineup and rotation are set to be

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Nady RF
Arod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher 1B
Gardner CF

Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettitte/Sheets
Joba

Yea, it looks good, especially the rotation, but the Yankees lineup could easily fall apart after Arod. Matsui and Posada are both coming off of surgery, Cano and Swisher are coming off of a terrible season and if Gardner cant get on base, he's basically just there to run down fly balls. That is why Tex is the answer. The Yankees last year lost way too many games on account of not scoring enough runs. Mussina should have had atleast 20 wins in early september instead of it coming down to the second to last game of the season. With the loss of Abreu and Giambi, big offensive supporters to the Yankees line up last year, the Yankees seem possibly weaker.

Teixeria can be had, if the Yankees stay patient and are willing to pony up enough money. Perhaps including an opt out offer. Maybe then someone in the Yankees farm will be ready to take over the spot held by Donnie Baseball and Tino. Right now, Swisher is the option, but Tex is the need.

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