New York Yankees

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Chris Fry

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Chris Fry created this group on SportProjections.com.

2008 New York Yankees Preview and Predictions

Contributor: Brent Nycz, mvn.com/mlb-yankees

2007 Record: 94-68

2007 Summary: The 2007 New York Yankees got off to a rocky start, falling as far back as 14.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox on May 29th. However, the Yankees forged a comeback to get as close to the division lead as a game and a half back in September. When all was said and done, despite not being able to overcome the Red Sox's division lead, the Yankees won the Wild Card over the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees' offense was propelled by Jorge Posada's career year and Alex Rodriguez's MVP season. Despite Johnny Damon's decline, Jason Giambi's diminishing health, and both Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera's offensive streakiness, the Yankees still lead the league in runs scored with 968 runs.

The Yankees had 14 different pitchers start a game during the 2007 season, including 6 rookies. After beginning his season on the DL, Chien-Ming Wang earned 19 wins (while pitching a 3.70 ERA) for the second straight season. Andy Pettitte came back "home" and became the Yankees' stopper with 6 of his 15 wins coming after Yankee losses. Mike Mussina was anything but consistently great, posting a 5.15 ERA with a declining fastball. Roger Clemens gave Yankee fans the ability to see the 7 Cy-Young winner one last time. However, his last pitched game saw him limp off the mound on October 7th with Phil Hughes taking the ball and helping pitch the Yankees to their only postseason victory against the Cleveland Indians.

2008 Key Additions: The Yankees mostly stayed with the same team they had last year. The only real key additions the Yankees got were RHP LaTroy Hawkins and RHP Jonathan Albaladejo (on a trade for Tyler Clippard), and IF Morgan Ensberg. On the coaching side, the Yankees signed Joe Girardi to replace Joe Torre. Other new coaches are Dave Eiland (pitching coach), Rob Thomson (bench coach), and Bobby Meacham (3rd base coach).

2008 Key Losses: 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, reliever Luis Vizcaino, and 1B Andy Phillips. On the coaching side, manager Joe Torre as well as half the coaching staff (bench coach Don Mattingly, pitching coach Ron Guidry, and 3rd base coach Larry Bowa) left. All but Guidry left for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2008 Starting Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon LF
2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Bobby Abreu RF
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Hideki Matsui DH
6. Jorge Posada C
7. Jason Giambi 1B
8. Robinson Cano 2B
9. Melky Cabrera CF

2008 Starting Rotation: Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy

2008 Closer: Mariano Rivera

2008 MVP: Though many have said he WON'T have the same numbers again, there isn't a player like Rodriguez in baseball who is fully healthy (i.e Albert Pujols) and so devastating with the bat.

The Yankees will be successful if: the Yankees find stability in both the starting rotation and the bullpen. The Yankees hope that a recipe of Wang, Pettitte, an aging Mussina, and the Trip Aces will bring the Yankees better consistency in the rotation than last year. If the rotation starts to go haywire, the Yankees will look to their developmental depth in the minors to provide better results than the likes of Chase Wright, Matt DeSalvo, and Tyler Clippard last year. Though the "bullpen by committee" provide Girardi and Cashman many arms to work with, there is little telling and great uncertainty of what to expect from the bullpen.

2008 Season Prediction: Despite going through the Trip Aces in the rotation, the Yankees still have a playoff-contending team. If Hughes, Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain provide the Yankees great pitching and if the bullpen provides consistency, the Yankees are playoff and pennant-bound. However, those are two big ifs. The Yankees will contend for the AL East, but will ultimately fall short, taking 2nd place and winning the Wild Card for the second straight year.

Standings Prediction:
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

nypost.com

METS-YANKEES RAINED OUT

Tonight's Subway Series opener between the Mets and Yankees at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been announced. The Yankees say the game will not be made up on any of the next three days (Saturday, Sunday or Monday). Johan Santana, who had been scheduled to start for the Mets, was pushed back to Saturday and will face Darrell Rasner. The Yankees say fans holding paid tickets for this postponed game may use them for the rescheduled game between the Yankees and Mets (to be played at a date to be determined), or exchange their paid tickets for any regular-season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months of the postponed game (subject to availability). The team says due to limited ticket availability for Yankees home games during the 2008 season, fans are highly encouraged to use their tickets for the rescheduled date.

TINO OK WITH RANT BY HANK

Tino Martinez has been on teams that were on the receiving end of some rather harsh assessments from George Steinbrenner. Since the end of last year, Hank Steinbrenner has taken over for his dad in the criticism department, and Martinez said he believes Hank's antics, at least in the most recent case, were warranted. "I think Hank has every right to do that, because they're playing lackadaisical," Martinez said. The younger Steinbrenner told The Post this week the high-paid Yanks "had better decide for themselves to earn that money." Martinez added that statements like the one Steinbrenner made have an effect on a team and often work. "It definitely does something to you," Martinez said of the commentary, which Hank hasn't been shy about this season. "I think it helps a veteran team like this one. You don't want guys getting complacent with huge contracts. This kind of thing sends a message that you're not afraid to get rid of guys, which is a good thing to throw out there. It ignites you." Martinez doesn't have to concern himself with being that kind of target anymore. The former first baseman is in his first year as a consultant to GM Brian Cashman and saw part of this past series in Tampa. He was touring the city yesterday with 7-year-old Jack Berney, an award-winner with Diamonds in the Rough, a community baseball program that donates money to little leagues. His current role is considerably less stressful than the one he used to have in The Bronx. Though the Yankees' slow start has put them in a bit of a hole in the AL East, Martinez thinks the upcoming Subway Series against the Mets is just what they need. "They've pretty much struggled with everything - from hitting, to defense, to pitching - and they need to pick up the intensity level," Martinez said. "A series against the Mets is a great time to do that. Nothing against the Rays, but it's easier to get up when you're playing the Mets."

RIVALRY GOES FROM SUBWAY TO SUBPAR

HELL, N.Y. - Nobody saw this coming. Did you? Did anyone named Steinbrenner, George or Hank or Hal? Did anyone named Wilpon, Fred or Jeff? This is supposed to be a weekend of baseball celebration in New York City, a gathering of the baseball tribes. It isn't supposed to be like this. Not on the first Subway Series weekend. And yet here we are. Here all of us are, all of us who care about New York baseball, who embrace it, who live it, who rejoice in it, who circle these two weekends every year and look forward to them for what they're supposed to be: Our best against your best. Only, what happens when nobody's best? | | What happens when the Subway Series arrives and one team is only a game north of .500 and the other is two games south? What happens when the teams are a combined 40-41 across fully one-quarter of the baseball games they will play this year? Suddenly, the Subway Series will be filled with Subway Queries, dueling referenda on who these teams are, where they're going, what they're capable of really achieving this year. "No matter what," Billy Wagner said yesterday, "there's really nothing to match a Subway Series - the atmosphere, the fans, the hoopla, the hype. There's nothing else like it." Normally, that's the theme of these games, especially since half of them have been permanently moved to May every year, a point in the baseball calendar when it's generally too early to fret, panic or otherwise dread anything about a baseball season. Normally, we would be talking about how there could be three such Subway Series this year, one in May, one in June, one in October. Normally, we would grow wistful and nostalgic pondering the dying days of both ballparks. Not now. Not this year. Not with that combined record of 40-41. Here's something for you: The Mets and the Yankees have played 21 regular-season series before this one. Not once have they ever come into the proceedings with a combined record under sea level. You could say, it was bound to happen some year. There's been a lot of awfully good baseball played on either side of the Triboro the last 11 years. Probability says we had his coming some time. Laws of average insist we had to expect this some year. Just not this year. But this is exactly what we have. We have a Mets team still fully gripped by the effects of the baseball version of post-traumatic stress disorder, with fans that have officially parted with the premise of liking them even a little bit, with a manager who could be fired by weekend's end if things go poorly, who almost certainly will be fired if they return home, say, 2-8 off 10 days in The Bronx, Atlanta and Denver. And we have a Yankees team that is swinging Wiffle Ball bats, that can't seem to piece a winning streak together, that can't coax any life out of its celebrated young arms, that can't get its owner to shut his pie-hole. And, to make matters even more pleasing, tonight it will throw Darrell Rasner at the Mets. The Mets and Yankees always love to throw nonsense at us, insisting these games don't mean any more than other games. Sometimes, it's even possible to believe them. Not now. Not this year. Not at 40 up and 41 down. Not with two seasons inching ever closer to the abyss, and 8 million baseball fans remembering the words of the man who once managed both of them. Sometimes, it really does get later early.

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nydailynews.com

Mets and Yankees postponed by rain, won't be made up this weekend

The Subway Series opener Friday night was rained out and there is no makeup date, though it won?t be this weekend. Andy Pettitte will stay on his regular rest and face Johan Santana, Friday night?s scheduled Met starter, Saturday at 1 p.m.

Madden: This train to Bronx should be taken out of service

So much for the Great Weeklong Debate as to whether Willie Randolph should have pitched Johan Santana on normal rest against the last-place Washington Nationals or give him an extra day so can play Friday night against the Yankees.

Joe Girardi, Willie Randolph asked to serve as All-Star Game coaches

Managers Joe Girardi of the Yankees and Willie Randolph of the Mets have been asked to serve as coaches for the All-Star Game in the Bronx. Yankee Stadium will host the game July 15 in its final season.

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newsday.com

Hal Steinbrenner on Yanks: We'll be fine

Hal Steinbrenner flew back to Tampa from the Major League Baseball owners' meetings in Milwaukee yesterday, his belief that the Yankees can be a contender this season intact.

Yankees can't get bats going, fall into last place

Another meager effort from the Yankees' hitters resulted in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

Yankees, Mets stumble into Subway Series

Interleague play exists most of all because of the "rivalry" series, and Mets-Yankees is the king of the rivalries. Here we go again, Year 12 kicking off tonight at Yankee Stadium, and we usually take this moment to thump our chests and boast about the high quality of New York baseball.

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mlb.com

Subway opener postponed for rain

Girardi honored to be All-Star coach

Girardi, Leyland are All-Star coaches

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riveraveblues.com

BA projects the first round

Jim Callis of Baseball America posted his first mock draft today, and has the Yanks taking Arizona prep southpaw Kyle Lobstein. Callis writes: The obvious move would be for New York to use its financial muscle to pay what it takes to get whatever top talent falls because of signability. Hosmer would be a coup for [...]

Let’s play two in a gimmicky way in June

Instead of dealing with media blackouts and questionable May weather, the Yanks and Mets are going to send their stadiums out in style in June with a two-stadium, one-city double header, date TBD. The Yanks will skip Darrell Rasner’s start, and Andy Pettitte will face Johan Santana tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Now stop reading [...]

Game 43: How many innings?

It’s kinda crappy out. It’s not supposed to let up, according to The Weather Channel. Though they’ve been wrong before. Everywhere I’ve read at this point claims the game is on. So let’s hope they can get it in. Not much to say. Hit ball. Win game. Das it. 1. Johnny Damon, LF 2. Bobby Abreu, RF 3. [...]

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yankees.lhblogs.com

Yankees set pitching rotation

Makeup will be in June

Game postponed by rain

Game 43: Mets at Yankees

A-Rod had pain-free workout; Price next

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philhughes.wordpress.com

Hey

Hope everyone is doing well. Not too much to report lately from Tampa. I was in shock when I found out the extent of my rib injury. Not the best way to start off the season to say the least. I will post more when there is more news. I didn’t get a chance to watch [...]

Guest Blog: Morgan Ensberg

Morgan ran across my blog one day and about a week ago asked if he could guest blog. Of course I agreed. Hope you enjoy. So here we go… This is the first time I have ever blogged anything. To be 100% honest with you, I don’t really know what to [...]

Guest Blog

Just got into the hotel in Cleveland. Guest blog tomorrow by Morgan “The Blowfish” Ensberg. Should be a good one. Time for some sleep.

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mvn.com/mlb-yankees

Game 43: Mets at Yankees (Postponed)

New York Mets (20-19) vs. New York Yankees (20-22) Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10) vs. Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00) May 16, 2008 @ 7:05 p.m. @ Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Mets 0 0 0 Yankees 0 0 0 Preview: The New York Mets cross town to face off against the Yankees at The Stadium in the first of a three game set. Starting for the Mets is the formidable lefty Johan Santana. Recently, when the Yankees [...]

Poll Results: Ian Kennedy

Here are the results of our poll on the recall of Ian Kennedy. Yeah, he earned it - 13 votes (16%) No, he needed to prove himself over a longer period of time - 15 votes (19%) It’s not ideal, but it’s better than another Kei Igawa start - 53 votes (65%) Well, the winner is pretty clear. Only [...]

A-Rod Brings Much Needed Good News

Via the Star-Ledger (Ed Price): Alex Rodriguez is on track for a Tuesday return after running the bases yesterday at Tropicana Field, a key test. “If everything comes out fine, (Tuesday) is very realistic,” manager Joe Girardi said. Rodriguez, coming back from a strained right quadriceps, is scheduled to work out today at the Yankees’ facility in Tampa [...]