Article:Pinstripe Pulse: Full Squad Reports Today, First Workouts Scheduled for Wednesday

New Manager Joe Girardi welcomed his position players to the newly renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida today as the Yankees begin preperations starting tomorrow for the 2008 season. Sixty-six players are in camp, including twenty-six non-roster] players.

When I sat down yesterday and began the editing and drafting process, my first look in detail at the Yankees 40 man roster since the season ended resulted in a bit of a shock. Now, despite what some [User:Manny Stiles|people]] believe, not all Yankee fans born after 1920 are bandwagon jumpers. I became a fan in the late 1960's, when they sucked, so I've seen both sides. And this team scares me, and not for good reasons. The National Inquirer picks the Yankees to win the AL East with 96 wins, and while it's a bit too early for me to make my official predictions, unless some moves are made in the Spring, I don't see it.

The Yankees remind me a bit of the 2007 Boston Red Sox. When I made my initial prediction of them winning it all, it was with a bit of reluctance. Not because I didn't really think they weren't the best team because they certainly were, but because of their age and fragility. Their players were mostly over thirty and some of them, Jason Varitek and Manny Ramirez in particular, were recovering from either off-season surgery or were rehabbing injuries. The Yankees are in the same boat heading into 2008, and the situation is much more drastic for them.

Behind the plate, the Yankees have seven catchers in camp, two with Major League experience. Incumbent Jorge Posada is thirty-six and while he is coming off his career year, the fact he was in his walk year may have had more to do with that than just his experience. Posada's caught almost 1500 games in his career, and as Mike Piazza can attest, once the skill goes, it goes fast. Counting on Posada for anything close to what he did last year is unrealistic. The Yankees have the ideal backup in Jose Molina, who himself is 32. A member of the catching Molina brothers which includes Benji and Yadier, Molina is a spectacular defensive catcher with limited offensive production. None of the other catchers on the Yankees roster are expected to make the team, and top minor league catching prospect] Jesus Montero is just 18 years old and at least three years away.

The leftside of the infield is solid with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Both players take care of themselves all year round as reflected by their respective career averages of  136 and 141 games per season attest. Former Los Angeles Dodgers Wilson Betemit returns as the back-up at third and first base. On the right side, newly re-signed and secure Robinson Cano is solidly entrenched at second base, and while he has shown improvement over the past two seasons, is still well below average defensively. He did manage to play 160 games last year which is good, but with the embarrassingly inefficient Jason Giambi at first base, the right side of the Yankees infield will have more holes than Bonnie and Clyde after the ambush. Non-roster invitees Nick Green and Chris Woodward both have a shot at making the team as utility players, most specifically Woodward. Woodward has played for the Braves, Mets and Blue Jays in his nine year career and has played every position exept pitcher and catcher. He also provides a much needed. righthanded bat.

First base is up for grabs and the none of the options available would be considered good ones. Giambi is older and less mobile than a '84 Yugo. There is talk of Hideki Matsui seeing some time at first base, he too is recovering from off-season surgery, and while early reports from camp are encouraging health and hitting wise, he has not played first base in his ML career. Betemit can play some first base if needed, and Shelley Duncan is in camp with a solid shot of winning the super-sub role, seeing time at first, the outfield, and DH. Duncan made his ML debut in 2007 at the ripe old age of 28, and contributed seven homers in just 74 at-bats.

The outfield is even more of a mess. Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu all had off-season surgery, Matsui and Damon on their knees, Abreu his shoulder. Ideally, Damon is healthy enough to resume the lead-off role and play center and the next five weeks will determine whether that happens or not. If so, then the OF situation becomes less cloudy, Matsui in left, Damon in center and Abreu in right is the ideal starting OF. If not, or if Matsui can't go right away, then the outfield situation becomes very cloudy. The last thing the Yankees want is Melky Cabrera playing regularly. Other than a solid arm, Cabrera's otherwise deficient in most categories and the more he plays the more they show. The other problem with the outfielders is, they are all lefty hitters. Lefty hitters in Yankee Stadium are a plus, but by not having a righty bat opposing teams can stack lefty starters against the Yanks which would be a huge concern. The Yankees do have former Houston Astros Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane in camp as well as non-roster invitees. I see Lane having a better chance of making the team than Ensberg, as he is a righty swinging outfielder who can also play first base, Ensberg, also a righty, is limited defensively to third base.

Rotation wise, the opening day five of Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy is a mix of experienced veterans and promising rookies. Jeff Karstens fresh off a dominating stint for the Gold Medal winning United States team in the World Cup and prospect Alan Horne, the Eastern League pitcher of the year, will both receive long looks in the spring and at least one conceivably could head north depending on how the others perform.

The in the rotation, out of the rotation, back in and back out soap opera of Joba Chamberlain apparently has been decided, at least for now. Chamberlain will have his innings cap reduced from 170 to 140 and will begin the season in the bullpen as a result. Once the weather warms up, around Memorial Day, Chamberlain will head down the turnpike to Trenton where he will spend about four weeks or so lengthening his arm in a return to the starting rotation. At some point after the All-Star game, Chamberlain will return to the Major Leagues and will do so as a starter. What the fack? Am I the only one concerned with a 22 year old pitcher being on a innings cap? Why aren't Hughes or Kennedy on innings caps? Especially Hughes, considering he's almost a year younger than Joba?

The Yanks bullpen, in the past a weakness, is now likely the strong suit of the team. With Joba, Brian Bruney, free agent signee LaTroy Hawkins, on board, all which is missing is filling in the pieces. During the off-season, the Yankees traded Tyler Clippard to the Washington Nationals for fellow righty Jonathon Albaladejo, a flame thrower who should (hopefully) beat out Kyle Farnsworth for the righthanded specialist role. Ross Ohlendorf, moved to the pen last season following back surgery, surprised everyone with the results, and he also had a dominating stint in winter ball and stands at least a decent shot of making the final bullpen cut in a role similar to Joba's last season. And even if he doesn't, he is certain to assume the role once Joba heads to Triple A. (As a side note, those of you who bet me Joba would not pitch in the minor leagues this season, I will be messaging you my address so you can send me a check)

All in all, this year should be interesting, although for hopefully a better reason than the off-season was. Unless moves are made I don't see the Yankees winning 96 games or catching the Red Sox, and if players don't perform due to lingering injury effects or age related issues, it is possible they could slide down to third place behind the Blue Jays.


 * Kelsdad provides the Yankees beat for ArmchairGM