Your Cart is Empty
WELCOME TO 4 LINE FAITHFUL | FREE SHIPPING on orders over $60!
Featuring Bronx Bombers Beat! Thanks to @PeterVitella and @wstobin2 over at @BronxBombersBeat for this piece about the upcoming season.
By Shane Tobin
What is the biggest strength for the Yankees?
The Yankees biggest strengths are their bullpen and their lineup. The bullpen is filled with closer level pitchers who are versatile in their roles and able to pitch multiple innings. The lineup is filled with contact, power, and the ability to get on base at high rates. If healthy the bullpen and lineup will carry this team deep into October.
What is the biggest weakness for the Yankees?
The Yankees biggest weakness is the starting rotation. The quality of pitchers in the rotation is not weak but their durability is a major weakness. Masahiro Tanaka can have his UCL tear at any moment, CC Sabathia has had knee injuries in the past, and Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery are coming off seasons where they had career highs in innings pitched. I think the Yankees will add an ace level pitcher in July but this rotation can be very good if healthy for a full season.
What do the Yankees need to do to make the World Series?
The Yankees need to have a hot start and add an ace level pitcher to make the World Series this season. Pitching depth is the key piece to every World Series team this decade. Also a hot start will allow them to make mistakes as we saw last year. A bad start will put them behind the 8 ball and could cause panic in the team.
Expectations for the Yankees this season?
I expect the Yankees to win the World Series this year. Their offseason moves are telling the fans that this team has World Series or bust expectations. The team will most likely add a pitcher to help supplement the rotation and maybe they will call up Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, Justus Sheffield, and/or Chance Adams to help the team during the year. This team should win over 90 games and win the AL East over their rivals from Boston. I expect great seasons from Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, and Greg Bird. The key to this season is a healthy Bird. He will get a ton of good pitches to hit in this lineup. Lastly, I expect Sonny Gray and Luis Severino to contend for the Cy Young and to be the go to pitchers in October as the Yankees hoist their 28th World Series title.
AL East
AL Central
AL West
NL East
NL Central
NL West
AL Wild Card
Red Sox over Angels
ALDS
Astros over Red Sox
Yankees over Indians
ALCS
Yankees over Astros
NL Wild Card
Cardinals over Diamondbacks
NLDS
Dodgers over Cardinals
Nationals over Cubs
NLCS
Nationals over Dodgers
World Series
Yankees over Nationals
AL MVP
Aaron Judge NYY
NL MVP
Joey Votto CIN
AL Cy Young
Luis Severino NYY
NL Cy Young
Clayton Kershaw LAD
AL Rookie of the Year
Shohei Othani LAA
NL Rookie of the Year
Ronald Acuña ATL
By Peter Vitella
What is the biggest strength for the Yankees?
The Yankees lineup and bullpen are both loaded. The Yankees have three of baseball’s best sluggers in Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and newly acquired Giancarlo Stanton. They added veteran players like Brandon Drury and Neil Walker. They of course have guys like Brett Gardner, Didi Gregorius and Greg Bird returning. The Yankees bullpen is stacked with legitimate closers throughout the whole bullpen. Aroldis Chapman will close. David Robertson, Chad Green, Dellin Betances and Tommy Kahnle can work in any situation. They also have depth with guys like Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder and Domingo German. Another strength for the Yankees is having the ability to call up players like Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, Justus Sheffield and Chance Adams if needed. They also have so much financial flexibility that they can make a big move at the trade deadline if needed.
What is the biggest weakness for the Yankees?
The biggest weakness to me is not the rotation itself but the depth of the rotation. The 1-5 itself is one of the best in the American League. The Yankees have a strong 1-5 however they don’t have much after that. They don’t have a veteran that they can plug in from the bullpen to the rotation. Last year he didn’t pitch well but Jamie Garcia gave them so valuable flexibility. Luis Severino is dominant but the Yankees may want to limit his innings at times. They will do the same with Jordan Montgomery and Masahiro Tanaka. I like the idea of giving RA Dickey a minor league deal just for depth. If the rotation stays healthy it’s one of the best in the game.
What do the Yankees need to do to make the World Series?
The Yankees need to stay healthy. If the Yankees stay healthy the ceiling is a World Series championship. This is not a team that will be scared of expectations. Making the World Series will not be easy because they will have to see teams like the Indians, Astros, and Red Sox to get there. The Yankees are as deep as any of them and health will be the biggest factor as it is for all teams.
Expectations for the Yankees this season?
I expect the Yankees to win upwards of 95 games. I expect the Yankees to win the AL East. I also expect them to have to play in very tough playoff series if they want to win the World Series. I expect the Yankees offense to live up to the hype just like many are predicting.
AL East
AL Central
AL West
NL East
NL Central
NL West
AL Wild Card
Red Sox over Twins
ALDS
Astros over Red Sox
Yankees over Indians
ALCS
Yankees over Astros
NL Wild Card
Mets over Rockies
NLDS
Cubs over Mets
Nationals over Dodgers
NLCS
Cubs over Nationals
World Series
Yankees over Cubs
AL MVP
Mike Trout
NL MVP
Bryce Harper
AL CY Young
Luis Severino
NL CY Young
Clayton Kershaw
AL Rookie of the Year
Gleyber Torres
NL Rookie of the Year
Ronald Acuna
