SPRING TO LIFE
Yanks & Mets head to Florida hoping to bear fruit
JOE GIRARDI might need a scorecard to figure out who everybody is when the Yankees open spring training later this week.
Gone are Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte among others, while newcomers Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran are expected to assume large roles as the Yankees take aim at a return to the postseason.
Alex Rodriguez will also be missing, after being suspended for the entire 2014 season and dropping his lawsuits against Major League Baseball and the players’ union.
Will the new-look Bombers have what it takes to capture their 28th World Series title? They’ll have to answer these five questions during the next seven weeks before Opening Day on April 1.
1 ARE THE OLD GUYS FINALLY HEALTHY?
For all the shiny new toys the Yankees bought this winter, their season could hinge on the success of two returning stars: Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira
With question marks at both second and third base, the Yankees need Jeter and Teixeira to bounce back and regain their previous form after their lost 2013 season. Jeter looks strong during his pre-camp workouts, while the Yankees seem optimistic that Teixeira’s wrist will be ready to go by April.
Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson are the front-runners to handle the majority of duties at second and third, but neither can be expected to shoulder the load. If Jeter and Teixeira look ready to rebound, it could set the tone for
the spring.
2 HOW WILL THE NEW GUYS FIT IN?
The Yankees were the kings of the offseason, spending more than $450 million after letting Cano head to Seattle and losing Rivera and Pettitte to retirement. The moves brought back memories of 2009, when the Bombers brought in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Teixeira and Nick Swisher following a disappointing season. Will Ellsbury, Tanaka, McCann and Beltran have the same success? The fact that the quartet can share the burden of being the newest round of stars will help, as none should feel the full weight of the world on his shoulders.
Ellsbury and Beltran have played in major markets (Boston and New York, respectively), so the pressure of joining the Yankees shouldn’t be an issue. McCann has the personality to handle the demands both on and off the field, leaving few questions about his ability to adapt to his new surroundings. That leads us to our next question …
3 WILL MASAHIRO TANAKA HAVE TROUBLE ADJUSTING?
After shelling out $155 million for the 25-year-old Japanese ace, the Yankees are expecting big things from their newest import. Tanaka is coming off a historic 24-0 season with Rakuten in the Pacific League, but he will likely find out quickly that the quality of play in the majors is a notch higher.
Like Hideki Matsui more than a decade ago, Tanaka figures to bring a massive media throng with him from Japan. On the field, Tanaka should benefit from the presence of Hiroki Kuroda, who can serve as a mentor to his fellow starter.
The biggest thing to watch will be how Tanaka handles himself if he gets knocked around — something that is likely to happen at some point — in an exhibition game. That’s when we’ll learn whether he’s ready to deal with all that comes with playing in New York.
4 WHAT WILL LIFE AFTER MARIANO BE LIKE?
Dave Robertson has given the Yankees every reason to believe he can handle the closer’s role, posting a 1.91 ERA in 205 games over the past three seasons. But what about the rest of the bullpen?
Assuming Robertson moves from the eighth inning to the ninth, the Yankees must find a replacement for his old setup role. Shawn Kelley showed flashes last season, and Preston Claiborne will look to build on a solid rookie season. Matt Thornton replaces Boone Logan as the primary lefty, while youngster Cesar Cabral will also have a chance to win a job.
Local product Dellin Betances will be the most interesting bullpen arm to watch this spring. The former “Killer B” prospect is out of minorleague options, so he’ll either have to prove himself worthy of a bullpen spot or risk being let go at the end of camp. The Yankees could also bring in another arm such as former closer Joel Hanrahan, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could be ready to pitch by
May 1.
5 IS MICHAEL PINEDA READY TO CONTRIBUTE?
It’s been more than two years since the Yankees dealt away top prospect Jesus Montero for the hardthrowing Pineda, but a major shoulder injury has kept the hulking 25-year-old from throwing a single pitch for the Bombers.
Pineda is healthy now, but he’ll have to fight off David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno for the No. 5 starter job, a competition that figures to be one of the most heated of the spring.