SHOOTING FOR THE SERIES
Here are the five — highly improbable — steps for the Yankees to win the World Series:
1. BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
CC Sabathia (below), Michael Pineda and Luis Severino have to combine for 90 starts and 45 wins. Try getting those bets in. Of the three Sabathia is likely to have the best year. Pineda is far too inconsistent. Severino was named the fourth starter because he was better than a pedestrian bunch in spring training. He was 0-8 with an 8.50 ERA in 11 starts last year. Left unsaid is Masahiro Tanaka will be required to surpass the 200 innings mark for the first time in the big leagues and win 20-plus games. And don’t forget Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman must stay healthy and be almost perfect.
2. PRAY THE KIDS ARE MORE THAN ALL RIGHT
The Yankees didn’t score enough runs a year ago and now are turning to neophytes Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Aaron Judge to provide the muscle that Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira didn’t in 2016. Expectations are through the clouds on Sanchez, who swatted 20 homers in two months last year. Even if the trio produces the Yankees must get more from veterans Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Chase Headley and the same results or better out of Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro.
3. FORGET THE WORLD SERIES — FOCUS ON AL EAST
The Yankees need the Red Sox and Blue Jays to come down with significant injuries or have off years from Chris Sale, Marcus Stroman, Mookie Betts and Josh Donaldson, as well as others to leave the AL East title door open. The Yankees’ rotation is short compared to the Red Sox and Blue Jays. Then there are the Indians, Royals and Mariners to contend with.
4. PULL OFF A STUNNING DEAL
Let’s say the Yankees are in the AL East race in late July and decide they are one or two pieces away. A year ago at the Aug. 1 trade deadline the Yankees were 6 ½ lengths back and opted to deal Andrew Miller, Chapman and Carlos Beltran. Will they look at White Sox lefty Jose Quintana or some other pitchers/players and think they would be the difference between a fifth straight year ending without participating in a postseason series or printing ALDS tickets?
5. BEAT THE ODDS
Bovada has the Yankees listed at 25-1 odds to win the World Series, 12-1 to cop the AL title, 11-2 in the AL East and list the Yankees’ win total at 82 ½. All that sounds fair for a team that has so many question marks on the mound and at the plate and very little chance of winning their 28th World Series title.