February 12, 2013
Tampa, FL -- It's safe to say that the American League East is going to be the toughest division in baseball this season. Boston has retooled and cleaned up their roster after a lackluster season marred by poor chemistry between managers and players. Baltimore has slowly become one of the toughest teams to beat in all of baseball, winning the one-run games that count and never being out of any game. Tampa Bay is always a tough team with solid pitching despite losing some of their offense and still pose a threat for another season. Toronto made the biggest splash this offseason completing revamping their roster on offense and defense.
As for the Yankees? They're the defending AL East Champions. By just a slim two game margin, the Yankees took the AL East crown for the 18th time outlasting Baltimore and Tampa Bay, even besting the Orioles in the 2012 ALDS before succumbing to the Detroit Tigers in the Championship Series.
For New York to have any chance of a repeat playoff appearance, it seems health will be the biggest concern. Derek Jeter (broken left ankle) and Mariano Rivera (torn ACL) went down last season and whether or not they will be at 100% is a concern for this season.
Alex Rodriguez is sidelined until July, recovering from off-season surgey on his hip. Both Mark Teixeira AND Curtis Granderson were injured while preparing to play for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and neither player will be ready until May. Those injuries definitely have the New York staff on pins and needles and their best offensive player - Robinson Cano - is playing for the Dominican Republic in the Spring.
"Having a lot of guys has been a challenge for us, it has." said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "But we've got a ballclub where the next man can pick up where the last one left off. And this gives us time in the Spring to see what the young guys can do, everyone's going to have to do their part."
Even Michael Pineda, whom the Yankees received from Seattle last season, is out until June recovering from shoulder surgery.
Many pundits feel the Yankees are going to have tough sledding in 2013. With the retooled AL East, whispers are even gathering on the Bronx Bombers being the fifth best team in their division. Of course, the Toronto bandwagon is being filled, but meanwhile Baltimore, Boston, and Tampa Bay continue to field competitive teams.
"Well, that's why the games are played on the field." said Girardi. "Every team is tough, every team is going to play hard, and every team wants to win. We're going to do our best to win more than the other guys [laughs]."
While it may be too early to tell where the chips will fall for the Yankees, Spring Training may definitely be a good barometer of where the team is heading. Will they still remain afloat admist a myriad of injuries? Or will the weight of their losses be too much to overcome?
Only seven months from now will we have our answer.
03-14-2013, 11:48 AM
