By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect
PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
RF Nick Swisher
DH Jorge Posada
C Russell Martin
LF Brett Gardner
PROJECTED ROTATION
CC Sabathia
AJ Burnett
Phil Hughes
Ivan Nova
Bartolo Colon
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Mariano Rivera
Set-up - Rafael Soriano
Closer - Mariano Rivera
Set-up - Rafael Soriano
Top Prospect - Jesus Montero (C)
Breakout
Jesus Montero - Eventually the Yankees and the rest of the MLB will realize Russell Martin's major league career was quicker than a drive-through car wash. Montero may see just as time as the DH this season than he does behind the plate, but with Martin washed up the Yanks top prospect will get to show off his big bat.
Bust
Jorge Posada - I think Posada has been so accustom to playing defense and calling pitches that he will have a tough transition to the DH role. He will be one that takes his strikeout into the next at-bat because he does not have defense to take his mind off things. I can see him regaining the catcher's role (at least part-time) by the end of the season.
Biggest Spring Training Question
CC and who - It's not all lost when the missed Cliff Lee because they still the quintessential workhorse in Sabathia. They will rely on Phil Hughes to improve, Burnett to regain his past form and either youngsters to emerge or veterans to comeback to relevance.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 95-67
PROJECTED FINISH: 2nd in the American League East
Check back tomorrow for the Tampa Bay Rays
No comments:
Post a Comment