2011 Yankees pitchers predictions

This was the big issue this winter. The Yanks missed out of Cliff Lee and then Andy Pettitte decided it was time to hang it up. The Yanks rotation has many question marks, but the bullpen looks as strong as ever. So can the Yankees hit their way into October? Or will the pitching surprise everyone, and lead the charge in the quest for title 28.

CC Sabathia: Entering year three in the Bronx, CC has given the Yankees everything and then some that they had expected from him when he signed here. He has battled for the CY Young award, and pitched phenomenal in the postseason, the biggest question is will he leave New York after this year.

Best case: 22-6 2.81 ERA 215 Strikeouts. CC wins the CY Young and leads the bombers back into the playoffs on his slimmed down back.

Worst case: 15-10 4.02 ERA 167 SO Sabathia begins to eat a box of Captain Crunch a day, his knee is an issue, or ::gasp:: he gets hurt from throwing so many innings the past few years.

My prediction: 20-7 3.12 ERA 190 SO The big man is an consistent as ever, and anchors the bombers rotation.

A.J. Burnett: Will we see bad A.J. or will we get to see good A.J.? When Burnett is doing bad, he looks lost and gets hit hard. When he is doing well, his stuff is moving all over the place and is as close to unhittable as anyone in baseball. But what A.J. shows up?
Best case: 17-9 3.88 ERA 206 SO Burnett shows off his 2008 form, shutting down the Red Sox and looking like the pitcher the Yanks signed.
Worst case: 11-13 4.89 ERA 174 SO I don't think it can get any worse for Burnett, especially after last season. The worst case has Burnett looking lost at times, getting bombed by Boston and blowing leads. The boo birds will be out, early and often.
My prediction: 13-10 4.19 ERA 186 SO Burnett comes back and has a season similar to 2009. Burnett is going to struggle at times but will also have enough starts where he will shut down the opponent.

Phil Hughes: 2010 was a break out year for Hughes, winning 18 games. But Hughes struggled in the second half of the season, and fell victim to giving up the long ball. Now their are reports that his velocity has dropped, will his wins do the same?
Best case: 19-8 3.45 180 SO. Hughes proves that he last season was no fluke, and can be the Yankees second ace.
Worst case: 12-10 4.87 ERA 152 SO. Phil takes a step back, dealing with injuries, Hughes tries to do his best but instead looks like Burnett circa 2010.
My prediction: 16-8 4.09 169 SO. Hughes falls back to earth, but is still very solid. I would be very concerned with the chance that he suffers an injury since his innings went up by 90 from 2009 to 2010. This year that could catch up with him.

Ivan Nova : Yankee fans love to see the big stars, but they also love to see the home grown kid find a way to succeed in the Bronx. Nova last year had flashes of success, but would also flash signs of being just a kid.
Best case: 15-7 3.76 ERA 155 SO. Just call his super Nova if this is the case, cause he will have blown expectations out of the water.
Worst case: 3-9 5.72 ERA 82 SO and a trip to Scranton. Nothing could be worse then the Yanks having to send down Nova because he is doing that poor. In his starts, Nova wouldn't be able to get past the opposing line up for a third time, thus leaving alot of games early.

My prediction: 12-9 4.32 ERA 134 SO. He's just a kid so lets remember to cut him a break, he will have his good starts and then have some bad starts. But has a performance that gets him a chance to start a playoff game and hold a spot in the 2012 rotation.

Freddy Garcia: Steady Freddy might not be able to live up to his nickname for much longer, but the Yanks will hope that they can squeeze one more season out of his right arm, or atleast enough juice from it to keep them afloat.
Best case: 14-7 3.83 ERA 141 SO. Garcia parties like it's 2005 again, and his shoulder has no issues.
Worst case: 4-10 5.66 ERA 67 SO. Garcia gets hurt,or struggled and the Yankees cut him and rather go with one someone in the minors or Bartolo Colon.
My prediction: 11-8 4.63 ERA 93 SO. Freddy isn't great, but gives the Yankees innings and quality starts for a fifth starter.

I'm not going to run through the entire bullpen because relievers are tough to predict. But I will give my prediction on the great Mariano Rivera.

Mariano Rivera: Simply The Best

Best case: 3-1 1.33 ERA 70 SO. Rivera finds another way to wow us all

Worst case: 2-4 3.03 ERA 55 SO. Mo cant strike any one out, and suddenly looks like a human.

My prediction: 3-2 1.83 ERA 64 SO Mo is a machine, no matter what age.

Overall I think the Yankees are going to finish in second place, due to the lack of starting depth. But this team is good enough to make the playoffs as the wild card and still win over 90 games. In fact I think the Red Sox win the division, but I'm not so sure they run away with it. Wouldn't surprise me if the Yanks only finish a game or two out.
Final Record: 94-68 wild card winners, lose in the ALCS

The suprises of spring training

Well this the last week the Yankees will be down in Tampa training until 2012. On of my favorite things is how the storylines are resolved and the unexpected, becomes a reality.

First example, Gustavo Molina as the back up catcher.
 A few weeks back on Talkin Baseball: The Hot Corner I joked the Molina would make the team over Jesus Montero or Austin Romine. Well each day it looks more and more like a solid possability. Molina has had a nice spring, while Montero has struggled and would not get the chance to play everyday in the bigs. Romine missed time, and many feel he is also not ready. I would have said Jorge Posada, but he has yet to catch a single inning in spring training and I doubt he will for the remaining few days. So that leaves it to Molina.

I actually like the Molina idea since, he will just play once a week if that, and when Cervelli comes back they can cut Cervelli they can either send down Molina or Cervelli.

Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia all make the team, with the last two being the fourth and fifth starters.
Yes two of them would have to make the team as the starting pitchers at the back of the rotation, unless the Yanks were going to go with four man rotation. But Sergio Mitre was sadly cut as the long man, and that opened up the role for big Bartolo.

I never expected Colon to be on the roster once opening day hit, I also had my doubts about Nova (I was assuming the Yanks would make a trade) but they both will be pitching in the bigs to start 2011.

Eric Chavez does not get hurt! And makes the team

Whats more shocking that he didnt get hurt or that he made the team? I would say that he was healthy enough, cause I had a feeling Girardi would add him to the roster if he played well, and he has done just that hitting close to .400 this spring.

Welcome Millwood, so long Sergio

The Mitre era in pinstripes is over. Today the Yankees have sent Sergio to the Brewers, this comes after they signed Kevin Millwood to a minor league deal plus incentives.

The deal with Millwood is a fair one, its a minor league deal similar to Freddy Garcia's deal. So if Millwood makes the team he should make around $1.5 million, and upwards to $3 million in incentives. Its a good deal, since Millwood won't start the season with the team, so the Yanks can see what Ivan Nova,Bartolo Colon and Garcia have to offer first. Millwood last season was 4-16 for the Orioles, but at times had pitched better then his record indicates.

Now on to sad news, Sergio "Meat-tray" was traded to the Brewers, at this time it is unsure what the bombers will get back. But all I can say is what ever they traded him for was not enough, Mitre was a favorite of mine (and Joe Girardi's). I wish Sergio the best, and maybe the Yankees got back old pal Wil Nieves (lets hope not)

Kevin "the clown" Millwood turns down minor league deal

Millwood looking hefty, with him
CC and Colon the Yankees
could hold a biggest loser contest.

Kevin Millwood was 4-16 last season, had an ERA of over 5 and yet turned down the Yankees minor league deal. The deal similar to the one Freddy Garcia signed, that would include up to $3 million in bonuses.

Why in the world Millwood would turn down this type of deal, I have no clue. Every teams pitchers and catchers have reported, yet Millwood still is holding out for a guarranteed deal. Sure Millwood is an innings eater, and earlier this spring I was hoping the Yanks would give he a shot, but not in a guarranteed way. Millwood over the last few seasons has had an ERA over 5 in four of the past five seasons,and in the past two seasons he had given up 56 homers, a number that wouldnt be going down at Yankee Stadium

Millwood should have just taken the minor league deal, with the state of the Yankees pitching he could have easily won the spot over fat boy Bartolo, Sergio Mitre and Freddy Garcia.