Half Time

Let's face it - it could be worse.

If at the start of the season someone were to tell you: here is going to be the injury situation but you'll still be entering the break 18 games above .500 pacing for 106 wins - I think most would take it. And so will I. Despite flaws - a very, very good first half the year.

Looking forward: Cano has been given an opportunity to shine and show he can be the lead guy not just a good supportive one with A-Rod going under the knife. If he is to be the player we've seen glimpses of, now is the time to show it . . . Starting pitching is the only true "IF" right now. Hughes needs to improve big time in his next outing, and while Colon and Garcia have done their job to date, not sure I trust them yet down the stretch which leads to me to thinking the Yanks will do a deal for a starter.

Sabathia will finish with 25 wins - I did not realize he's on a scoreless streak of 23 innings until yesterday's complete game gem.

Jeter will finish with 10 HRs and a .310 avg.

Despite the winning I will believe in their championship abilities when they can show that they can beat the Sox.
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Reflection on Jeter's 3,000 Hits: There was a time when I thought Jeter had a chance to break or at least challenge Pete Rose's hit record. While it seems unlikely now, I'm still holding out hope depending on how he finishes this season - I have a feeling he's going to rip it up the 2nd half. If he does do that, then I'll still believe there's a chance to do it. If he doesn't, and he muddles around offensively, I think he'll retire in 2 seasons.

When looking at the 3,000 Hit Club, I am of the opinion that Hank Aaron might be the least appreciated baseball player of all time. Take away his HRs, and he still has 3,000 hits - unbelievable.

Around the Horn

Chien-Ming Wang started a AA game in the Nats system. 5 innings of work, no runs, no walks - hope he can make it back . . . or at least to AAA so I can see him play.

A look at a few former Yankees: Tyler Clippard remember his debut?? He made the All-Star game, good for him. And my boy Jeff Karstens is top 5 in ERA . . hmmmm maybe that's who the Yanks will do a deal for. .. .

Day 1 - Game 1

Opening day has arrived (even though we have the threat of it being ppd due to rain) - and so it begins with the same question I've been asking every April since the decade started - is this the year of 27?

There are a lot of positives heading into this season - about the only thing I am uncomfortable with would be the bullpen. I wish Sanchez would have been ready to go, and at this point, I'm still a believer that Joba belongs in the pen - but why bring that argument up again. Time will tell - regardless, outside of Karstens, Joba will likely turn out to be the best No. 5 starter in the league (C'mon you didn't think I was going to pass up an opening day post without mentioning my man did you!!)

I think the Yanks will win 100 plus games this season - and yes, I think (again) it is the year of 27.

While much focus on the AL East has been on the Rays, Sox, and Yanks - the team that has a chance to surprise are the Jays in my opinion. Not because of any player they have on their roster - but because of who their manager is - Simply put, Cito knows how to win.


Misc. Things I want to see in '09: Griffey go out with a bang, Pujols win the triple crown, Torre beating the Mets in the NLCS, Cincy to win the NL Central, KC to make the Wild Card, Karstens to win 20, Jeter to hit .340, Rivera to save 50, Tex to hit .300 and 35, Wang to win 24, Sabathia and AJ to win 19 each, and the Yanks to start the stadium off with a WS Championship.

Murphy's Law: Pavano wins the CY Young.


Anyway - baseball is back, and not a moment too soon.

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15 Questions

1. Will Melkey or Gardner be the CF?
2. Is Xavier Nady the odd man out?
3. Will Wang be able to bounce back from his injury shortened season?
4. Will Posada be able to bound back from his injury shortened season?
5. How well will Bernie Williams do in the WBC?
6. Will Robinson Cano put forth the effort for the entire season that we saw toward the end of last season?
7. What will Jeter's season look like?
8. Can we expect Tex to give us 30 HRs, .300, and 100 RBIs?
9. How well will CC and AJ do with the burden of playing in NY and a prime time contract?
   
10. Will Damon or Matsui surprise on the upside?
11. How well and how many starts can we expect from Joba?
12. How much will we see of Phil Hughes?
13. Will the new stadium be a distraction or the ultimate in home field advantage?
14. Will Mo continue to be Mo?
15. Can A-Rod put this behind him and finally carry this team to the promise land?
    

Update

Anyone else notice that Kei Igawa was not on the active 40-man roster? Another year in SWB for him - another few million down the drain for the club. Memo To GM: stay away from pitchers in Japan!

Our bullpen has potential: Bruney, Coke, Marte, Sanchez, Ramirez, Robertson and Veras.

There's a handful of names on the roster that I've never heard of before: Claggett, De La Rosa, and Hacker.


Anybody have an idea what these guys can offer?



Yankee Fact:

- The oldest Yankee with 200 hits in a season was Lou Gehrig at the age of 34.

With just over 2,500 hits to his credit, and at age 34, I sometimes wonder if Jeter has a shot at the all-time hits record. He averages 207 per season (last season he had 179). Which means to get there, he'd have to continue that level of output for the next 8 1/2 seasons and at which time he'd be 42 . - Not likely . . . (but still possible I guess)

3 for 3!

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Just a quick note on the obvious:

Cashman and the Steinbrenners have put the league on notice:

the Hot Stove is in their kitchen.

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Locked and Loaded?

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So, approximately 72 hours after I was speculating that we weren't going to get anything done at the Winter meetings, Cashman promptly sticks that idea in my face and goes on to nab the top two pitching prizes on the market.

I like the focus. When the team went on its WS binge the last time it was built on pitching - not hitting (although from a hitting standpoint, it truly is not all that bad as it still is a lineup that has names like A-Rod, Jeter, Nady, Cano, and Posada)

From where I stand, this is how I'm seeing the pitching situation for '09:

Starting Rotation: Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Aceves/Chamberlain/Hughes

Bullpen: Rivera, Sanchez, Marte, Coke, Bruney, Albaladjedo

Expendable or Minor League Reserves: Kennedy, Wright, Milton, Cox, Ramirez, Robertson, and Veras


Will Chamberlain be a starter or back to being the the monster set up guy? What do you see differently?



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