New York Yankees 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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The Bronx Bombers spent a hectic offseason trying to add an ace and retain their shortstop. But as 2011 arrives, they’ll once again be in the mix.

New York Yankees 2010 MLB Record: 95-67
New York Yankees 2010 MLB Home Record: 52-29
New York Yankees 2010 MLB Away Record: 43-38

New York Yankees 2011 Betting

New York Yankees Odds to Win the American League: +250
New York Yankees Odds to Win the World Series: +600

New York Yankees 2011 Preview & Prediction

The Yankees led the majors in runs scored while winning 95 games last season, but they have serious pitching concerns as they try to reach the playoffs for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons. They always have a strong chance to be playing in October, but with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez all past their prime, the rest ofthe lineup must continue churning out runs to prop up a rotation that looks awfully wobbly past CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes.

New York Yankees Manager: Joe Girardi – Fourth year (fifth overall) Record: 365-283

The former Cubs and Yankees catcher takes his cues from mentor Joe Torre. Girardi always plays by the book and makes every late-inning maneuver he can.

New York Yankees 2011 Projected Batting Order: LF Brett Gardner (L), SS Derek Jeter (R), 1B Mark Teixeira (S), 3B Alex Rodriguez (R), 2B Robinson Cano (L), RF Nick Swisher (S), DH Jorge Posada (S), CF Curtis Granderson (L), C Russell Martin (R).

New York Yankees 2011 Projected Rotation: LH CC Sabathia, RH Phil Hughes, RH A.J. Burnett, RH Ivan Nova, RH Sergio Mitre.

New York Yankees 2011 Projected Closer: RH Mariano Rivera

2011 New York Yankees Offense:

After leading the majors in runs and ranking third in homers, the Yankees didn’t have to change much for 2011. One addition was C Russell Martin, who missed the final 55 games of 2010 with atorn labrum. He is healthy now and should hit 20 HR playing half his games in a launching pad. Martin’s arrival moves Jorge Posada to DH. Posada posted an OPS above .800 for the 10th time in his career. SS Derek Jeter is coming off a career-worst year in BA (.270), OBP (.340) and slugging (.370). CF Curtis Granderson also posted a career-low .247 BA. 1B Mark Teixeira posted his seventh straight season of 30 homers and 100 RBI and 3B Alex Rodriguez extended his 30-HR, 100-RBI streak to 13 seasons in a row. 2B Robinson Cano and RF Nick Swisher both fell just shy of 30 homers with 29 each. Cano had 109 RBI and 103 runs while Swisher had 89 RBI and 91 runs. LF Brett Gardner is the ninth-place hitter in this stacked lineup. He stole 47 bases and scored 97 runs last year.

2011 New York Yankees Rotation:

The Yankees still had plenty of question marks about their rotation when we went to press, as New York only had two reliable starters on its roster- CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes. Sabathia is as good as they get in the American League with extraordinary numbers in two seasons with New York: 40-15 record, 3.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 397 K. Although he’s only 30, Sabathia has thrown an absurd 1,003 innings (258 per year) in the past four seasons, including playoffs. Hughes had a 5.15 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in his final 18 starts of 2010, but at age 24, he will certainly improve. A.J. Burnett was a mess in 2010 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. He was most awful in June when he sported an 11.35 ERA. Ivan Nova (4.50 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) and Sergio Mitre (6.87 ERA career as Yankee starter) are the other starters.

2011 New York Yankees Bullpen:

Mariano Rivera anchors this bullpen once again after signing atwo-year contract worth $30 million. The 41-year-old Rivera has three straight seasons of an ERA below 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00. He also has eight straight years of 30+ saves. Joba Chamberlain was excellent down the stretch last year with a 2.15 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 30 Kand 5 BB in his final 30 appearances. Although the rotation needs help, Chamberlain will remain in the set-up role. Pedro Feliciano was inked to a two-year, $8 million deal to be the club’s top lefty in the bullpen. He has appeared in an average of 89 games over the past three seasons but doesn’t figure to have any fantasy value.

2011 New York Yankees Middle Infield:

Robinson Cano fielded the final out of the 2009 World Series, and kept finding greatness in 2010. He won his first Gold Glove and finished third in voting for MVP after batting .319 with career highs in homers (29) and RBIs (109). He stayed hot in the playoffs, hitting .343 and smashing four homers in the six-game ALCS. Cano is not fast, but he is a line drive machine with tremendous range in the field, and he is squarely in his prime. Jeter, the team captain, returns at shortstop after a contentious contract negotiation in which the Yankees publicly expressed their concerns about his age (he turns 37 in June) and his performance last season, the worst of his 15-year career. Aging shortstops have a poor track record throughout baseball history, but Jeter at least deserves some benefit of the doubt, and not just for his value as the face of the franchise. He needs only 74 hits to become the first Yankee to reach 3,000.

2011 New York Yankees Corners:

The Yankees’ corner infielders, first baseman Mark Teixeira and Rodriguez at third base, combined to make $53.6 million last season — more than the Athletics, the Padres and the Pirates paid their entire rosters. The Yankees are not too worried yet about the insane contract they gave Rodriguez, which averages $27.5 million per year through his 42nd birthday. There’s no telling how limited he’ll be by then with his surgically repaired hip. But Rodriguez has always been intensely driven, which should keep him productive. Teixeira wore down at the end of the season, but he carried the lineup in July and August. Rodriguez has a superior arm at third base, and Teixeira’s peers believe he is the premier defensive first baseman in baseball.

2011 New York Yankees Outfield:

While the Yankees’ biggest stars play in the infield, their outfielders represent the complementary skills essential to a productive lineup. Brett Gardner is among the game’s fastest players and worked the count better than anyone last season. Curtis Granderson, who improved as the season went on, also has speed but provides a lot more power. The switch-hitting Nick Swisher is a power hitter whose walks make him an on-base machine. They are also a strong defensive trio. Gardner played left field last year, and by one statistical measure, he was the most valuable defender in the majors.

2011 New York Yankees Catching:

Since signing a four-year, $52.4 million contract after the 2007 season, Posada, now 39, has started only 39.9 percent of the Yankees’ games at catcher. That percentage will decrease even more this season, when the Yankees turn to veteran Russell Martin and a young catcher from within the organization, probably Jesus Montero. Though Francisco Cervelli has the most experience, he still has a minor league option remaining, and Montero profiles as a middle-of-the-order basher. If Montero flops in spring training, Cervelli and prospect Austin Romine will have the chance to share duty with Martin, a two-time All-Star coming off hip and knee injuries last season.

2011 New York Yankees Bench:

Without the rigors of catching, and facing free agency (or retirement) after the season, Posada should give the Yankees his usual power and plate discipline. Rodriguez, Teixeira and Jeter should also see time at DH. As for the Yankees’ bench, it tends to be much different on Opening Day than it is after the trading deadline. Reserve players typically avoid the Yankees in favor of teams that will give them more chance to play. Then, every July, the Yankees target specific bench needs and trade for veterans, who are happy to leave a losing team for a chance to win. Andruw Jones accepted the Yankees’ offer for a minor league deal and the opportunity to make the team this spring.

New York Yankees 2011 Season Predictions

The Yankees find themselves in an interesting position. They’ve got the best lineup in baseball, one ofthe best starters, and the best closer. The rest of the pitching staff, though, is highly suspect, and that could be their undoing. Ofcourse, ownership could always step in during the season and make a deal for the best available arm, saving the day. Ultimately, though, this franchise appears to have taken a step back while the Red Sox have surged forward. – We predict that the New York Yankees will finish 88-74 & 2nd in the AL East Division.

New York Yankees 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 1st AL East 97
2007: 2nd AL East 94
2008: 3rd AL East 89
2009: 1st AL East 103
2010: 2nd AL East 95

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