New York Yankees 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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New York Yankees 2009 MLB Record: 103-59
New York Yankees 2009 MLB Home Record: 57-24
New York Yankees 2009 MLB Away Record: 46-35

New York Yankees 2010 Betting

New York Yankees Odds to Win the American League: 2/1
New York Yankees Odds to Win the World Series: 14/5

New York Yankees 2010 Preview & Prediction

It took nine years, but the Yankees made it back to the mountaintop in 2009, knocking off the Phillies in six games for their 27th World Series title. They asserted themselves in the regular season after early struggles against Boston, then roared through the AL playoffs by brushing aside Minnesota and overcoming their nemesis in Anaheim. Nearly every player met or exceeded expectations, and when that happens with a $200 million roster, success naturally follows. Most of the same cast returns for 2010.

The Yankees tend to win their championships in bunches. Their biggest concern is age, but Granderson, 29, and Gardner, 26, make them younger and more athletic. The trade for Vazquez deepens the rotation and helps the bullpen in front of Rivera, giving the Yankees an even more formidable pitching staff The competition is always fierce in the AL East, but even if a few players fall off a bit from their 2009 levels, the Yankees have every reason to expect another deep run through October.

New York Yankees Manager: Joe Girardi (3 Seasons) Record: 270 – 216

New York Yankees 2010 Projected Batting Order: SS Derek Jeter (R), DH Nick Johnson (L), 1B Mark Teixeira (S), 3B Alex Rodriguez (R), C Jorge Posada (S), CF Curtis Granderson (L), 2B Robinson Cano (L), RF Nick Swisher (S), RF Nick Swisher (S)

New York Yankees 2010 Projected Rotation: LH C.C. Sabathia, RH A.J. Burnett, LH Andy Pelttitte, RH Javier Vazquez, RH Phil Hughes

New York Yankees 2010 Projected Closer: RH Mariano Rivera

2010 New York Yankees Rotation:

The Yankees became the first team since the 1991 Twins to win the World Series while using only three starters. They did it out of necessity, and it won’t happen again. Not content to simply bring back the same rotation, the Yankees traded for Javier Vazquez in December, giving them three of the six major leaguers to log 900 innings and 900 strikeouts over the last five years. The other Yankees on the list are C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, who teamed with Andy Pettitte last year to carry the Yankees through the postseason. Sabathia earned his $23 million salary, using his change up more in the second half and losing only once in the last two months. He was a workhorse, ranking fourth in the league in innings while holding opponents to a .232 average, third-lowest in the AL. Burnett was inconsistent, leading the league in walks, but he can dominate with his lights-out stuff. Pettitte, who turns 38 in June, was free of elbow and shoulder trouble last season and returned on a one-year deal. Vazquez is also in the final year of his contract, and while the Yankees do not expect him to duplicate his NL numbers of last year (15-10, 2.87 ERA, 238 strikeouts), they love his stuff and competitiveness. The fifth spot will be a competition among Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves. The Yankees have seen Chamberlain and Hughes thrive in the bullpen, but they understand they must commit to making one a full-time starter.

2009-2010 New York Yankees Bullpen:

It took a while, but the Yankees found the right pieces for their bullpen, turning a spring weakness into a summer strength. Closer Mariano Rivera was as dominant as ever, but because he rarely works more than one inning per appearance before October, reliable setup relief is especially important. The trade for Vazquez bumps Chamberlain or Hughes to the bullpen, and one or the other will be Rivera’s primary setup man, with Dave Robertson another strong option. The emerging Mark Melancon, a hard throwing righty, could also be ready to help. Holdovers Aceves, Gaudin and Jonathan AIbaladejo provide depth, while Boone Logan and World Series star Damaso Marte should give the Yankees a solid lefty duo.

2010 New York Yankees Middle Infield:

After down years in 2008 by their standards, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano recovered with outstanding seasons. Both played better defense, benefiting from health, a strong defensive first baseman in Mark Teixeira and the guidance of new infield coach Mick Kelleher. Jeter sparked the lineup from the leadoff spot with a .334 average while passing Lou Gehrig for the franchise record for hits. Jeter’s motivation is never questioned, but the backdrop to his season will be his expiring contract and the kind of commitment the Yankees will make to him after 2010. Cano hit .207 with runners in scoring position, a statistical quirk that obscured his immense production. Only three AL players (Teixeira, Aaron Hill and Miguel Cabrera) had more total bases.

2010 New York Yankees Corners:

The top two sluggers on the Scott Boras All-Stars give the Yankees perhaps the most fearsome middle of the order in baseball. Teixeira at first and Alex Rodriguez at third earn about $50 million combined each season, but both were worth it in 2009. Teixeira made the pitchers happy with reliable defense (an incalculable upgrade over Jason Giambi) and led the league in total bases and extra-base hits. A chronically slow starter, Teixeira said he felt more comfortable and saw better pitches after Rodriguez returned in May. It took a while for Rodriguez to get going, but he sizzled in the second half and stayed hot through early November, adding the only thing he was missing from a sterling resume: a World Series title.

2010 New York Yankees Outfield:

The Yankees packaged pitching depth and their top outfield prospect, Austin Jackson, in a trade for ‘Curtis Granderson, whose speed, left-handed power, defense and reasonable contract (three more years, $25.75 million) made him appealing. Of course, Granderson also strikes out too much and struggles against left handers, trends the Yankees hope their hitting coach, Kevin Long, can reverse. With Brett Gardner and Granderson, the Yankees have speedy, athletic outfielders for left and center. Gardner is the Yankees’ fastest player in years and should have no problem covering the big left field at Yankee Stadium. As the No.9 hitter, he gets on base just enough to be an excellent hit-and-run option in front of Jeter, and with enough playing time, he could challenge for the AL lead in stolen bases. Right fielder Nick Swisher is decent in the field, if too aggressive at times, and his patience at the plate was a perfect fit in a Yankees lineup that prides itself on grinding down pitchers. He provides nice power from the bottom of the lineup; he hit 29 home runs and drove in 82 runs.

2010 New York Yankees Catching:

Jorge Posada played last season as the highest-paid catcher in baseball, and he turned in another stellar offensive season. His surgically repaired shoulder held up all year, and while he did not always mesh with Burnett, he remains much more of an asset than a liability. However, Posada turns 39 this season, and he is signed through 2011. The Yankees want to give him more games at DH, allowing them to use a superior defender Francisco Cervelli, while keeping Posada’s bat in the lineup.

2010 New York Yankees Bench:

The Yankees welcomed back Nick Johnson after a six-year hiatus. Johnson is pretty much the same player he was when he left in a trade to Montreal after the 2003 season: He gets on base and is prone to injury. Johnson’s .426 on-base percentage ranked third in the majors last year behind the league Most Valuable Players Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols. Expect his power numbers to improve at Yankee Stadium, a home run haven for left-handed hitters. The Yankees also want to use the DH spot as an occasional resting place for older veterans like Posada, Rodriguez, Jeter and Teixeira. The Yankees don’t utilize their bench much, but they loved what they saw last season from infielder Ramiro Pena, a slick fielding switch hitter, and catcher Cervelli. The Yankees will give Jamie Hoffmann, the No.1 pick in the Rule 5 draft, every chance to make the team as an extra outfielder. Hoffmann is a standout defensive player with decent power and speed.

New York Yankees 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the New York Yankees will finish 1st in the AL East Division .

New York Yankees 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 1st AL East 103
2008: 3rd AL East 89
2007: 2nd AL East 94
2006: 1st AL East 97
2005: T-1st AL East 95

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