2k13: New York Yankees

[revo]

Joba said today that he'd like to be a starter again, and Joe Girardi said he'd also love to catch again. Then Cashman chimed in that they needed another OFer, so maybe Joba would like to consider that also. Ouch.

[Judge Jude]

No power? No problem. Ichiro may feel like hitting 25 bombs this year....

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Klapisch_Could_the_Yanks_get_more_power_from_Ichiro_Suzuki.html

[Hornsby]

Cashman said that Nunez wouldn't be an OF fill-in because "I don’t think he profiles as an outfielder with the bat,"...and Brett Gardners 15 career homers do?

[B-Fly]

I would not be shocked to see the Yanks finish last in the division this year. Thank goodness we at least share a division with the Red Sox.

[revo]

Mark Teixeira out "at least two weeks" as he "heard a pop" in his wrist. Brain Cashman, who just mangled his ankle, says he is "very concerned." Uh oh......

[revo]

How much of a power outage will the Yanks have this season? To wit: the Yanks had 10 players who hit 14+ HRs in 2012. Only four of those players remain on the 2013 roster, but two of those are significantly injured (Granderson & ARod) and one of the other two is a soon to be 39-year old SS with a major ankle injury who nearly equaled his HR output from the previous two seasons combined.

In the stead of those hitters leaving, the Yanks replaced them with:
- Kevin Youkilis, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces ARod, who has averaged 22 HRs the last 3 seasons) : -5 HRs
- Travis Hafner, who has averaged 12 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Chavez/AJones, who combined for 30 HRs last season): -15-18 HRs
- Ichiro Suzuki, who has averaged 6 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Swisher, who has averaged 26 HRs the last 3 seasons): -20 HRs
- Chris Stewart/Francisco Cervelli, who have 9 combined career HRs in 800 career ABs (replaces Martin, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons): -15 HRs
- Brett Gardner, who has averaged around 7 HRs in a full season (replaces Ibanez, who has averaged 18 HRs the last 3 seasons): -11 HRs

Youk & Hafner have missed significant time in each of the last three seasons, so the fill-ins are Eduardo Nunez (averages around 7 HRs in a full season) and Juan Rivera (3 yr full season average :12 HRs).

And Grandy (average 42 HRs last two seasons) is hurt with an injury that may sap some power when he returns, and now Tex is hurt, one year after he missed 40 games with injuries.

It's very possible that the Yankees do not have a single player with 30+ HRs in 2013, which is remarkable.

The HR damage could be significant if Grandy and Tex do not contribute as they were expected to in January. The Yanks led MLB with 243 HRs in 2012, and one can easily foresee a dropoff of 60-80 HRs from this raggedy crew. Teams that hit 170-180 HRs averaged almost 100 Runs less than the Yankees scored in 2012, a drop of more than 0.5 Runs/Game. Yowza.

[BigJonEmpire]

How much of a power outage will the Yanks have this season? To wit: the Yanks had 10 players who hit 14+ HRs in 2012. Only four of those players remain on the 2013 roster, but two of those are significantly injured (Granderson & ARod) and one of the other two is a soon to be 39-year old SS with a major ankle injury who nearly equaled his HR output from the previous two seasons combined.

In the stead of those hitters leaving, the Yanks replaced them with:
- Kevin Youkilis, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces ARod, who has averaged 22 HRs the last 3 seasons) : -5 HRs
- Travis Hafner, who has averaged 12 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Chavez/AJones, who combined for 30 HRs last season): -15-18 HRs
- Ichiro Suzuki, who has averaged 6 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Swisher, who has averaged 26 HRs the last 3 seasons): -20 HRs
- Chris Stewart/Francisco Cervelli, who have 9 combined career HRs in 800 career ABs (replaces Martin, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons): -15 HRs
- Brett Gardner, who has averaged around 7 HRs in a full season (replaces Ibanez, who has averaged 18 HRs the last 3 seasons): -11 HRs

Youk & Hafner have missed significant time in each of the last three seasons, so the fill-ins are Eduardo Nunez (averages around 7 HRs in a full season) and Juan Rivera (3 yr full season average :12 HRs).

And Grandy (average 42 HRs last two seasons) is hurt with an injury that may sap some power when he returns, and now Tex is hurt, one year after he missed 40 games with injuries.

It's very possible that the Yankees do not have a single player with 30+ HRs in 2013, which is remarkable.

The HR damage could be significant if Grandy and Tex do not contribute as they were expected to in January. The Yanks led MLB with 243 HRs in 2012, and one can easily foresee a dropoff of 60-80 HRs from this raggedy crew. Teams that hit 170-180 HRs averaged almost 100 Runs less than the Yankees scored in 2012, a drop of more than 0.5 Runs/Game. Yowza.

Don't worry, Revo. The Yankees will be fine. They're gonna lead the league in stolen bases instead. Go Brisk Bronx Bombers!

[joncarlos]

Chavez/Jones averaged about a .325 OBP between them. Pronk had a .346 last year in his worst season since 2008.

Ibanez had a .308 OBP last year, Gardner was at .369 in 2011 for his worst mark in 3 years.

Youk had a .336 OBP last year (.346 in his resurgent 2nd half in CHW) and A-Rod was at .353.

Granted, Swish had a .364 OBP *and* more power than Ichiro, who had a .340 OBP last year for the Yankees. So that's a loss. But I don't think losing those guys who can't get on base to save their lives hurts as much as you think.

Just call it "no money ball"

[revo]

Chavez/Jones averaged about a .325 OBP between them. Pronk had a .346 last year in his worst season since 2008.

Ibanez had a .308 OBP last year, Gardner was at .369 in 2011 for his worst mark in 3 years.

Youk had a .336 OBP last year (.346 in his resurgent 2nd half in CHW) and A-Rod was at .353.

Granted, Swish had a .364 OBP *and* more power than Ichiro, who had a .340 OBP last year for the Yankees. So that's a loss. But I don't think losing those guys who can't get on base to save their lives hurts as much as you think.

Just call it "no money ball"

While Ichiro was resurgent in his NYY stint, his full-season OBPs in 2011 & 2012 are very consistent: .310 & .307.

Hafner, Youk & Gardy also missed 280 games combined between them last season, so you can't get on base if you're on the DL. Realistically, Hafner is a lock to miss 60-70 games and Youk 30-40. Gardner, who knows. And lurking as backups are more ancient mariners, Juan Rivera and Matt Diaz.

Would YOU want to bank your fantasy season on Hafner, Youkilis & Gardner??

[TopChuckie]

How much of a power outage will the Yanks have this season? To wit: the Yanks had 10 players who hit 14+ HRs in 2012. Only four of those players remain on the 2013 roster, but two of those are significantly injured (Granderson & ARod) and one of the other two is a soon to be 39-year old SS with a major ankle injury who nearly equaled his HR output from the previous two seasons combined.

In the stead of those hitters leaving, the Yanks replaced them with:
- Kevin Youkilis, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces ARod, who has averaged 22 HRs the last 3 seasons) : -5 HRs
- Travis Hafner, who has averaged 12 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Chavez/AJones, who combined for 30 HRs last season): -15-18 HRs
- Ichiro Suzuki, who has averaged 6 HRs the last 3 seasons (replaces Swisher, who has averaged 26 HRs the last 3 seasons): -20 HRs
- Chris Stewart/Francisco Cervelli, who have 9 combined career HRs in 800 career ABs (replaces Martin, who has averaged 17 HRs the last 3 seasons): -15 HRs
- Brett Gardner, who has averaged around 7 HRs in a full season (replaces Ibanez, who has averaged 18 HRs the last 3 seasons): -11 HRs

Youk & Hafner have missed significant time in each of the last three seasons, so the fill-ins are Eduardo Nunez (averages around 7 HRs in a full season) and Juan Rivera (3 yr full season average :12 HRs).

And Grandy (average 42 HRs last two seasons) is hurt with an injury that may sap some power when he returns, and now Tex is hurt, one year after he missed 40 games with injuries.

It's very possible that the Yankees do not have a single player with 30+ HRs in 2013, which is remarkable.

The HR damage could be significant if Grandy and Tex do not contribute as they were expected to in January. The Yanks led MLB with 243 HRs in 2012, and one can easily foresee a dropoff of 60-80 HRs from this raggedy crew. Teams that hit 170-180 HRs averaged almost 100 Runs less than the Yankees scored in 2012, a drop of more than 0.5 Runs/Game. Yowza.

This is not to argue the Yanks HR's won't be down this year, but one thing to consider; all those HR numbers leaving the Yankees are also leaving Yankee Stadium, and all those lesser HR numbers coming to the Yankees are also coming to Yankee Stadium. Dismissing health factors for the moment, I'm pretty sure all the newcomers numbers will go up, and all the guys leaving will see a dip in their numbers.

[Bodhizefa]

Everyone always gets up in arms about pre-season or early season injuries, and yet teams often do just fine in the one to two months of time they have to fill in for the injured star player(s). I'm certainly not counting the Yankees out by any means -- especially not for the 2nd wild card slot. I already had Tampa Bay as the slight favorite over Toronto and New York, but I don't think the Yanks fall out of it just because of these two injuries. Bad things are probably going to happen to the Rays and the Blue Jays as well, and I think it will likely even out a bit more than most want to admit by the time the season is done.

Yes, the Yankees are worse off today than they were a couple weeks ago. But it's not time to go hogwild with fear if you're a Yankees fan. They're going to be in the hunt in all likelihood, and I'd bet Cashman makes a savvy move or two by July to help them out as well.

[revo]

This is not to argue the Yanks HR's won't be down this year, but one thing to consider; all those HR numbers leaving the Yankees are also leaving Yankee Stadium, and all those lesser HR numbers coming to the Yankees are also coming to Yankee Stadium. Dismissing health factors for the moment, I'm pretty sure all the newcomers numbers will go up, and all the guys leaving will see a dip in their numbers.

True, but those guys are still named Hafner and Youk, and you can't hit HRs on the DL. And not sure we should expect a power spike out of Ichiro because he's now full-time in Yankee Stadium.

And that post was written before Tex was declared out until June, essentially.

Like Bodz said, I'd never count the Yankees out. But this isn't 2003 anymore, and the AL as a whole (and AL East, more specifically), aren't a bunch of pushovers any longer. If this was then, we'd fear them bringing in some other team's overpriced All-Star as a band-aid, but it seems those days are gone. I no longer fear the Yanks' wallet, and I certainly don't fear their farm system.

[Stephen]

If this was then, we'd fear them bringing in some other team's overpriced All-Star as a band-aid

Hi Brian, this is Jerry Dipoto. Sorry to hear about your accident. Listen, I've seen you're having some injury problems and I wanted to remind you that we have a former All-Star named Vernon Wel....

but it seems those days are gone.

::click::

Damn.

[Erik]

Rivera to officially announce that this year is his last, not that we should be surprised.'

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera-set-to-announce-retirement-2013-season-will-be-his-last-030713

[Erik]

Everyone always gets up in arms about pre-season or early season injuries, and yet teams often do just fine in the one to two months of time they have to fill in for the injured star player(s).

Yep, this was the case for the 2010 and 2011 Phillies. It was not the case for the 2012 edition, but awful bullpen performance had a lot to do with that as well.