Why the Yankees Are (Not?) Better

1. Jason Giambi is the Yankees first baseman. Giambi is one of baseball’s premier hitters who is at his peak. In the last three seasons, his batting average has increased from .315 to .333 to .342, while his home run totals have been 33, 43, and 38, for an average of 38 a season. Significantly, Giambi’s strikeout total was a career low of 83 last year.

2. Alfonso Soriano has had a full year’s experience at second base. He has unlimited potential and had a fine season in which he hit .268 with 18 home runs. Significantly, Soriano’s fielding improved as the year progressed and he showed more patience at the plate late in the year. Soriano should hit with more confidence and power and field more consistently this year.

3. Derek Jeter should bounce back from an off year. For almost any other player but Jeter, 2001 was an excellent season, but for the Yankees’ shortstop it was a season in which nagging injuries hampered his effectiveness. Just when he seemed healthy, he dived into the stands to catch a foul ball against the Athletics in Game 5 of the American League Division Series and was hurt again. Jeter was not at full strength in the World Series which affected his ability to perform like Derek Jeter.

4. Robin Ventura will bounce back after two off-seasons. Right field in Yankee Stadium is made for left handed hitters and Ventura can pull the ball. An excellent defensive third baseman, Ventura batted only .237 last season but significantly drew 88 walks, which means pitchers still respected his power.

5. The outfield will be stronger with the additions of Rondell White and John Vander Wal. White is an excellent right handed hitter with home run power while Vander Wal will play against right handed pitchers, pinch hit, and probably be a part-time designated hitter. Shane Spencer will be back and hopefully be healthy enough to play a full season after having only 283 official plate appearances in 2001.

6. The catching should be better defensively since Jorge Posada had surgery to repair a partially torn labrum and Alberto Castillo was added as a reserve. Posada is adequate defensively but Castillo is an excellent defensive player whose presence will allow Posada to be a designated hitter occasionally. Todd Greene can catch and play other positions, which gives the Yankees strength and flexibility.

7. No pitching staff has the depth of the Yankees. Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and Andy Pettitte head a starting staff that could include Sterling Hitchcock, David Wells, and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. Unless disaster strikes, four of the six should have enough left to produce excellent seasons. Steve Karsay and Mike Stanton are fine set up men, Ramiro Mendoza remains one of the most valuable “swing” men in baseball, and Mariano Rivera is Mariano Rivera. The pitching is solid.

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