Well, let me share some of my thoughts on the Yankees this season.
What I hope happens:
- Jeter comes back and hits well and doesn't struggle too much in field.
- Ellsbury produces as he is expected.
- Sabathia pitches effectively with less speed on his fastball.
- Teixeira comes back from his injury and actually hits better than .250
- Soriano K's only twice each game, homering every now and then.
- Tanaka is as good as advertised and dominates from the start.
- Nunez stays in Triple A or is traded for someone, or something. At this point, a pack of baseball cards is enough.
- The young bullpen holds its own, Robertson shuts the door like Mariano, Betances turns into a shutdown reliever in the 8th inning (which is where Phil Hughes possibly belonged), and Thornton doesn't suck too bad.
What will probably happen:
- Jeter will struggle, because let's face it he is 39 and playing shortsop, and will probably spend time on the DL at some point.
- Ellsbury will probably spend time on the DL at some point.
- Sabathia will be good at times and at others will struggle because he will be for better or worse, pitching with a different body and that kind of change takes time and is not always successful. He may spend time on the DL at some point.
- Teixeira will struggle coming back from injury and will hit into the shift way too many times, and will probably spend time on the DL at some point.
- Soriano will K way more often than we'd like, while hitting the occasional home run.
- Tanaka will be good. He wil also be facing better hitters and run into more trouble than ever before. Growing pains ahead.
- Nunez plays way way more than he should.
- The young bullpen will work at times, then it won't and the Yankees go on a spending spree for overpriced and over the hill relievers.
- Brian Roberts will probably spend time on the DL at some point.
So, that's it.