2009 New York Yankees Predictions

Written by Jason Lowry

Yankees Baseball Those who follow the Yankees knew that there would be plenty of changes this offseason after the Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. The Yankees finished 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays and 6 games behind the Boston Red Sox, who took home the Wild Card spot. The Yankees were just 89-73, only the 2nd time since 1996 that they didn’t win at least 90 games. The Yankees got rid of Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, Wilson Betemit, and Ivan Rodriguez, only to bring in some of the biggest free agents this season in 1B Mark Teixeira, SP C.C. Sabathia, and SP A.J. Burnett. With an all-star studded lineup much from top to bottom, the only thing besides injuries that could hurt this team is how they deal with 3B Alex Rodriguez and the media frenzy that has followed ever since Rodriquez admitted he used steroids earlier in his career. With spring training already underway, here is a closer look at the 2009 New York Yankees and how I see them finishing in the AL East this season.

Offense:

You won’t find a better offense on paper, that is for sure. The Yankees have an all-star-caliber player at nearly every position. The infield looks amazing with A-Rod at 3BG, SS Derek Jeter, 2B Robinson Cano, and 1B Mark Teixeira. Rodriguez will get all the attention, and that could be a good thing for the Teixeira, as it will take the pressure off of him if he struggles early. Teixeira has hit 30 home runs and has had at least 100 RBI in each of the past 5 seasons, and is coming off the best single season batting average of his career at .308 between the Braves and Angels last season. Rodriguez is coming off a monster year where he hit 35 home runs with 103 RBI and a solid .302 average. Jeter is getting old, but still managed to hit .300 for the 4th straight season. Cano is just 26 this season, when many players really hit their prime, but he is coming off a mediocre season in which he hit just .271 with 14 home runs and 72 RBI. Jorge Posada will be back at catcher after playing in limited action last season, and the Yanks would love to get anything close to the .333 avg. with 20 home runs and 90 RBI he put up in 2007. Hideki Matsui only played in 93 games and the Yankees will likely use him mainly as a DH this season, but if healthy this guy can easily hit 20 home runs with 100 RBI. Johnny Damon is expect to be the left fielder, as his old legs are much better suited at a corner outfield spot. Damon had a solid 2008 hitting .303 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI. That likely leaves Xavier Nady in right field, with Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera splitting time in center field. Nady hit 25 home runs with 97 RBI and a solid .305 batting average last year, and could put up even better numbers if the lineup takes off as expected.

Pitching:

Sabathia is expected to jump to the front of the rotation, and rightfully so after he won the AL Cy Young in 2007 and pretty much carried the Brewers into the playoffs last season going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after being traded over from the Indians. There has to be some concern that Sabathia’s arm will be dead after the Brewers used and abused it towards the end of last season, but if he is anything like he has been the last two years, he could win 20 games easily. A.J. Burnett is coming off a career year after going 18-10 with the Blue Jays last season, but was just 10-8 the previous 2 seasons, and he will likely be the No.3 starter for the Yanks. Chien-Ming Wang will be the No.2 starter, and this is a guy that won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007. Hampered by injuries, Wang was only able to go 8-2 in 15 starts in 2008. Joba Chamberlain is expected to make the full time switch to starter this season, and there is ton of upside for a 23-year-old stud that went 4-3 with 2.60 ERA in 42 appearances, but only made 12 starts. The team also brought back Andy Pettitte, who was 14-14, and should be a great No.5 starter for this team. The bullpen is secured by the long time veteran Mariano Rivera, but getting the ball to him will be crucial, as the leading set-up man is Damaso Marte, who had a 4.02 ERA in 72 appearances last season. The Yankees will also need big years out of Edwar Ramirez and Jonathan Albaladejo in the 7th and 8th innings. If the offense lives up to hype like it easily could, the Yankees starters are going to have a ton of wins, and the Yankees could push for the MLB record for wins if they so choose to go after that title.

Prediction: 1st in AL Central

It would be crazy to not pencil this team into the front of this division, as they have way too much talent to no be here. Though the Ynkas have to get by both the Rays and Red Sox to win the division, I think this is going to be one heck of a season in the Yankees’ brand new ballpark.

Archived Season Previews:

2010
2008

Individual MLB Team Previews:

American League
AL West	AL Central	AL East
Rangers Predictions	Tigers Predictions	Red Sox Predictions
A’s Predictions	White Sox Predictions	Yankees Predictions
Angels Predictions	Twins Predictions	Rays Predictions
Mariners Predictions	Royals Predictions	Blue Jays Predictions
	Indians Predictions	Orioles Predictions
National League
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Diamondbacks Predictions	Pirates Predictions	Nationals Predictions
	Astros Predictions

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