THE YANKEES HAVE WHAT IT TAKES IN 2013

We're all familiar with the expression "things look good on paper." I'm sure you heard that a million times. Well, in this case what seems to be on the Yankees paper may not seem so bad!  I know to many out there we look like we are headed down a long road come Monday when we open the 2013 season against Boston Red Sox. They don't look that good either, but that's another post for another day. 

The question becomes... Can the Yankees make the playoffs? The truth is... it's very possible. Yes, I say that knowingly we are starting the season with very important players to the line up that are on the DL.  But, this is not the time to count out our Boys... far from it folks. It's something we should be used to every year. Think about it... We weren't supposed to win the division last year either!  The Red Sox were favored to win the AL East and more, but we all know how that went.

We can go back to 1996 too. We had no shot then, but we proved the experts wrong that year. I remember the famous final catch by Charlie Hayes that sealed the deal. Truth be told, you can't predict baseball. No team has ever been handed the commissioner's trophy for making blockbuster moves in the off-season. That's a valid point... remember that.  If they did, there would be a motorcade in Toronto right now.  It's like that old cliche, "It's why you play the games." It's true and it's all 162 of them to be exact.  It's not going to be the last time that so-called "baseball experts" have the Yankees pinned to dwell the cellar in the standings. Another good point... and very true.

The Manager: We need to remember who commandeers the ship, the skipper Joe Girardi. I know, some can be objective to his managerial style. I heard it all. The binder remarks, the "over managing" strategy.  But are we forgetting that with the exception of 2008, we have made the postseason every year since. 2009. We have won our 27th title. In 2010 and 2012, we got as far as the ALCS under his tenure. Look, he doesn't have it easy when it comes to running this team, but it's my opinion that he did a heck of a job last year, and while he faces the same challenges now, he will find a way to hold this team together all the way through it. It's what good managers do. He has been a big part of the Yankees playoff hopes all this time, but hey, we only notice what the 9 players on the field are doing. Right?

The Pitching: Now comes the pitching part. I think our pitching is somewhat overlooked in all this. Why? Simple...because we are known as the "Bronx Bombers", not the "Bronx Chuckers". Our rotation isn't in bad shape. I feel confident with the ball being handed to CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Ivan Nova and David Phelps. We've seen what they can do. They give us quality starts and keep us in games and do their best maintaining damage control. Same with the pen. Remember the bridge to Mariano that was Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson? Yeah, that seems so long ago, but we've always maintained the bridge and have always been successful.  Remember Joba Chamberlain, DRob and Rafael Soriano?  My point is, our bullpen can be solid, and I"ll will take my chances.

The Offense: Our offense is where we can really get concerned. In 2012, the Yankees hit a total of 245 home runs. Curtis Granderson was responsible for 43 of them. Mark Teixeira 24, and Alex Rodriguez with 18. With the 3 of them on the DL, you would think the strategy changes greatly for us to score runs in 2013. You're right, it does. To do that the "small ball" game has to come into play and it has to work! We all saw that there was an issue with RISP last year. We hope to see that at least fixed this year. Sure, we won 95 games, but we would have seen 100 + wins if there were less "ducks on the pond."  I know I'm crossing my fingers, but the line up going into this season isn't what we're normally used to. You know what? It doesn't matter, we'll find a way and I still have faith in my team. They will do what they can to put runs on the board.

The Division: It's clear that the Yankees play in the toughest division in all of baseball. Looking back to the off season, knowing the moves Toronto made, it won't be easy.  But, we've learned that anything can happen in baseball. Remember the Phillies getting Cliff Lee in 2011? The media said it was over, the Phillies were the best in baseball.  Wasn't true. It was the St Louis Cardinals that year.

I look at the run Baltimore had last year. Buck Showalter firing up his guys to win with a group of misfits...and it worked.  There's Tampa Bay, who has the pitching with David Price as the ace of the rotation and Fernando Rodney in the closer spot.  But can they be the offensive threat they used to be? Maybe... or maybe not.

Boston, much like New York, made small moves.  They picked up Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, and Ryan Dempster. They come into 2013 with many question marks as well. But with newly added manager John Farrell, a guy very well-liked in Boston, this could be a guy who can help patch up cracks in their roster. To me, the division is up for grabs, but I'll put money on our guys! I have confidence.

So, with everything I've written, the question still remains. Can the Yankees make the playoffs in 2013? Of course they can.  We all start 0-0 on April 1st, and I know this team can come together to be a contender much like any other team in the league!  We've been down this road before and many times we've seen this ball club overcome adversity. 

Guys like Kevin Youkilis, Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, Brennan Boesch have a chance to be a big part of it. And you know what? I really don't think they want to waste that opportunity, do you?

Opening Day is tomorrow... Let's get ready to PLAY BALL!

-- Rudy Laurens, BYB Writer
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