WHY IT'S THE MAKING OF ANOTHER YANKEES CHAMPIONSHIP

You can look at what we have and make a very very good argument for a future World Championship Yankees club...2012 style. It's true. We have the tools and as far as I'm concerned, that combination of veterans and youngsters sprinkled in with the reliables and a Captain like Derek Jeter in the new Yankee Stadium... well, let’s just say it gives me goosebumps.

We have "the ace", the guy that literally can set the tone every 5^th day. CC Sabathia is better than anyone ever anticipated, and it’s happening in front of our eyes. We have our veteran closer in Mariano Rivera to shut the door when we need him but more importantly, we need to get to him, and we do with pitchers who can eat innings and a bullpen that will once again be touted as the best in major league baseball. I didn’t just make that up, they’ll live up to that hype. I have no doubt.

David Robertson by far is the hungriest of our bridge to Mo, and let me also state that I never had a “favorite” relief pitcher before Mo, but he set the tone and I find myself rooting hard for Robertson now because you can see it in his eyes... he never wants to lose. Any chance they’re selling Robertson shirts this year? If so, I’ll need to pick one up.

The Yankees are inviting 27 players to Spring Training and it’s a crew made up of guys as young as 18 that probably won’t have a shot, to older guys like Russell Branyan who has enormous power. Branyan needs to make the club first, after all he signed a minor league deal and received and invitation to Spring training, but assuming he does make it, he will be there strictly for home runs at Yankee stadium.

He, Andruw Jones, Bill Hall Manny Delcarmen, Dewayne Wise, Hideki Okajima… sure, the names seem random but there is talent there. It’s actually a very nice makeup and I applaud Cashman for his patience, his weeding through the fat to find the diamonds in the rough…hopefully at least.

Alex Rodriguez is supposed to be healthy and ready to do damage, and Yankeeland needs to get behind this guy, he’s overdue. Mark Teixeira needs to put the criticism behind him and mash the ball. He needs that average to rise dramatically or he will get the rep of being the next Jason Giambi, high home runs, low average. No one wants that for Tex, we want the guy to succeed.

Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson will hopefully continue their assault and put up sick numbers. Granderson is a new man ever since Kevin Long helped get his swing on track. The relationship with Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and he is tight knit and there will no doubt be pure dominance this season in GGS…speed and power, it’s the perfect combination. Hopefully Curtis and Brett will run more, speed helps a ball club dramatically.

Sure, it all looks great on paper, but now comes the hard part, winning 95 + games and getting to the playoffs again. Girardi needs to make smart choices this year. If he does that with Kevin Long and Larry Rothschild by his side, there is nothing this guy can’t do. In the end, it comes down to team, the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise ever… it’s my team and I cannot wait for the smell of fresh cut grass and the crack of the bat…baseball is just about here Ladies and Gentlemen… I can smell it.

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