HOW THE YANKEES STACK UP: STARTING ROTATION

We've examined the following here at BYB on how the Yankees will stack up in 2013: Catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, Shortstop, 3rd base, Left field, Centerfield and Right field.  Now, we look at the Starting Rotation...

Starting Rotation

The New York Yankees starters ranked sixth in the American League last season with a 4.04 ERA.  Their 71 wins was second to the Texas Rangers  (72) and their total innings pitched (1001.1) was behind only the Mariners (1002.2).

Overall one could say it was a fairly successful campaign for the starting five, but a closer look reveals a disturbing issue that needs to be addressed in 2013. 

Namely, the starters need to limit the number of long balls they allow.  In 2012 they were the worst in Major League Baseball yielding 143 round-trippers.   They were led by Phil Hughes (35 HR allowed) and Ivan Nova (28), and four of the five starters gave up 20 or more HR.  Even part-time starter Freddy Garcia teed up 18 wall-clearing shots for opposing batters.  In the post-season things weren’t much better as opponents clubbed 6 HR off starting pitchers in 9 games.

Where Manager Joe Girardi was depending upon his offense to provide game-turning long balls, instead his starters were handing them out to opponents like candy at a parade.

There is hope.

Ace CC Sabathia had what many considered to be an “off” year.  Even so, he won 15 games and posted a very respectable 3.38 ERA.  In his three previous seasons as a Yankee, Sabathia averaged 19 wins and a 3.18 ERA - and he had never allowed more than 20 HRs in a season (he gave up 22 in 2012).  Fans should expect a return to form for the southpaw that anchors the rotation.

Hiroki Kuroda was arguably the Yankees best pitcher in 2012.  He led the team in starts, innings pitched and tied for the most wins with Phil Hughes (16).  In July and August of last season, when the team suffered injuries to both Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, Kuroda had a 2.97 ERA and a microscopic 0.95 WHIP over 11 starts.  When the team needed someone to depend on, Hiroki stepped up.  At 38 years old the question will be whether he can maintain the level of play he established in 2012.  Given his calm demeanor, the veteran pitcher should turn in another solid year for our “Bombers”.

Andy Pettitte will have a full off season of preparation for the coming year and that should mean continued success for our beloved left hander.  Last season he led the rotation with a stellar 2.87 ERA but missed significant time (more than 2 months) with an ankle fracture the result of a line drive in a game against the Cleveland Indians.  At 40 years old his days with the Yankees certainly are numbered but given what he showed last season in leading the starters in WHIP (1.14) and holding opponents to a .232 batting average, one has to believe there is still something in the tank.

In spite of the home runs he allowed, Phil Hughes had a bounce-back year in 2012.  Over 191-plus innings pitched he threw to a 4.19 ERA and rediscovered the fastball many thought he had lost.  The 26-year old (yes, that’s right, he’s still only 26) was signed to a one year $7.15 million contract and will have plenty of incentive to raise the level of his game while reducing the number of home runs he allows.  He is solidly entrenched as the Yankees fourth starter.

The fifth spot in the rotation will be up for grabs during spring training.  The two primary competitors for the job are a pair of 26-year olds – Ivan Nova and David Phelps.

If last season was used to choose between them, Phelps would already have been named to the role.  During the year he held a 3.34 ERA and a respectable 1.19 WHIP (as a starter he was 2 – 2 with a 3.77 ERA).  In 99 1/3 innings, he struck out 96 and walked 38.  When the fifth spot was in turmoil last season, Phelps settled into the role and gave it stability.

Two seasons ago Ivan Nova looked like the right handed version of CC Sabathia.  As a 24-year old he went 16 – 4 with a 3.70 ERA.  Going into 2012, his spot in the rotation was more certain than that of Phil Hughes.

Oh what a difference a year makes.  Last year was a nightmare for the young hurler as he went 12 – 8 with a 5.02 ERA and gave up 194 hits, 56 walks and 28 home runs in a little over 170 innings pitched.  Many called for his demotion to the minor leagues and he wasn’t called upon at all in the post season. 

Nova enters 2013 with a renewed determination to reclaim a spot in the rotation and is one of a small group of players already working out at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa.  If he can return to his 2011 form, fans can once again look forward to seeing him take the mound every fifth day in the Bronx.

Here’s what the rest of the AL East will offer in the form of rotations:

Toronto Blue Jays: On paper the starting five of RA Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero certainly looks impressive.  Some things to keep in mind:  How will Dickey handle facing American League lineups every time he steps on the mound (the Yankees were quite successful in the game they faced him)?  Will Josh Johnson manage to stay healthy all season – he’s only pitched more than 200 innings once in his career.  33-year old Mark Buehrle has been the closest thing to a punching bag for the Yankees that they can get.  In his career he is 1 – 5 with a 6.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and has allowed 10 HR verses New York.  Morrow and Romero are both excellent young pitchers to bring up the back end.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles starters ranked ninth in the AL last season with a 4.42 ERA and allowed the third most home runs (136).  This is a young rotation whose “senior” man is 31-year old Jason Hammel.  He is followed by 28-year old Wei-Yin Chen, 25-year old Chris Tillman, 29-year old Miguel Gonzalez, and 26-year old Brian Matusz.  They combined to go 5 – 4 with a 4.66 ERA against the Yankees (Gonzalez alone was 2 – 0 with a 2.63 ERA).  It is a rotation on the upswing and should keep Baltimore in contention for years to come.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays will once again field a strong rotation.  2012 Cy Young award winner David Price continues to only get better, and he is followed by Jeremy Hellickson (10 wins, 3.10 ERA), Matt Moore (11 wins, 3.81 ERA), Alex Cobb (11 wins, 4.03 ERA), and Jeff Niemann (3.08 ERA in 8 starts last year).  They are young (average age is 26.8) and last season led the American League in ERA (3.34) and strikeouts (900).  Frankly, this rotation is the one the rest of the division must keep up with.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox rotation is a mixed bag of talent, and it is anyone’s guess as to how it all will turn out.  Jon Lester heads up the starting five and comes off a disappointing 2012 season in which he was 8 – 14 with a career-high 4.82 ERA.  In 2010 Clay Buchholz was 17 – 7 with a 2.33 ERA.  He is 17 – 11 with a 4.02 ERA in the two years since.  26-year old southpaw Felix Doubront shows great promise (11 wins in 2012).  35-year old chicken and beer loving, meatball serving John Lackey will return to the rotation for the first time since 2011 and fans shouldn’t expect much but plenty of souvenirs beyond the outfield wall when he takes the mound.  36-year old Ryan Dempster was signed in the off season by the Red Sox and could prove to be a solid part of the rotation if he can handle the switch to the American League (after an entire career spent in the NL).

Here’s how we see the rotations of the AL East stacking up:

1. Tampa Bay: Young and already successful.  They are scary-good.
2. Baltimore: I just have a feeling that this team is on the rise. 
3. New York: A Sabathia bounce-back, healthy Pettitte for a full season, and the competition for the fifth spot will make this an under-the-radar strength for the Yankees.
4. Toronto: A very high-risk, high –reward situation for the Blue Jays.  If all pitch to what their “book value” is, this team will be in the post season.  This team has an “all or nothing” feel to it.
5. Boston: Lester should bounce back, Buchholtz is anyone’s guess, Doubront will improve, Lackey is a waste of money and Dempster could be a hidden gem.  I still see them fifth.

What do you think?  Let us know!


 
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

 

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IT'S GETTING LATE EARLY

It has almost become a cliché at this point. The Yankees HAVE to win every game. Nobody thinks it is acceptable to have to play a one-game playoff for the wild card spot. With only five games to go, the Yankees could ill afford to lose a game on blown opportunities, yet, it was exactly what happened.

Things looked hopeful at the start, as the Yankee offense came out firing. Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki hit back-to-back singles and Alex Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Robinson Cano got a sacrifice fly for the first run. After a Nick Swisher single re-loaded the bases, Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for the second run. For the second straight game, the Yankees gave their starter a 2-0 lead before they took the ball.

Andy Pettitte had a good performance, but he did not look as good as he did in his last two starts. We knew that Andy Pettitte would not stay perfect forever. So when he gave up that home run to Rajai Davis, allowing his first run since returning from the DL, we realized that Andy is human. Still, he was able to keep things manageable and the score close.

In the top of the third, the Yankees continued to take advantage of Ricky Romero's ineffectiveness. Alex Rodriguez led off with a walk, Robinson Cano reached on an infield single, and Nick Swisher hit a hard shot off Hechavarria's glove for a single. With the bases loaded, the Yankees failed to take advantage. They would end up regretting it. Curtis Granderson popped out, Andruw Jones struck out, and Eduardo Nunez lined out to the second baseman. To Nunez' credit, that hit should have brought in a couple of runs, but Hechavarria made an excellent grab to catch the liner.

Joba Chamberlain came in to relieve Andy Pettitte with two outs and men on first and third in the bottom of the sixth. He dodged a bullet, thanks to the continued bad base running by Toronto. Adeiny Hechavarria hit one to the wall for a double and gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. However, Yan Gomes strayed too far from third base, and was thrown out on a laser from Nick Swisher, killing the momentum for the Jays. Joba came out for the seventh and struck out the side, which included the first putout of Rajai Davis in three days.

Alex Rodriguez' struggles showed in today's game. ARod had not driven in a run in 9 games. In the first, he actually showed bunt with men on first and second. We're not sure if he actually intended to bunt, but it may have shown his frustration in trying to bring runners in. When the game ended, his streak would stand at 10 games without an RBI. Still, he showed some good discipline and focus at the plate, as he walked in his first two plate appearances. He also gets an honorable mention for snagging a line drive in the 8th inning that he turned into a double play, ending a threat.

On a side note, Yunel Escobar is showing an incredible lack of desire to play. There was the shot from Robinson Cano in the fifth that he just did not pick up. There were a couple of potential double plays that he just did not bother to throw to first. We know it's September, and they're not playing for anything, and being booed by the home crowd on his return from suspension couldn't have helped. Still, you would think his own personal pride would make him want to do his best.

The silver lining is hard to find, but here it is. In his third start since the DL, Andy Pettitte showed that he is still on track to play a key role in the Yankees post-season rotation. If the Yankees lose the division, he is in line to start the wild card elimination game. He threw 94 pitches over 5 2/3 innings, struck out four, and gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks.

The fact that the Yankees cannot score with runners in scoring position is killing this team. They were 2 for 11 with RISP. Nick Swisher was 2 for 2, and the rest of the team was 0 for 9. They left 10 men on base - 5 of them in scoring position. Four times an inning ended with men in scoring position. Losing such important games in this fashion is something we may look back on and say "what if" for the entire winter. They have four games to turn this around, and then they have to keep it going through October. Let's hope they do.

Final Score:  Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2

Finally, I am sure Casey will have a harsh commentary about the way the Yankees have been playing and their lack of drive, especially when there are runners in scoring position.  Look for it, I can almost guarantee it.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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STEADY FREDDY & HOT YANKEE BATS SINK JAYS

Good timely hitting, good pitching, and a lot of bad fielding by the Blue Jays gave Yankee fans a fun night of baseball. Freddy Garcia was his reliable Steady Freddy self, as he held the Blue Jays to two runs over six strong innings. Kelly Johnson was his primary nemesis tonight, as he reached Freddy for a home run in the second and an RBI double in the fourth.

Defensive mishaps by the Blue Jays opened the door wide for the some Yankee run production. In the second, Jeff Mathis threw it away trying to get Robinson Cano at third, allowing him to score. Two batters later, a bad throw to first on what should have been a double play allowed Andruw Jones to score. The next inning, a failure to cover second by the shifted infield turned a routine double play into a ground out and allowed Nick Swisher to take second. He scored on the next play, a base hit by Cano. Even that play featured another defensive miscue, as Ricky Romero failed to back up the catcher on the throw home, allowing Cano to take second.

Ricky Romero looked very shaky to start the game. He couldn't find home plate to save his life, falling behind in the count on most hitters in the first 3 innings. However, he settled down, and was able to hold the Yankees to three runs in the first seven innings.

The Yankees put another crooked number up in the top of the eighth upon the entry of reliever Steve Delabar. Mark Teixeira welcomed him to the game with a bomb over the right field wall for his 22nd home run of the season. Then the Yankees started a 2-out rally in the same inning when Jayson Nix got a base hit. Another miscue by the Blue Jays followed, as a soft floater by Russell Martin in the top of eighth should have been caught by second baseman Kelly Johnson.  Instead, it hit him in the head and was dropped allowing NIx to take third and Martin motored into second. Then Ichiro Suzuki, who is quickly turning into Mr. Clutch, came through for a base hit scoring both base runners.

Ichiro Suzuki has been on an incredible run, reaching base the last 9 times he has been at the plate with men in scoring position. Given how poor his 2012 RISP numbers were when he joined the team, this is very good news for the Yankees. Don't forget BYB's piece when Ichiro came to New York, read TRUST ME: WITH ICHIRO, YANKS HAVE THE EYE OF THE TIGER.

Joba Chamberlain came in for one batter - Anthony Gose - in the top of the eighth. Gose stole second, stole third, and then scored on a grounder to Derek Jeter. It was his fourth appearance on the season, and he has yet to make an appearance where he retires the side, with hitters going . 421 against him so far. He's still getting his legs under him, but it won't be long before we start expressing some concern about him.

Another rally in the top of the 9th was started by a Derek Jeter single. Nick Swisher doubled him in for the 7th run. After Cano was intentionally walked, Raul Ibanez got a pinch-hit RBI single. David Carpenter hit Russell Martin with a pitch to load the bases. Toronto's fielding gremlins showed up again as Rajai Davis lost an Ichiro fly ball, allowing two more runs to score.

Final Score: Yankees 10-Blue Jays 4

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon



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HOT & STICKY BUT THE YANKEES SWEEP THE BLUE JAYS

America's corn crop may be wilting under the oppressive heat and drought that is gripping our country this summer, but not the New York Yankees.  In 94 degree heat and skyrocketing humidity, along with field temperatures that reached as high as 122 degrees, the Yankees thrived. Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and company were unfazed by the difficult conditions.

Kuroda pitched around an Alex Rodriguez two base error in the first; survived a hit up the middle in the second off the bat of Kelly Johnson, that Robinson Cano knocked down but could not pick up, by striking out the side; and he survived a JP Arencibia line drive that Dewayne Wise misplayed into a double to start the fifth inning. 

The fifth looked like a bonafide Blue Jays threat, but a diving catch in left by Andruw Jones, combined with a nice grab of a foul pop at first base by Mark Teixeira off the bat of Rajai Davis, and a 4-3 ground out by Omar Vizquel to end the inning, resulted in no runs for the Blue Jays.  Kuroda breezed through the sixth, encountered some difficulty in the seventh but stranded two runners without allowing a run.

Then the rain finally arrived at Yankee Stadium.  A 51 minute lightning delay to begin the game resulted in a late start to the day's festivities, then heavy rain hit the Stadium in the bottom of the seventh inning.  The Yankees were leading 6-0 at the time. The offense had started the day quickly thanks to a double by Derek Jeter to open the Yankee half of the first, followed by an RBI single to right by Nick Swisher and a two-run HR off the bat of Mark Teixeira. 

Ten pitches into the game and Jays starter Ricky Romero was in trouble.  The Yankees were able to add another run in that inning with a double off the bat of Cano and an RBI single to right from Andruw Jones.  Cano's hit extended his hit streak to 21 games, the longest of his career.

The Yankees added single runs in the 4th and 6th innings respectively.  Jayson Nix and Dewayne Wise were in the middle of both rallies.  Nix scored on an RBI single by Wise in the fourth inning following his one out double to center field.  In the sixth, Nix singled to left and scored again on yet another RBI single by Wise, this time to center field.  These two runs brought the Yankee lead to 6-0 and then the rain delay took over as fans scurried for cover in the downpour.

After an extended delay, the game was called and the Yankees came away with a 6-0 win and a three game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays!

Game notes: 

• Alex Rodriguez looks like he is experiencing some throwing problems with an errant throw in the first for the E5, another wide throw in the 5th inning off a Brett Lawrie ground ball that was saved by a great catch on Teixeira's end, and a high throw to second that Cano saved.  Alex also bobbled a ground ball off the bat of Yunel Escobar in the sixth.  The Blue Jays suffered their second serious injury in two days when Brett Lawrie dove into the third base camera well trying to make a play on a foul ball off the bat of Teixeira.  He injured his right calf/leg.  
• This year Omar Vizquel became the oldest man in major league baseball history to start a game at shortstop; he is 45 years old.  
• Russell Martin is hitting .182 after 220 at bats.  The worst average in MLB history by a catcher with a minimum of 400 at bats in a season is currently .191 by Billy Sullivan of the Chicago White Sox in 1908.     
• David Phelps was recalled and DJ Mitchell was sent back down for their West Coast Road Trip.

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer




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THE YANKEES GUIDE TO THE AL EAST

It’s almost time again, Opening Day is around the corner and I can hardly wait! The Yankees made a lot of moves during the off season, and now it is time to see Cashman’s plan put into motion. The AL East is always a tough division, which also makes it so exciting to watch every year. You can find it all here from fierce rivalries to some of the best hitters in the game. This year will be no different, the Yankees aren't the only one to make changes and it is about to get interesting….so let’s break out the scouting report!

Baltimore Orioles

(In Photo: Brian Matusz)
Buck Showalter has a very young team that has a lot of potential but depends heavily on a few key players. Last year, the Orioles young and promising pitching staff did not pan out as they had hoped. This year, Brian Matusz is likely headed back to AAA and and Jake Arrieta is looking for a bounce back year after having shoulder surgery. Showalter has already named Arrieta as his opening day starter, so all eyes are on him. The Orioles are also going to count on Mark Reynolds to make more contact with the ball than he does with thin air since the Orioles do not have a lineup rich in offense. Another key to the offense will be Brian Roberts. Although he is currently on the disabled list with a concussion, he is the best lead-off hitter they have, and if his bat is out of the lineup it is noticeable. Matt Wieters is also crucial to the lineup, and while he is pretty solid defensively he has a hard time batting from the left side. The Orioles are still going through some growing pains, but they have a lot of potential.

Toronto Blue Jays

(In Photo: Ricky Romero)
The Blue Jays become even more dangerous with every year, if the Blue Jays were in the AL Central, they might be division winners. This team has a lot of young talent including a strong starting rotation and two closers. Ricky Romero has turned into the ace of a young staff, who has inexplicably managed to induce ground balls at an amazing ratio but has a higher than average fly ball ratio to go with it. Somehow, he keeps batters guessing and it works for him. The bullpen is also going to be a strength for them with two potential closers Francisco Cordero and Sergio Santos both capable of shutting down the game. Offensively, the Blue Jays have a big question mark with Adam Lind who is very streaky but can hit for power. Of course, Jose Bautista knows how to hit for power. After putting up similar numbers in both 2010 and 2011 there is no reason to think his numbers will be any less impressive.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have one of the strongest starting rotations in the entire league along with a productive offense to back it up. David Price is back again along with James “Big Game” Shields who are one of the most dangerous 1-2 pitching combinations in the game. Last year’s Rookie of the Year award winner Jeremy Hellickson is also back after working on some adjustments. One notable difference this year is Wade Davis transitioning to the bullpen, which will only make the bullpen bridge to Kyle Farnsworth even stronger. Offensively, the Rays may not hit for as much power but BJ Upon, Evan Longoria and newly reunited Carlos Pena (yes, again) can come in and deliver during a clutch situation. One of the biggest strengths that the Rays have is their defense, which is fundamentally sound. It will be interesting to see how the lineup changes without Johnny Damon this year, but make no mistake, this is a dangerous lineup.

Boston Red Sox

Oh can you feel the rivalry? The team has gone through a drastic makeover. Goodbye Theo, Francona, Captain Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, and Jonathon Papelbon….and hello change. After an epic collapse, it is time to see what Bobby Valentine brings out of the announcers box and onto the field. The starting rotation is still a big question mark with Daniel Bard taking on a starting position, Matsuzaka still out and John Lackey missing all of 2012. New closer Andrew Bailey is now dealing with a thumb problem which makes things even more complicated. The Red Sox have options, but they could use some depth. The offense is still as lethal as always, but it will be interesting to see how the lineup changes now that Marco Scutaro is not on the team, can Nick Punto handle a starting role at shortstop? Carl Crawford is still injured and will be looking for a comeback, but the Red Sox still have a lot of power in Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Dustin Pedroia. It’s a new look to an old rivalry and I can’t wait to watch the drama unfold!

On Friday the long 162 game season starts and I can’t wait to see how the Yankees new roster stacks up against everyone else. The battle for the AL East is always exciting, but this year it is going to be even more intense. It is hard to predict anything, but you can count on one thing…..it will be a fight to the finish. PLAY BALL!

--Jeana Bellezza --BYB Writer and Editor

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TOP 5 YANKEE PROSPECTS OF 2012: #1

#1. Manny Banuelos

LHP (6-7, 3.75 ERA, 129.2 IP, 8.7 K/9, 4.9 BB/9, 9.0 H/9, 1.550 WHIP,
20 games at AA Trenton, 7 games at AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre)

A quick look at the numbers will tell you that Dellin Betances actually had a better season than ManBan. In addition to having a lower ERA, higher K/9, lower H/9, and better WHIP, Betances' BB/9 is virtually identical to Banuelos'. With all the hype surrounding Manny, it's hard to believe 2011 was only his age 20 season, which makes him 3 years younger than Dellin. For reference, when Betances was 20 years old, he spent most of the season in Single-A Charleston. No matter how you slice it, Manny is incredibly young and is perhaps the most unfinished project of all the Yankees' top pitching prospects. He displayed uncharacteristically bad command and control this past season, but given that prior to 2011 his command was usually cited as his best attribute, I expect it's either a blip or trouble harnessing the velocity he added late last year.As for the stuff, it's all there and better than ever. He still sits 92-95 with the fastball, has an excellent change-up that's proven to work against Major Leaguers (see Youkilis, Kevin), and a curve ball that has gone from decent offering to true plus pitch over the past couple of years. He'll need another season in the minors to regain the command that made him a top prospect, but by the beginning of 2013 the wait for Banuelos should finally be over.

Big league comparison: Ricky Romero

If you haven't yet seen #5 through #2 of BYB's Top Yankee Prospects of 2012, they are:
#5 Jose Campos
#4 Gary Sanchez
#3 Dellin Betances
#2 Mason Williams

We hope you enjoyed out list. Tell us what you think...comment.



--Grant Cederquist, BYB Staff Writer

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WHY CANO EMERGES AS YANKEE HERO

(Photo: Getty)
Years from now, when I'm an old man and my grand kids ask me about the legends of the New York Yankees, Robinson Cano's name will be among those names. I've never seen a sweeter swing in baseball and he does it with such ease, you really have to credit his father Jose Cano for some hard work with his son since he was a kid. Cano won the game for the Yankees yesterday...again. How about that?

With 2 outs in the 7th inning and Casey Janssen now on the mound in place of Ricky Romero, Cano was on a mission. What was that mission? drilling 2 runs. His double was a beautiful shot that went to the center field wall allowing Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez to score. Next came up Nick Swisher, who's been on fire would nailed a single.(Photo: Getty)
We've all stated how important the conversation of Curtis Granderson is in the MVP discussion these days, but no one should forget Robinson Cano. He's now batting .307, has 23 homers and 101 RBI's. Curtis Graderson, who's done everything right this year, is batting .273, has 38 home runs and 107 RBIs. 2 big time players, both Yankees and plenty of discussion.Bartolo Colon does not look durable any more, he looked tired. Cause for concern? I'd say so. Yesterday he allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in 6 and 1/3 innings. Boone Logan was the guy who got the win in this one, not Colon. David Robertson was in yesterday as well and did not let up a run. What can you say about DRob, he is quickly emerging as a true Yankee stopper.

Final Score: Yankees 6 - Blue Jays 4

I love my Yankees right now. how about you?

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