10 Bold Yankees Predictions
As
the Yankees gear up for the second half of the season, I thought it would be a
good idea to make some bold predictions that would elicit response. Let me
preface this by acknowledging most of these predictions will unfortunately not
come true, however I thought it would be a fun exercise. Since I’m so
accustomed to looking at the glass half empty, I decided to take the opposite
approach with my conjecture. In fact, some of these predictions might contradict
one another. Needless to say, I’d be ecstatic if even a few of them came to
fruition.
#10: Alex Rodriguez
will continue at his torrid pace and win Comeback Player of the Year.
I
wish I had the patience to search through my old tweets and locate my
predictions for A-Rod. I speculated that Rodriguez would hit .280 with 30 HRs
and 100 RBIs. At the pace he’s on right now, I fully expect him to reach these
numbers. Following an injury plagued 2013 and sitting out the 2014 season due
to his PED suspension, A-Rod has been one of baseball’s biggest surprises. If
Rodriguez matches his first half numbers, he is unarguably, in my opinion, the
Comeback Player of the Year. I mean who else would be a candidate, Prince
Fielder?
#9: Rob Refsnyder will win the second base
job from Stephen Drew and become a fixture in the Yankees lineup for years to
come.
While
my brain believes Refsnyder was only called up to serve as a showcase for trade
talks, my heart wishes the Yankees would give him a legitimate shot. The Yankees
haven’t had a stud position player come from the minors since Robinson Cano in
2005. Considering the horrendous season Stephen Drew has had, Refsnyder seems
like an obvious internal upgrade. I predict that Refsnyder will absolutely rake
with the bat, and be an average fielder, forcing Stephen Drew to the bench. Instead
of trading him away for another washed up veteran, the Yankees will realize
they have called up the first face of a new dynasty.
#8: Carlos Beltran
will return and discover the fountain of youth (with the bat at least).
Despite
a dreadful start to the first half of his Yankees career, I don’t want to
completely lose faith in Carlos Beltran. Historically, Beltran has always
performed best when it mattered most. This may be perhaps one of my boldest
predictions, but I believe Beltran will come off the DL and absolutely rake.
While he is a lost cause defensively, it’s hard to believe he just completely
lost his offensive abilities. When the Yankees make the playoffs and win the
World Series, in accordance with predictions #1 and #2, Beltran will be a huge
reason why. His best days in pinstripes have yet to come! Mark it down folks.
#7: Mark Teixeira
will win the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
Count
me amongst the many who doubted Mark Teixeira and his frailness at the
beginning of the season. I can also be counted amongst those who will admit
they were completely wrong. In my opinion, there is no doubt that Tex has been
the first half MVP of the Yankees. I predict Teixeira will sustain his power
numbers and production, along with raising his average into the respectable
.270 territory. With Miguel Cabrera on the disabled list for an extended period
this season, it’s a very real possibility that Teixeira could lead the league in
homers and RBIs, although it will most likely end up being the ladder.
#6: Brian Cashman
will make a trade at the deadline for a front line starting pitcher.
I
read an article the other day which argued that the Yankees should acquire
David Price at the trade deadline, and I cant get that idea out of my head.
Hell, I’m practically drooling by just writing this. Considering the Tigers
have had a disappointing season, and Price is a free agent at the end of year,
they may be willing to deal him…for the right price, of course. Since I am
making bold predictions this will be one. Since the Yankees are an older team,
they must seize every opportunity to win a championship. This year, with the AL
East as winnable as ever, may be the last opportunity this team gets for a
while. I have a feeling Cashman will make a trade for a big time starting
pitcher for the upcoming World Series run. You heard it here first folks, the
Yankees will acquire David Price. Okay, it probably won’t happen, but I can hope
right?!
#5: Michael Pineda
will emerge as one of the best starting pitchers in the league.
Michael
Pineda has been downright filthy at certain times this season; however just
like the rest of the starting rotation he has also been inconsistent. Granted,
Pineda has been the most consistent out of the consistently inconsistent bunch,
but there is so much room for improvement. Most of Pineda’s bad starts were
around when the Yankees decided it was a brilliant idea to give him 11 days off
to prevent injury. I feel like Pineda is a competitor and he will thrive in a
pennant race, therefore I predict a monster second half from him. With the type
of stuff Pineda has, he can be a very intimidating pitcher come playoff
time.
#4: Brett Gardner
will continue his breakout season, and Jacoby Ellsbury will stay healthy,
giving the Yankees the deadliest 1-2 combo at the top of the lineup in the
league.
While
this may be the least bold out of all my predictions, it still may be a
stretch. I have no idea why it took Brett Gardner until his age 32 season to
take the next step in his career and become a good all around baseball player.
As streaky as Gardner is, I have not been completely sold on him as a
consistent commodity. This is why I predict Gardner will continue where he left
off at the conclusion of the first half, and rake in the second half. With
Jacoby Ellsbury you never know what type of injury will surface. I am praying
that Ellsbury got his yearly DL stint out of the way in May/June so the Yankees
have him healthy for the playoff run. With both Ellsbury and Gardner on top of
their games, this lineup can wreck havoc on opposing pitchers. The versatility
provided by these two players is ideal for the playoffs as well.
#3: CC Sabathia
will become a serviceable starting pitcher again.
Okay,
this may be my boldest prediction yet because even I don’t believe it.
Considering I am probably the blog’s most pessimistic writer, I’ve decided to
give optimism a try. Due to my newly discovered optimistic attitude, I am
predicting a second half resurgence from Sabathia. Say what you want about him,
but CC is a competitor by all meanings of the word. He anchored the rotations
of Yankees playoff teams from 2009 to 2012, and helped lead the team to its 27th
World Championship in 2009. Maybe CC’s work with his good pal Andy Pettitte
paid off, and he finally discovered how to reinvent himself as a pitcher with
less velocity than he’s been accustomed to. If CC doesn’t get better then the
Yankees are in trouble, due to their reluctance to remove him from the
rotation. I was one of the first to count CC out, but hopefully my positive
prediction will prevail this time around.
#2: The Yankees win
will the AL East by at least five games.
Out
of all the teams in the AL East, if they stay healthy, the Yankees are the team
with the least flaws. The Bombers have one of the best offenses in the league,
and a lock down bullpen. The obvious weak point on the team is the starting rotation,
however even that is not so bad. It could use improvements, but they’ve
performed okay thus far. The Rays have amazing pitching, but cant hit, the Blue
Jays and Red Sox have explosive offenses, but cant pitch, and the Orioles just
cant seem to put it all together. At the beginning of the season, I believed
the Orioles would win the division, however they have not been able to
consistently perform well. With the Yankees playing a majority of their
remaining games at home, where they have played very well this season, and the
ability to control their own destiny by playing 38 of the 77 games left against
division opponents, they will have to step up. I predict the Yankees do this,
and put distance between themselves and the rest of the mediocre division,
giving them time to regroup at the end of September for a championship run.
#1: The Yankees
will win the World Series.
Okay,
so maybe my CC prediction wasn’t the boldest of them all. According to
Fangraphs.com, the Yankees have a 78.6% chance of making the playoffs, a 63.5%
chance of winning the AL East, and get this, an 11.9% chance of making it to
the World Series. This percentage is the highest in the American League!! I’m
not usually a betting man, but I’ll take those odds. If all of my bold
predications become reality, or at least a few of them, then the Yankees should
be locked and loaded for a championship season. The offense has table setters
(Ellsbury and Gardner), run producers (Teixeira, A-Rod, and McCann), and some
question marks (Beltran, Headley, and the rest of the crew). If either Beltran
or Headley can have resurgent second halves, then the offense becomes that much
better. Considering pitching wins championships, the Yankees are lucky to have
a lock down bullpen. If everyone stays healthy, and Brian Cashman can improve
the rotation at the trade deadline, then this can be a special year. You heard
it here first folks, the Yankees will win the 2015 World Series against the
Washington Nationals. Or at least I hope so…
Article
by Steven Eareckson
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