Upon Yankee Player Profiles

I have for some reason never finished this, and have had a nagging feeling that its incomplete status is the reason behind the season. I will now complete what I started, obviously updating for what we now know.

The time has come to do a profile of the New York Yankees. I want to give an overview of each player, to help the non-Yankee fan become familiar with the players whom I will make frequent mention of during the upcoming months. For those of you who are quite familiar with these players, you will have to forgive my indulgence. Let’s begin:

LINKS Provided by YANKEES.com

THE INFIELDERS
1st Base- Many people have made the correlation between the arrival of Tino Martinez and the beginning of the 4 in 5 years Championship run, as well as his departure and the Yankees subsequent title “drought”. Well Tino is back in town, and we have to hope that things will be as they were. He will in all probability not be the player he was during his last stint in pinstripes, as age steals from nearly all players abilities. Last year in Tampa, Tino put up decent numbers as the part-time first baseman, including 20+ home runs. A return to the short porch in Yankee Stadium should ensure 20-25 jacks again this year. I think that the Yankees should see no decline in fielding from last year, as Martinez is on par with either Olerud or Tony Clark. A left-hander with a good arm, first base is in good hands with Tino. I don’t see him hitting over .270, but in this lineup he should be in position to score and drive in a bunch of runs. I probably place too much value on intangibles, but I always believed that Tino had a “sense of the moment”, and showed up big when it counted. I will always remember his grand-slam against San Diego in 1998, into the upper tank, removing any hope that the Padres could make a series of it.

Back-up- Giambi is not a bad with the glove as people would have you believe, and if he needs to spell Tino he is certainly capable. The Yankees also proved last year that a good 1st baseman can be found on the market.

2nd Base- As the Yankees second base merry-go-round keeps turning, the latest player to come aboard is Tony Womack. An off-season pick-up from the Cardinals, Womack experienced a renaissance last year, following several marginal years. In a powerhouse Cardinal lineup he was able to hit .307, scoring 90 runs and swiping 26 bases. The Yankee lineup is similar to the Cards in power and ability, but Womack is hitting in the 9-hole. To expect numbers around .280, with 30 steals and 90 runs scored is reasonable. Defensively Womack has traveled around the field, playing shortstop, outfield, and second during his career. Again, I expect no significant up or downgrade from last year with Miguel Cairo and Enrique Wilson.

Robinson Cano, a rookie call-up, shows great promise. He is hitting at .277, despite a terrible early slump and a complete aversion to the base-on-balls which dropped him from his .300 perch. Look out for this kid in the future, if the Yankees can keep him.

Back-up- Old Man Rey Sanchez was also picked up in the off-season from the Devil Rays. He will give the Yankees nothing at the plate, but a good glove in the field.

Short Stop- If you follow baseball in any manner, you should be familiar with Derek Jeter. On a team full of high-profile superstars, it is often Jeter who stands as the face of the franchise. The rarified title of Captain was conferred upon Jeter, and this honor speaks volumes about the player, and the man. In the closing moments of the colossal collapse against the Red Sox, it was Jeter driving a single, rounding first and exhorting his teammates to drive up one more ounce of October magic. In fact, if you look to defining moments from recent Yankee history, Jeter appears more often than not. The flip in Oakland, the dive into the stands against Boston, the run into the hole grab-pivot-leap-throw to first. Jeter got off to a horrible start last season, but turned it on down the stretch to finish at .292. More importantly, he scored 111 runs, marking the 8th time in 9 years he has accomplished this feat. He has scored over 1000 runs as a Yankee, and would have been 9-9 in 100 run seasons if he had not missed many injury games in 2003 (when he still scored 87 runs in 119 games).Defensively, Jeter won his first Gold Glove last year at short, and will always give you a solid player in the field. He hustle will allow him to make plays he shouldn't.

To state it simply, Derek Jeter is what you look for in a baseball player. Even in the criticism of him by other teams fans, you can see the respect for what he does and how he plays. Look for another good year from Jeter with protection all over the line-up, as well as decent SB and HR numbers.

Backup- Old Man Rey Sanchez

Third Base
What can you say about a player who hits 36 home runs,drives in 106 runs, and scores 112 runs? If its Alex Rodriguez you say its his lowest production since 1997. What do you say about a player who moves from his position at short stop to the hot-corner at 3rd to accomodate the incumbent and team captain? If its Alex Rodriguez, you say his assists and fielding percentage are down. When the Yankees signed A-rod away from all other bidders, most people expected an instant World Series. The lack of pitching let the Yankees down last year, but somehow the focus turned to Alex. Nevermind that he was changing cities, changing teams, changing positions, and changing his role as a player; "A-Rod is not a real Yankee." Here is my take:

The Yankees were able to sign one of the great players of our era, and put him on a team with several others. The Yankees now have two of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game on the same side of the infield. Alex Rodriguez will have greater numbers across the board this year. He will only improve at third, where he was excellent last year. He will hit well over 40 HR, and his average should creep back above the .300 line. Alex wasnt just signed for last year, he was signed for the duration of his contract, and he will be a fantastic player for that period.

Back-up: The supreme utility infielder, you guessed it....old man Rey Sanchez.


THE OUTFIELDERS
Left Field
In a surprising jump to perhaps my favorite player on the Yankees, Hideki Matsui. Year 2 of Godzilla was awesome, and I just love this guy the more I see him play. Noone, even Jeter, was better or more clutch during the playoffs. Matsui hit for average, hit for power, and drove in key runs in big spots.

here is an excerpt from Yankees.com:
...hit .412 (21-for-51) with 3HR and 13RBI in 11 postseason games...with nine extra-base hits in the ALCS (6 doubles, 1 triple, 2HR), established the record for most extra-base hits in a post-season series of any length...also tied the LCS record for most runs in a series (9) and established LCS records for most hits (14), total bases (28) and doubles (6)...matched the single-game post-season record for runs scored in a single game in Game Three with five (as did teammate Alex Rodriguez)...his five RBI in Game Three equaled the single-game ALCS record, done six times previously including his own performance in Game One (is the only Yankee to collect five RBI in a single ALCS game....

ANY QUESTIONS?


Matsui grabbed his lunchpail and played every game last year, just as he did the year before, just as he has done every season of his professional baseball career. Torre has been able to write Matsui's name in ink on the lineup card, and that has been a blessing for the Yankees. I fully expect him to improve as he has done his first two seasons, as his numbers in every category but hits and doubles went up across the board. His increasing familiarity with American pitchers and parks makes him a force at the plate, and his still relative newcomer status belies his years of experience as a dominating professional overseas. In left, Matsui has shown the ability to compensate for an average arm with a release that is praised as among the quickest in the game. Twice against Boston I have seen him make a play that seasoned vets do not. The monster is not the easiest left field to play in, but I saw Matsui back up and settle under a supposed fly out which he knew would hit the monster. Doing so, he held a batter with an easy double to just a single, and kept a runner on second from advancing and possibly scoring.

Backup: Bubba Crosby, but in reality it will be when Matsui is spelling Bernie in center.

Center Field
"Now batting...the Center fielder...Number 51...Bernie..Williams"
Bernie has been doing it in center for almost as long as I have been a fan of the Yankees. It is difficult for me to picture a Yankees team without Bernie on it, but that time may be drawing near. However, for a player in pinstripes since 1991, a 2004 season where he hit 20 HR, and scored 105 runs is nothing to sneeze at. The optimist and Bernie fan in me wants to believe that there is still a good season in the tank for Bern-dog. He is in a stacked line-up, and he is a switch hitter who can hit well from both sides of the plate. The injury bug has been Bernie's problem in recent memory, as 14 years of going to war have taken their toll. However, as a career .300 hitter, with only 1 season in the past 9 where he failed to score 100 runs (due to injury), I still think he can do a suitable job. The real problem with Bernie is in the field. Even with the most rose-colored of glasses, You can't deny that Center Field is starting to pass Bernie by. The arm was never a cannon, the legs that caught up to everything are diminished, and the decisions are sometimes suspect. Bernie is the player you can expect to see moved to DH, or out of the lineup, for a replacement most often.

I will remain optimistic and predict 20 HR, 100 runs, an average close to .290, and 80 RBI for Bernie. Swang song maybe, but the goose isn't cooked yet.


Back-up: Bubba Crosby, Matsui

Right Field

You know who he is, and you know how he is playing. Gary Sheffield is one of the most imposing hitters in the game. The magazine article caused some shades of discord, but the fact remains that there is noone whom the Yankees want batting in the 3-hole more than Sheff. He's due for 35, 120, and .300. Hes crushing balls, and putting fear into opposing pitchers. Hes playing an good right field, though not at all great, with an arm that still garners respect (though its probably more for the incredible swings it creates in tandem with the left arm while at the plate). Gary needs to be with this team in the playoffs,or the discord will be even greater.

Back-up: Reuben Sierra (when healthy), Bubba Crosby



Catcher

Lackluster is probably the best word to describe Jorge Posada's season to this point. The offensive numbers that used to overshadow his average to below skills behind the plate have diminished. His repore with Big Unit is non-existant, to the point that John Flaherty no caddies for him . .252, 15, and 50 might seem like good numbers for your average catcher, but Jorgie is regalarly high .270 with 20-25 and 90-100. His switch-hitting can still cause match-up problems, but this has been a down year overall for Posada.

Back-Up: John Flaherty, a top back-up catcher. Solid all-around, spectacular nowhere.

Designated Hitter

Giambi and Tino trade this position back-and-forth, with appearances by Tony Womak, Bernie Williams, healthy Reuben Sierra...etc. Giambi and Tino have both excelled in this position, and Bernie has been a game winning spark several times.


The pitching staff has been so patch-work and poor that a "preview" is hardly worthwhile. Unit has been mortal, Wang was a revealation and then a crushing blow. Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon have been solid, but have no business on the Yankees. Wright looked good his first day back, but for that matter so did Al Leiter. Mussina has been the one constant, and for a guy on the downhill portion of his career, thats bad news. Mariano has it all back, and looked untouchable for months. he would be an ideal post-season pitcher. Middle relief sucks, and Gordon and Sturtze are arm-weary as hell.(same thing that happened to Paul Quantrill). This rag-tag bunch has one more chance, or the season is lost.


So thats it folks, those are your Yankees. They are outside looking in for the AL east and the wild-card, and I haven't experinced something like that in 10 years. i still believe, and will until October.

LETS GO YANKEES!!!!!