New York Yankees: Spring Training Guide

By Depressed Fan
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field - Tampa, FLA
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14th
First Game: Feb. 29th
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Johnny Damon (LF)
2. Derek Jeter (SS)
3. Bobby Abreu (RF)
4. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
5. Jorge Posada (C)
6. Hideki Matsui (DH)
7. Robinson Cano (2B)
8. Shelley Duncan/Wilson Betemit (1B)
9. Melky Cabrera (CF)

Projected Rotation

1. Chien-Ming Wang
2. Andy Pettitte
3. Phil Hughes
4. Ian Kennedy
5. Mike Mussina
   

Projected Bullpen
Long: Edwar Ramirez
Situational: Ross Ohlendorf, Jose Veras
7th Inning: LaTroy Hawkins, Kyle Farnsworth
8th Inning: Joba Chamberlain
Closer: Mariano Rivera
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Key Battles: The Yankees head into Spring Training with their roster basically intact from 2007. They're going to have to use their time in Tampa to figure out first base, the starting rotation and most of their bullpen. At first, they just signed Morgan Ensberg to a minor-league deal which brings the total to 6 players vying for the starting nod. Odds are, there will be a platoon at first. Candidates from the right side include Shelley Duncan, Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg. The lefties are Jason Giambi, Juan Miranda and possibly even Hideki Matsui. Wilson Betemit is a switch-hitter, and probably the best at the position with his glove, but he really can't hit lefties.

The rotation is a complicated situation. In a perfect world, the Yanks would pencil Joba, Hughes and Kennedy into the 3, 4 and 5 spots in the rotation and ride the young guys all year long. The reason they can't do that is innings. Kennedy is probably the only guy they push close to 200 innings on the year. Joba and Hughes need to be kept somewhere between 150 and 175. This means Mike Mussina is going to see his fair share of starts. Do you start him in the rotation early on, and take turns with the young guys, moving each to the pen for a month or so during the season? Do you start Mussina in the rotation and stockpile some inning from the young guys for the stretch run? It's an interesting debate, one that I think will take place in the front office rather than the manager's office. The Joba Rules will probably be extended to all three starters this year, with their workloads constantly monitored and marching orders flowing down to Girardi. My best bet is that the Yanks want to avoid a start like they had in 2007, so we'll see the big 3 in the rotation heading out of Spring Training.

The bullpen is just a mess. Kyle Farnsworth is the bridge to Mariano, by default, with LaTroy Hawkins representing the only other veteran presence in the pen. Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras showed signs late in the season last year, but as far as known commodities go, the Yanks are lacking. Also lacking is a left hander. There's an outside chance the Kei Igawa, Sean Henn or Chase Wright could make the roster as a situational lefty, but none of them inspires much confidence.

What To Expect: From the Yankees, you can expect plenty of news during Spring Training, and probably not a whole lot of answers to these questions until very late. From me, you can expect regular updates as news breaks right here, and some first-hand accounts including photos and video from Tampa in the middle of March. Check back early and often for your Yankees Spring Training Fix.

Brian covers the Yankees, Eagles and 76ers on his blog, Depressed Fan.

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