2009 Yankee Preview: The Infield

The big question about the 2009 Yankee infield has less to do with anything going on between the white foul lines than with what's going on outside of them: Alex Rodriguez and his steroid scandal. If he has a bad year as a result of not being able to deal with the fallout from it, the Yankees, by extension could end up having a less than spectacular year as a whole. Here's a closer look at the Yankee infield:

• Robinson Cano: 26, Left/Right, coming off a bad year in which he hit only .271 after being a .300 hitter the first 3 seasons of his career Accused of not taking the game seriously. Looking for a bounce-back year.
• Derek Jeter: 34, Right/Right, range isn't what it used to be but still a good defender and a consistently good hitter. Keyword- intangibles.
• Alex Rodriguez: 33, Right/Right, still thought of as the best player in the game. It remains to be seen whether or not he'll put the steroid scandal behind.
• Mark Teixeira: 28, Switch/Right, historically a slow starter. Outstanding at first base. Outstanding bat. Expected to be a force in the middle of the lineup. Question: How will he adjust to New York?

Non-Roster Invitees:

• Doug Bernier: 28, Right/Right
• Angel Berroa: 31, Right/Right
• Shelley Duncan: 29, Right/Right
• Justin Leone: 32, Right/Right
• Eduardo Nunez: 21, Right/Right
• Ramiro Pena: 23, Switch/Right
• Kevin Russo: 24, Right/Right
• Cody Ransom: 33, Right/Right
• Juan Miranda: 25, Left/Left

The only other issue to ponder, besides A-Rod, is whether or not Cano will bounce back and have a more representative season. The experts still believe he can win a batting title someday and that he's a potential Gold Glove second baseman. I agree.

If this entire infield lives up to its potential it will add a ton of hits, RBIs and runs to the line-up and will be fantastic defensively, both up the middle and at the corners.

Bernadette

Inside The New Yankee Stadium

Curious about what the new Stadium really looks like? Here's a video tour:



Thanks to Hank's Yankees for finding the clip.

Bernadette

2009 Yankee Preview: The Outfield

The big outfield question mark in the Yankee outfield this year is centerfield. Will it be Melky or Gardner? Will Melky return to his form of seasons past? Will Gardner prove that he can hit? Perhaps they'll both have terrible Springs and we'll see Nick Swisher in center. Who knows? Here's a look at the entire Yankee outfield:

• 
  Melky Cabrera: 24, Switch/Left, above-average arm, average speed, average base runner, better left-handed batter than right-handed, poor plate discipline, coming off poor year.
  
• 
  Johnny Damon: 35, Left/Left, very good lead-off hitter, poor arm, average speed, above average base runner, age issue.
  
• 
  Brett Gardner: 23, Left/Left, above-average speed, above-average base runner, decent fielder, offense unproven.
  
• 
  Xavier Nady: 30, Right/Right, power bat, decent fielder, coming off great year.
  
• 
  Nick Swisher: 29, Switch/Left, considers 1B best position (might affect competition for OF), coming off bad year.
  
• 
  Colin Curtis: 24, Left/Left
  
• 
  Austin Jackson: 22, Right/Right, future Yankee centerfielder? Projected to start 2009 in AAA.
  
• 
  Todd Linden: 29, Switch/Right
  
  
• 
  John Rodriguez: 31, Left/Left
  
  
• 
  Hideki Matsui (DH): 35, Left/Right, not expected to play the outfield this season unless it's an emergency
  

So the shape of the outfield depends on the following:

Melky's bat (Will it recover?)
Gardner's bat (Will it arrive in the Big Leagues?)
Johnny Damon (Will he stay injury-free?)
Xavier Nady (Will he be traded?)
Nick Swisher (Will he be traded?)
Hideki Matsui (Will he be forced to play the outfield in an emergency?)
Austin Jackson (Will he be make his ML debut this coming season?)

I'm going to predict that Melky's bat will come around but so will Gardner's. Since Melky is out of options, he'll make the club and Gardner will be sent to AAA. If a deal can be made, Melky will be traded (breaking my heart) and Gardner will be called up. Damon will patrol left field again and Nady will be in right. Swisher will come off the bench to spell the outfielders and to give Mark Teixeira a break at first base.

Next: The Infield

Bernadette

Jeter Spoke: Okay, Let's Move On

Derek Jeter finally spoke his mind yesterday. I was concerned that he wouldn't come out strongly enough in his public support of Alex Rodriguez. But he did a good job. I'm satisfied. You don't really get that sense in the clip below but, trust me, it was there.



The main story that came out of this informal press conference was that Jeter is angry about being associated with the Steroid Era. He's so angry that he minimized the extent to which PEDs are prevelent in MLB, saying that only the 104 players that tested positive in that, now infamous, anonymous survey used PEDs. That's way too simplistic.

In any case, he's finally spoken so it's time to move on. I'm tired of this whole issue. I'm making a vow: Unless something horrific happens, I will not post another word about PEDs for the remainder of Spring Training.

Let's play ball!

Bernadette

The A-Rod Press Conference: What To Believe

Alex Rodriguez said a lot in his press conference yesterday. Depending on who you listen to, he either was telling one lie after or another, he was somewhat truthful or he was totally truthful. I think he was somewhat truthful. Here's what I don't believe:

1. That he was "young" when he took steroids. He was at least 25 years old when he first took the stuff, not younger as he implied.

2. He didn't know if it worked, yet he kept taking it two times per month for three years.

3. That he really was emotional and on the verge of tears when he "tried" to speak to his teammates during his opening statement.

Here's what I do believe:

1. That he took steroids. The positive test proves that.

2. That this cousin does exist. I'm trusting Michael Kay on this one. He claims to have met the guy.

3. That he was stupid when he took steroids. Obviously.

So what does all of this say? That he's hiding something? That he received bad advice from his PR people? That he's so arrogant, he doesn't care what comes out of his mouth? No. I think that what Brian Cashman said after the press conference ended sums things up perfectly:

"I don't think Alex is very good at communicating, to be quite honest. I think anybody who covers him on a daily basis ... anybody who's been in that clubhouse and seen Alex trying to talk to his successes and failures in the baseball arena, he's not very good at it. I do think there's a degree of difficulty for him going into this circumstance. This is not something he's good at."

Bernadette

A-Rod Faces The Music Tomorrow

Alex Rodriguez arrives in Tampa tomorrow and one of the first things he will do is have a 1:30 PM press conference to talk about his steroid use. This will finally put the issue to rest.

Or, will it?

I don't think so, and I don't say that because I don't think Alex can have the good year that will make people forget about it. I say it because the actions of two people could derail any hopes of that happening:

Selena Roberts-- The release date of her book has been moved up to some time in April. Her publisher says she'll reveal more about Alex's steroid use.

Derek Jeter-- As I write this, Jeter still has not issued a statement about all of this. Anything he says about the situation can make or break things, as far as how the fans support Alex.

Whatever Roberts reveals and whatever Jeter says (or does not say) could have a devastating impact on Alex Rodriguez. This isn't the same as Madonna and the divorce. Nor is it the same as associating with a muscle-bound stripper in Toronto. Those things were off-the-field incidents which did not distract Alex. But steroids are a totally different animal. They raise questions about his career and about his legacy.

If the Roberts book further dis-credits him and/or if Derek Jeter fails to publicly support him, Alex Rodriguez could, indeed, be affected by this distraction that he caused for himself. By extension, it could also affect his teammates and lead to a disappointing 2009 season for the New York Yankees.

Bernadette

B.A.T. Announces The Bobby Murcer Award

I got an email from MLB today about Bobby Murcer: Bobby's memory will be kept alive with the creation of a new award by the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.). The Bobby Murcer Award will be presented to the team in both the American League and National League whose players contribute the most amount of money to B.A.T. through the Major League Baseball Payroll Deduction Program. The award will be presented during the 2010 Annual B.A.T. Dinner.

Through the Payroll Deduction Program, Major League and Minor League players and coaches can donate a portion of their salary to the B.A.T. organization. In 2001, as a member of the B.A.T. Board, Bobby led the charge and began the yearly practice of visiting MLB clubs during Spring Training to educate and register teams for participation in the program. Since 2003 the program has generated $5.5 million.

The money is used to help not only former Major League players, but former managers, coaches, scouts, umpires, front office personnel, Minor League players, Negro League players, their widows and children and players from the Women's Professional Baseball League. The Women's Professional Baseball League? Now that's cool.

They accept donations from fans as well. If you're in a position to donate, click here to learn how. Way to go to B.A.T. guys.

Bernadette

More To Come From Selena Roberts

From The New York Observer: SI's Selena Roberts will have more revelations about Alex Rodriguez's steroid use in her upcoming book. This statement from the book's editor:

“The book is still a work in progress. I assure you she has more drug revelations as well as other news. Not everything that Selena has on A-Rod’s steroid participation has come out yet.”

Alex might have thought he was in the clear (no pun intended) when Congress announced that he wouldn't have to appear before them. Elijah Cummings surely would have asked things like "Where did the steroids come from?" and, "Who supplied them to you?" Now that information (or allegations of such) might be forthcoming in Roberts' book. Which would be worse: Roberts or Cummings? These days, it's hard to say. The saga continues...

Bernadette

Official Scorer's Decision: Ground Rule Double

Alex Rodriguez took a swing at that spitball yesterday and the ball bounced onto the warning track and into the seats. Score that a ground rule double.

Here's why I scored it as such:

-He admited he used performance-enhancing drugs.
-He refused to criticize the union for not having destroyed the test results.
-He stated that he was not interested in who the other 103 name on the list are.

That should be enough to score the hit a home run. But, wait. Here's what else he said:

-He didn't know exactly what PEDs he took during those years (01-03)
-He didn't say where he got those PEDs.
-He lay in bed one morning during Spring Training in '03 and just decided to stop taking PEDs.

So Alex is standing on second base now. Will he remain there or will he do what he can to score? I guess we won't find out until five years after he retires.

Bernadette

A-Rod Now Faces The Most Important At-Bat Of His Career

Alex Rodriguez is at the plate right now. We're all waiting to see what he'll do.

Most of us want him to hit a home run ("Yes, it's all true. I did steroids and have no excuses for it").

Some of us just want him to get a hit ("Yes, it's true I did steroids, but there was a very good reason for it.").

There are probably a few people out there in the stands who want him to walk ("Due to the ongoing legal investigation related to all of this, I'm unable to comment about any of these allegations right now.").

I don't think anyone wants to see him strike out ("No. I did NOT do steroids. These allegations are completely false.").

Which will it be? How will he approach this at-bat? The pitch has already been thrown. It is the nastiest curve ball Alex has ever seen. Some would argue that it's a spitball. But it doesn't matter. Whether he likes it or not, Alex has to stay in the batters box and have whatever he thinks is a representative at-bat.

Bernadette

Update, 1:28 PM: Per Mike Francessa on WFAN, Alex Rodriguez will break his silence tonight with Peter Gammons of ESPN. He'll make a statement and will then sit down with Gammons.

Update, 3:23 PM: Alex admitted steroid use to Gammons a short while ago. I'll be glued to to Sportscenter at 6PM Eastern for the full interview.

Now This Gives New Meaning To The Term "A-Fraud"

The other day I criticized SI for posting fluff on their website about Derek Jeter and, by extension, Alex Rodriguez. Well, no more criticizing, at least for the time being. If the four sources they mention are reliable, they've broken some major news about A-Rod that no one can scoff at.

I guess Jeter can relax now. No one will ask him anything about his relationshiop with Alex Rodriguez during Spring Training this year. Maybe no one will ask him about it the whole season. He won't have to say anything like this again:

"...it's old hearing the same questions. It's something that's been addressed before in the past. Everyone's moved beyond it. And it doesn't really need to be addressed again."

You got that right, Jeter. Everyone's moved beyond it, or maybe I should say, behind it, back to 2003, when Alex was alleged to have tested positive for two anabolic steroids during MLB survey testing. This is bigger than a relationship between two teammates. It's even bigger than a book written by an ex-manager. Indeed, the only thing worth mentioning from Joe Torre's book is the nickname given to him by players who may or may not have been kidding: A-Fraud. Today's news definitely gives new meaning to that name.

Bernadette

It's Still Impossible For Jeter

Okay, so here I was expecting a detailed Derek Jeter interview on SI.com, in which he expresses heart-felt support for Alex Rodriguez in light of what was written in Joe Torre's book. From what I'd heard yesterday, that's what it was supposed to be. Well, the interview was detailed, all right. I guess you can say it was heart-felt too. If you're into video games and Jeter's sex-life, that is.

Everything Jeter said about Alex had already been revealed yesterday in the New York Post article I referred to yesterday. The rest of the interview is filled with nonsense about X-Boxs and Minka Kelly. I mean, come on. The interview was posted on SI.com. I expected more from them than that. How silly of me for thinking so!

Jeter's repetition of his canned "I support him" statement does nothing for me, especially when you include what he said about his precious "Mr T" at some other point during the same day:

"Knowing Mr. Torre, he's never going to intentionally try to hurt somebody. He's like a second father to me. Everyone knows how close we are. He's not going to intentionally go out and do harm to somebody. That's not the kind of person he is."

So, it's business as usual for Derek Jeter, Captain of the New York Yankees.

Bernadette

Jeter About To Do The Impossible (For Him)

Am I about to be proven wrong? According to today's New York Post, Derek Jeter spoke to SI.com, expressing his and the team's complete support for Alex Rodriguez. The full interview will be posted tomorrow, but according to the Post, Jeter told SI:

"...Alex is a teammate. I support him. Our whole team is behind him. We all support him."

He continues:

"To be quite honest with you, it's old hearing the same questions. It's something that's been addressed before in the past. Everyone's moved beyond it. And it doesn't really need to be addressed again."

Really, Derek? Where was I when this was addressed? Living under a rock? I don't think so!

I can't wait to read this interview tomorrow. Maybe then everyone really will be able to move beyond this issue and never address it again.

Bernadette

Whose Side Will Jeter Come Down On?

Joe Torre's book, The Yankee Years, comes out today, and with it, the following question needs to be asked: Will Derek Jeter finally step up and support Alex Rodriguez?

Wallace Matthews has a great piece up today over at Newsday's website which asks that very question. He answers it by saying he doesn't know what Jeter will do but he thinks that the Captain of the Yankees should support Alex Rodriguez this time around. I agree. If not now, when?

Joe Torre is a father figure to Jeter. But he's no longer the manager of the New York Yankees. Alex Rodriguez is still the the Third Baseman for the New York Yankees. He's Jeter's teammate and, as such, should be defended, whether or not Jeter agrees with what his precious "Mr T" thinks, feels or writes. Like Matthews says, Jeter needs to say "Alex is my teammate and I got his back."

I have a sinking feeling that Jeter will do no such thing. Don't ask me why, I just do. He's never lifted a finger to help Alex since the guy came to New York in '04 and I can't imagine that a book will make him act any differently. My admiration for Jeter started to wane in '04 when I saw how vindictive he can be and I have a feeling it's going to disappear totally in the very near future.

Bernadette