28 Reasons why the Yankees will win #28

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1. They're still the Yankees

Despite the presence of a "budget" this season, the Yankees will still field a team with a payroll in the $200 million range, giving them a decided advantage over every team in the sport. Much of that will go to the team's core of stars – $127.5 million combined to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera – but their ability to acquire the contracts of Javier Vazquez and Curtis Granderson helped bolster their World Series roster of a year ago.
2. Derek Jeter is in his contract year

After feeling the thrill of winning another title, it's a sixth ring and not a new contract that drives Jeter. While the captain may not allow his contract situation to distract him, don't think for a second that he won't be slightly motivated to post another MVP-type season to strengthen his case next winter. With his 36th birthday in June, Jeter will look to repeat his 2009 campaign, one that saw him reclaim the Gold Glove award and nearly earn him his first MVP award.
3. Teixeira is on the Mark

Remember when players needed an adjustment period when they signed with the Yankees? Mark Teixeira may have struggled in his first month in pinstripes, but the first baseman got red-hot in May and never slowed down, finishing with the AL lead the in home runs (39) and RBI (122).
With Alex Rodriguez hitting behind him for a full season, Teixeira is primed for another monster season as the Yankees' No. 3 hitter. That hype about his slow starts? Well, he hit .262 or higher in four of his six Aprils before last year and had double-digits in RBI in four of the past five.
4. Vazquez's shot at redemption

The last time we saw Javier Vazquez throw a meaningful pitch in pinstripes, was in a dreadful relief outing in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS that helped the Red Sox reverse the curse. Less than three months later, Vazquez was traded to Arizona for Randy Johnson, his one season in the Bronx considered by most to be a disappointment despite an All-Star-caliber first half.
Vazquez returns as a more polished pitcher seeking to prove that he can handle the pressure that comes with pitching in New York. Vazquez has reached the 200-inning plateau in each of the five years since he left the Yankees, striking out at least 200 batters in each of the past three. Acquiring him for Melky Cabrera was a no-brainer, giving the Yankees a rock-solid No. 4 starter.
5. Roy Halladay is eating cheesesteaks

The arrival of Vazquez strengthens the rotation, but the Bombers' hitters weren't sad to see Roy Halladay pack his bags and leave Toronto for Philadelphia. The former Cy Young winner went 18-5 with a 2.64 ERA against the Bombers since 2001 and 8-2 with a 2.54 ERA over the past two seasons. The prospect of facing him only once this season - the Phillies visit the Bronx for an interleague showdown from June 15-17 - is much more appealing.



6. No. 27 is magic for Robinson Cano

The Yankees may have claimed World Series No. 27 last fall, but 27 remains a significant number for their All-Star second baseman. Cano celebrated his 27th birthday in October, reaching the age when most players enter their prime.
After watching his average dip from .342 to .306 to .271 between 2006 and 2008, Cano bounced back with a .320 average last season. He'll be an integral part of the lineup, replacing Hideki Matsui in the No. 5 hole, so a 100-RBI campaign is very possible for the budding superstar.
7. A.J. Burnett still has something to prove

Burnett's first year in the Bronx may have ended with a World Series title, but the enigmatic righthander knows that he can contribute more in 2010. Burnett went 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA during the regular season, then posted a 5.27 ERA in five postseason starts. Three of those five outings were quality starts, but given the opportunity to wrap up both the ALCS and World Series in Game 5, Burnett was rocked for six runs each time.
Although his bread and butter remains a heavy fastball and devastating curveball, Burnett spent much of the spring working on a changeup that he hopes gives hitters something else to think about.
8. A-Rod is hip-hip-OK

A year ago, Alex Rodriguez was dealing with the fallout of a steroids scandal and rehabbing his surgically repaired hip, putting his season in jeopardy. A-Rod returned in May, and while he battled some fatigue during the season, he finished his abbreviated season with 30 home runs and 100 RBI in 124 games. A-Rod thrived in the playoffs, torching the Twins, Angels and Phillies en route to winning the World Series. With a full winter of rest and no additional surgery required, A-Rod's hip no longer seems to be an issue, giving the Yankees an entire season with their cleanup hitter in the lineup.
9. It's Joba time once again

The rules won't be necessary now that Joba Chamberlain is back in the bullpen, assuming the eighth-inning setup role that made him a cult hero in 2007. Having lost the fifth-starter competition to Phil Hughes this spring, Chamberlain returns to short relief, where the Yankees hope he can regain the mid-to-high 90s fastball that helped him explode on to the scene three seasons ago. It's unclear whether Chamberlain will eventually become a starter again, but if he can find his old bullpen magic, the Yankees will be a better team.
10. Ful-Phil-ing his destiny

It feels like Phil Hughes has been around forever, yet the 2004 first-rounder won't turn 24 until June. Hughes has encountered his share of struggles in the rotation during his first few seasons, but with the confidence he gained in the bullpen last season and a much-improved changeup, the young righthander is ready to assume his spot in the rotation - for the next decade or so.



11. Ace in the hole

Alfredo Aceves may not have won the fifth-starter competition, but after being plucked out of the Mexican League two years ago, the righthander has emerged as a valuable weapon for Joe Girardi. Aceves led the majors with 10 victories in relief last year, keeping the Yankees in games in the middle innings to set the stage for all those pie-in-the-face heroics. Aceves can pitch long relief, short relief or make a spot start, giving the Yankees a modern-day Ramiro Mendoza.
12. The bullpen's new strikeout star

Dave Robertson isn't a household name yet, but the Yankees believe that they have a star in the making. Robertson, who turns 25 on April 9, struck out 63 batters in 43 2/3 innings, his 12.98 K/9 IP ratio ranking second in the majors behind only Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton. Robertson pitched one of the biggest innings of the playoffs for the Yankees, escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in extra innings against the Twins, giving Girardi the confidence to use him in pressure situations.
13. No relief for Twins

One of the league's contenders took a huge hit this spring when the Twins lost Joe Nathan to a torn ligament in his elbow. Without the All-Star closer, it's going to be difficult for Minnesota to repeat as AL Central champions, though at least they won't have to listen to all the Joe Mauer-to-the-Yankees talk after signing the catcher to a $184 million deal.
14. The ageless wonder is still ageless

Is Mariano Rivera ever going to act his age? As long as the 39-year-old's cutter keeps cutting and his pinpoint location remains intact, he will continue to give the Yankees the ultimate luxury - a stress-free ninth inning.
15. The swing doctor

It's hard to imagine that a career minor-leaguer could play hitting coach to the stars, but that's precisely what Kevin Long does. A-Rod swears by him, Nick Swisher spent three weeks with him this winter and the Yankees have turned over Curtis Granderson and his struggles against lefties to Long's care. If Long can get Granderson straightened out and Robinson Cano hitting with runners in scoring position, he could be the most important guy in the clubhouse.
16. Angels bedeviled by free agency

The Yankees finally knocked off their long-time nemesis last fall. The Angels took another beating over the winter, losing John Lackey to the Red Sox, Chone Figgins to the Mariners and Vladimir Guerrero to the Rangers. They tried to answer by signing Hideki Matsui, Joel Pineiro and Fernando Rodney, but it remains to be seen if that's enough to keep Mike Scioscia's team on top of the AL West



17. Granderson in seventh heaven

Curtis Granderson hit leadoff for most of his career with the Tigers, but the outfielder will be out of the spotlight in his first season with the Yankees, batting in the No. 7 hole. That's not to say that Granderson would shy away from a spot atop the batting order, but given that most newcomers tend to need an adjustment period during their first year in pinstripes. Batting in the bottom part of the lineup should take some of the pressure off the All-Star.
18. New look in Boston

The rival Red Sox took a new approach this winter, stressing pitching and defense instead of offense. Theo Epstein let Jason Bay leave for Citi Field and Mike Lowell figures to be traded soon, while Marco Scutaro, Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron were added to the lineup. The Sox made a splash by signing John Lackey, but while Boston should be able to match the Yankees when it comes to pitching, the Red Sox will have to show they can hit enough to take the AL East crown away from the Bombers.
19. Less is more for Posada

Less than two years removed from shoulder surgery, the 38-year-old catcher has finally accepted that his body needs a little more rest than it did 5-10 years ago. Posada is expected to catch 110-120 games this season, though he should see some at-bats as the DH.
20. Ready to Cerve

The Yankees let defensive specialist Jose Molina leave via free agency, turning over backup catching duties to 24-year-old Franisco Cervelli. After being called up from Double-A last May, Cervelli surprised the Yankees with a solid bat (.298 average in 42 games) to go along with his steady defense. Cervelli suffered a concussion in March, his second since November, but he'll wear an oversized helmet at the plate for extra protection.
21. They aren't the Mets

For the first time in a long time, the Yankees aren't the biggest circus in town. The Bombers will surely have their share of side-show antics to deal with, but given what has happened across town in the past three years, the Yankees look like the model of serenity.
22. Marte has something left

Last September, it looked like Damaso Marte's three-year, $12 million contract would be an enormous bust. The lefthanded specialist posted a 9.45 ERA in 21 relief outings, snapping a seven-year streak of making at least 50 appearances thanks to a stint on the disabled list that lasted nearly four months.
Once the calendar turned to October, Marte found his groove, holding opponents scoreless in eight postseason appearances, including four in the World Series. If Marte carries that momentum, the Yankees will have a successful southpaw to turn to in the late innings.


23. Nick's knack for getting on base

The Yankees chose not to bring back Johnny Damon, leaving a huge hole in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Enter Nick Johnson, who returned to the team that drafted him in 1996, taking over at DH. Johnson's .402 career on-base percentage was exactly what Brian Cashman was looking for, though his long injury history remains a concern. If he stays healthy, he will serve as the perfect table-setter.
24. Girardi isn't a bullpen bully

People might have been tired of Joe Girardi's relentless pitching changes, but the manager has a proven formula when it comes to his relievers: nobody pitches three days in a row. There may be times when he violates his own rule, but Girardi rarely abuses his pitchers. With plenty of arms to choose from – not to mention a set of starters that tend to pitch at least six innings on most days – Girardi has turned his bullpen into a strength for his club.
25. The constant Gardner

For the second straight year, Brett Gardner did what he needed to in order to win a spot in the starting lineup. A slow start cost him that job last year, but he managed to post solid numbers in limited playing time, showing Girardi how valuable his speed can be. Gardner has worked hard on his bunting this spring, hoping to give him another way to reach base. If he finds his way to a .350 on-base percentage, he'll stay in the lineup and wreak havoc on the basepaths all season.
26. Swish's wish

Nick Swisher posted solid numbers last season after assuming the starting right field job in April, bashing 29 homers with 82 RBI and a .371 on-base percentage in his first season with the Yankees. While those stats represented a significant bounceback from his dismal 2008 season, his .249 average left room for improvement. Swisher lost 12 pounds this winter and worked with hitting coach Kevin Long for several weeks, looking to take his game to the next level.
27. Home sweet home

It took some time for the Yankees to adapt to their new surroundings on the other side of 161st Street, but the pitchers learned how to keep the home runs to a minimum while the hitters continued to take advantage of the friendly confines. Other teams only had a handful of games to feel comfortable there, but the Yankees – who posted a league-best home record of 57-24 – feel right at home at the new Stadium.
28. The hunger is still there

When the Yankees arrived at spring training, the popular question around camp was whether last year's title would lead to complacency within the clubhouse. One by one, players, coaches and front-office execs brushed that possibility aside, acknowledging that the expectations for 2010 remain the same as they are every year. As first-time champ Alex Rodriguez said, "Now that you've tasted it, you want to just keep doing it again."
 

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