2019 - A SEASON FOR THE DECADE

Well, here I go again, one game late, with my review of this season’s initial team and my prediction of the anticipated end-result after game 162.  First of all, as I’ve mentioned in the past, the Yankees have won a World Series every decade since their existence except during the 1980s.  Obviously, if they don’t win this year, that would result into a failed season and a failed decade!  Ultimately, there’s a lot riding on this team, especially since winning the World Series is not a given as there are a lot of teams that have very good talent besides the Yankees.

Here’s the Yankees’ initial 25-man roster (minus the anticipated soon-to-be-activated replacements of Starting Pitcher, Luis Severino & Outfielder, Aaron Hicks who are on the “Injured List”, formerly known as the “Disabled List”):

Pitching

Starting Pitchers

Masahiro Tanaka (righty)

James Paxton (lefty)

J.A. Happ (lefty)

CC Sabathia (lefty) - currently suspended for thrown pitch last season

Relief Pitchers

Aroldis Chapman (lefty)

Adam Ottavino (righty)

Chad Green (righty)

Zack Britton (lefty)

Jonathan Holder (righty)

Tommy Kahnle (righty)

Stephen Tarpley (lefty)

Luis Cessa (righty) - also, a backup starter

Domingo German (righty) - also, a backup starter

Hitting

(Catchers)

Austin Romine (righty)

Gary Sanchez (righty)

(Infielders)

Miguel Andujar (righty)

Greg Bird (lefty)

D.J. LeMahieu (righty)

Gleyber Torres (righty)

Troy Tulowitzki (righty)

Luke Voit (righty)

(Outfielders)

Brett Gardner (lefty)

Aaron Judge (righty)

Mike Tauchman (lefty)

Giancarlo Stanton (righty)

This year’s team has significant enough changes to anticipate varying strategies during this upcoming season.  Let’s look at the players who are no longer Yankees:

(Hitters)

Adeiny Hechavarria

Andrew McCutchen

Ronald Torreyes

Neil Walker

(Pitchers)

Lance Lynn

Sonny Gray

David Robertson

A.J. Cole

On the other side of the spectrum, here are Brian Cashman’s acquisitions or renewed contracts for this season so far:

(Hitters)

DJ LeMahieu

Troy Tulowitzki

Mike Tauchman

(Pitchers)

James Paxton

Adam Ottavino

Gio Gonzalez

J.A. Happ (re-signed)

Zack Britton (re-signed)

I will certainly miss Robertson, but the others will not be overly missed, especially Sonny Gray!  My favorite acquisitions this season are that of Ottavino, Paxton and LeMahieu.  I really expect a lot from each.  Ottavino’s WHIP of 0.99 last season was superb!  (Ironically his WHIP began with a “0” just like the number he wore for the Colorado Rockies and will now wear for the Yankees.)  I believe his stats last year was just the first of his peaking years as a reliever.  As a starting pitcher in the American League for the Seattle Mariners, Paxton has been a pretty consistent starter.  As long as he stays healthy (he’s had some minor, but a multitude of injuries in his past), he should win at least 16 games.  As for LeMahieu, his gold glove as a second baseman should help him become an above-average utility infielder and his 2016 batting title should help him prove to be an excellent hitter, even outside of the Colorado atmosphere.  Additionally, the retention of J.A. Happ and Britton were great deals for Cashman.

This year, already, the Yankees have begun with too many on the Injured List.  Hopefully, Luis Severino’s injury is not anything serious in terms of inactivity.  As for Didi Gregorius, who is one of my favorite Yankees, his defense, hitting, and intangible character to help lead the team will surely be missed.  In the interim, newly acquired Tulowitzki and our main second baseman, Torres, will play shortstop (with LeMahieu on standby, especially with Tulowitzki’s ridiculous history of being injured).

Now for the prediction:

I anticipate this team (who we all know will change somewhat by July 31) to win the same number of games that’s on the back of Aaron Judge’s uniform.  Of course that’s 99!  Many fans will not like the fact that I am actually predicting one less game than the team won last season, but I have some of my own significant reasons.  The subtraction of Didi and not enough to replace him; the balancing of CC’s limited availability during his final season (one which he even admitted not having the same ability); the iffiness of Luis Severino’s health & full-season velocity; and (like the last few seasons) the lack of enough quality starters as Gio Gonzalez is not exactly going to provide anything above a decent starter consistently.

99 wins is not bad!!  The only key for this team is to overtake the Red Sox, who are increasingly having some issues including their depleted minor league system, as the Yankees still remain in the Top 7.  For the fans and for this Decade, let’s hope to win our 28^th World Series this year as this season is already more significant that next year’s season!