The photo on the left was taken on October 26, 2000. Pictured are the likes of Orlando Hernandez, Jose Vizcaino, Jorge Posada, Chris Turner, Derek Jeter and Luis Sojo. On this night, Marc Anthony sang the Star Spangled Banner, Lenny Dykstra threw out one of the first pitches and a World Series came to a close. This was the last time that the Yankees took home a World Series Championship.
Could 2008 be the year the Yankees snap the postseason skid that has been haunting them for the past seven years? They certainly have a different look than previous years. Gone are aging veterans manipulating the starting rotation and in are some young rookies looking to make an impact in the starting role. Instead of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens, we have Ian Kennedy and Philip Hughes. Bernie Williams, David Justice and Paul O'Neill aren't patrolling the outfield. Hideki Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu will be shouldering that load. The infield has three MVP's standing on it in Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Jeter. The bullpen won't have Jeff Nelson, Ramiro Mendoza or Mike Stanton, but it will have Joba Chaberlain, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera. This could be the year to break the slump.
On March 22, 2008, here's what we know the lineup will look like come Opening Day:
C - Jorge Posada
C - Jose Molina
1B/DH - Jason Giambi
1B/OF/DH - Shelly Duncan
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Derek Jeter
INF - Wilson Betemit
INF- Morgan Ensberg
OF - Johnny Damon
OF - Hideki Matsui
OF - Melky Cabrera
OF - Bobby Abreu
SP - Chien-Ming Wang
SP - Andy Pettitte
SP - Mike Mussina
SP - Ian Kennedy
SP - Philip Hughes
RP - LaTroy Hawkins
RP - Kyle Farnsworth
RP - Joba Chamberlain
CL - Mariano Rivera
That's 22 out of 25 spots on the roster that are filled. The position players are locked down, with Ensberg being added to the 40-man roster, and his major league salary being picked up yesterday. The remaining three spots will be filled with relief pitchers. Here's who has a chance to make the team with a week to go:
Jose Veras
Brian Bruney
Sean Henn
Billy Trabar
Jeff Karstens
Darrell Rasner
Russ Ohlendorf
Chris Britton
Scott Patterson
The Yankees may have found their left handed reliever in Billy Trabar, who has yet to allow an earned run in 6.2 innings of ball this spring. Darrell Rasner or Jeff Karstens will be the long reliever. Each of them has had one rough outing, but take that one outing out and they have almost identical stats. It will come down to who looks better or who is the healthiest in the closing days of exhibition games. For the last spot, you have a crap-shoot. Patterson hasn't allowed a run and allowed only one hit in six innings this spring. He is, however, injury prone. Britton has been effective, as has Ohlendorf. Big Britton has a 1.80 era in five innings, Ohlendorf a 1.35 in 6.2 innings. Veras should be off to AAA. Bruney has struggled with control, but is still sporting a 2.84 era in 6.1 innings. None of the above have more than Ohlendorf's six strikeouts, while Britton and Patterson haven't issued a walk or hit a batter.
My pick for the last three spots:
Billy Trabar
Jeff Karstens
Russ Ohlendorf
Let's see what happens come March 31.
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