As tomorrow marks the 110th Opening Day for the New York Yankees, it is time to recognize the positives (if there are any), and the negatives (there's too many) of this ball club. March was a very difficult month for the Bronx Bombers, as injuries drastically weakened the lineup and pitching rotation. The debacle began with Curtis Granderson being hit by a fastball on the forearm, which lead to an x-ray confirming a fracture. He's out until May. Days went by, and right before team USA left to play in the World Baseball Classic, information was leaked that Mark Teixeira severely strained his wrist during batting practice. After bad news from doctors, he's also out until May. In the matter of ten days, the Yanks were in a hole.
The injuries that belonged to the Bronx superstars began to spread to other players, as Phil Hughes was placed on the DL with a bad back, and the captain Derek Jeter was told he would start the season on the DL with concerns remaining in his surgically repaired ankle. I made myself believe that injuries to Grandy and Tex would not damage the team, but after Jeter's setback, I realized that Eduardo Nunez, Brennan Boesch, and Lyle Overbay to name a few, will not impact this team in one way or another. I don't feel I have to mention A-Rod's situation; I know no one gives a damn.
The key to keeping your sanity is to understand that no one wins a championship in the first few months of the season. The road is long with incidents, a roller-coaster of scenarios. I remember a few years back that the Diamondbacks started off April and May as the hottest team in the league, and failed to make the playoffs that same year as they fell apart in the closing weeks. The Yankees may start off weak against their opponents with the talent left on the field, but they still are the Yankees. The Yankees that have more than $150 million on the DL, the Yankees who invested in Kevin Youkilis and Vernon Wells, whom I believe will have resurgences and exceed critic's expectations. I believe in the pitching staff, that our ace CC Sabathia will begin his race sprinting and finish the same way. I believe in the veteran leadership of Andy Pettitte and Ichiro, who will impact the performances of Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli, who unfortunately have huge shoes to fill this season to prove they're capable of wearing the pinstripes. I believe in the Yanks' core player named Robinson Cano (who had himself an incredible spring with superb statistics) will bat himself into another MVP race and All-Star Game appearance. Most importantly, I believe in the manager Joe Girardi, who has has dealt with incidents in the past, and has coped with these problems in the most responsible manner. The rumors of Joe being placed on the hot seat are beyond ridiculous, as I know he will make the most out of the players he has in the lineup whom are healthy and ready to contribute.
This season has started with a great amount of doubt, and I believe that these first two months will be slightly shaky, but nothing the New York Yankees can not handle. A team can battle through adversity, and strive for success through confidence and trust with one another. A team can never lose hope, as that will lead to defeat and depression. By this summer, the rotation will be in tact with the appearance of the long-awaited Michael Pineda, and Granderson, Jeter, and Teixeira will be back in the lineup to continue their campaign for a 28th world championship. The key to success is to keep the faith, and as die-hard Yankee fans, that is what we must do. We must keep the faith. Let's hope for a wonderful baseball season full of memories that will last a lifetime, and a World Series champion that well deserves its title. Go Yankees. Wow I almost forgot; Red Sox suck.PREDICTION: 86-76, 3rd AL EAST
