Bold Yankees 2013 Prediction
The more I look at, think about, and discuss the 2013 Yankees, the more I come to the conclusion that they will be a 87 win team this year.
It’s a combination of factors at work here: the Yankees roster and the other teams in the A.L. East.
They have to play half of their season against the A.L. East. That’s not easy.
Toronto is so much improved. Baltimore took a huge step forward last season. And, Tampa is always good (lately). Also, last season, New York went 13-5 against Boston. Do you really think that is going to happen again?
Then, there’s Jeter coming off a serious injury at his age. Teixeira has been trending down since he got here. Youk at third is a joke. (See what he did overall last year. Boston got rid of him for a reason.) The Yankees have no catcher. And, their outfield? There are probably 25 teams in the majors with collective outfielders on their roster that are a better group than what the Yankees will be playing with this season. Lastly, don’t even get me started about A-Rod (if we see him at all this year).
And, the pitching? The bullpen should be OK. But, Sabathia is coming off surgery. Pettitte and Kuroda are old – and the team is depending so much on them this year…since the back-end of the rotation is Hughes and Nova (or TBD).
There’s no one in Triple-A this year who is going to step up and help the club like Cano and Wang did in 2005.
Again, I am not saying the Yankees are going to be a train wreck in 2013. There’s nothing wrong with being 12 games over .500 at the end of the year. But, it’s probably not a team that’s going to make October.
Maybe some things break their way and they win 90 games this year? Then again, maybe some bad things happen and they only win 85? It’s all possible. Yet, for now, my prediction is 87 wins in 2013. What’s yours – and why?
Seems like a fair assessment to me. I’m down with it.
I have to agree w/ you, although I’m not confident they’ll get to 87. Only reason they might is pitching and I think Jeter, Cano and Gardner will have good years.
Considering “the experts” are predicting a weak AL East this year, it would not surprise me to see an 87 win team, but I can see the Yankees winning 90+ games this season.
Toronto’s improved on paper. The O’s were a byproduct of their ridiculous record in 1-run games). Tampa’s good for 90 wins a season and I’d probably be more concerned with them than the Jays.
Anyone recently see John Lackey? Holy cow he lost a lot of weight!
Seems like a fair asessment to me too. I figured they’d be right around 90 wins, give or take a few. Give a few and we make the playoffs. Take a few and we don’t.
If that is the fact, then there’s a few things that they should do:
1) Let Nova and Hughes start, and Pineda the second he’s healthy. Look into trading Hughes if the timing is right.
2) See if David Adams and/or Corban Joseph can be suitable replacements for Cano and/or A-Rod.
3) See what Mustelier, Mesa, and Almonte can offer.
4) For now see what Cervelli can do, later Romine.
5) If the Yankees are out of it, consider trading Joba, Hughes, Cano (depending), and Granderson.
6) Make a decision regarding Adam Warren before it’s too late.
@ hallofamer2000:
1) Nova and Hughes are most likely already starting, irrespective of where along the win curve the Yankees are forecasted to finish.
2) There is absolutely no purpose to benching Cano in order to let someone else play. A-Rod is already not playing for the majority of the season anyway.
2a) David Adams needs to prove that he can stay healthy first. He’s only played 154 games over the past three seasons and none higher than Double-A. He’s not a realistic major league replacement until he shakes off a lot of rust and moves through Triple-A. That may happen this year, it may not.
3) Two of those three just got their first taste of Triple-A last year and still have flaws in their game (holes in their swing, lousy defense).
4) We’re going to see plenty of Cervelli this year. Romine has no experience above Double-A and needs much more seasoning. He may show up in 2013 but it won’t be in the first two months (unless an injury occurs).
5) Cano isn’t being traded, he’s being resigned to a long-term deal. The Yankees have telegraphed their intentions very clearly on this one. Joba would fetch nothing at midseason since he’s going to be a free agent and relievers don’t yield much in the way of prospects. No point trading Granderson if he’s likely to return a compensatory draft pick by signing elsewhere (as Swisher/Soriano have done for the Yanks).
6) He’s the 7th starter, behind Phelps. That decision is more or less made, what else do you want?
MJ Recanati wrote:
And, is it just me, or, does Romine look fat this year? It looks like he swallowed Ron Karkovice.
Steve L. wrote:
I’ll see your Ron Karkovice and raise you a Mike LaValliere.
@ MJ Recanati:
Yup. That works too!