| The Yankees have three MAJOR problems
1. Pitching - Both the starting rotation and the bullpen are in total disarray. Randy Johnson is still Randy Johnson, and I still trust Carl Pavano. But Mussina was pretty bad last year (but, to his credit, he really stepped it up int he playoffs), Jaret Wright was a fluke last year, and the two rookies have been so-so. But the bullpen is more of the problem. Besides Rivera, NOBODY in the Yankee bullpen can get anyone out. Gordon, Quantrill, Rodriguez, Stanton...they ALL suck. I never thought I'd say this, but the Yankees desperately need Tanyon Sturtze to get healthy
2. Age - They are the oldest team in the majors. They only have 1 regular player under 30 (A-Rod, who turns 30 this year). The new second baseman is young, but he's already proven he's not the next Soriano. They could have signed 27-year old Vlad Guerrero, but instead they signed 35-year old Gary Sheffield. They could have signed Carlos Beltran to replace Bernie, but they didnt pull the trigger. Hell, their ace is 41 years old!!!
3. No contact hitters - Fact: During the 4 seasons that the Yankees won the World Series in 90's, not a single Yankee hit 30 homeruns. These days, the Yankees just sit back and wait for a 3-run homerun, instead of manufacturing runs like they did in the 90's. In the 90's it went like this. Knoblauch reached base, Jeter advanced him, then O'Neill, Bernie, or Tino singled or doubled to drive him in. They just dont do that anymore. Sheffield, Matsui, A-Rod, Posada...they just swing for the fences every at-bat. That's why they'll score 10 runs one game, then get shutout the next three nights. It's all or nothing with them.
I mean, I still have faith that they'll turn it around. They just have too much talent to be a sub-.500 team. But they are seriously flawed |