Can the New York Yankees win the pennant is the rallying cry every year for Yankee fans. This season the Yankees have had their ups and downs, but with the talent they have, they are always a threat to win it all. How far can the Yankees go this season if they make the playoffs? Let us look and see if they can actually win the pennant in 2011.

The New York Yankees have enough firepower on offense to compete with any Read the rest of this entry »

There are many baseball fans around the country who think the Yankees should be punished. They are one of the few teams in all pro sports who seem to be at the front of the pack almost every year, no matter what calamity befalls them. You could argue they buy their success with high-dollar contracts for star players, and they certainly spend more than many teams can afford, but is that a reason to punish them with a salary cap to even the league, spending Read the rest of this entry »

Labels are often given to confer some bad characteristic or malicious connotation onto another person or entity. In the case of the New York Yankees, the evil empire title is no different. Detractors infer this title upon the franchise because they cannot compete with the pinstripe-s history of on and off the field success. With more World Series appearances and titles than any other franchise in sports history, the Yankees have set the bar when Read the rest of this entry »

Maybe you spend all your time watching day games on your Direc TV channels and maybe you just live in New York and consider yourself a de facto Yankees fan. Whatever the reason, the boys in stripes have long been maligned and we-ve put together a list of a few of the reasons it-s good ” nay, GREAT ” to be a Yankees fan:
We Win: Your team may have more history or an Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Major League Baseball off season, or, as most Yankees fans know it, the second season. With deep pockets that incite rage among the other 31 teams, unlike the regular season, offseason competition ensures the Yanks will have a significant advantage no matter who they’re matched up against. So as we enter the period of transition post-Winter Meetings and prior to the start of the 2011 season, who should rank highest on the Yankees’ Christmas wish list? 1.Cliff Lee After manning the frontend of the Rangers rotation since coming over in a deadline deal, Lee has asserted himself as the undisputed hottest commodity on the Free Agent market. Though his success with Texas has led some to believe he might opt to stay and try to improve upon a performance that already featured a World Series appearance, Lee would be more than assured of a fair shot at the post-season in pinstripes, not to mention the biggest raise available on the open market.2.Zack Greinke For most major league pitchers, toiling away in Kansas City obscurity isn’t exactly a good thing. Grienke, however, is somewhat of a unique case. Plagued by a high anxiety disorder, some question whether Grienke could thrive under the pressures of playing in New York City. Indisputable, however, is Greinke’s talent, possessing the type of stuff even other aces dream of when his head is on straight. Worth the gamble? In this opinion, yes, of course it depends on exactly what the Royals asking price will be in return. Read the rest of this entry »

The Yankees will look to make short work of the Twins tomorrow afternoon, besting the Minnesota ball club 6-4 on Wednesday before cruising to a 5-2 victory for their second win in back to back days. Unless the Twins can use their Friday off to figure the Yanks out, the Twins are in danger of being swept out of the playoffs in the just the Divisional round. Of course, no one should be surprised by the Yanks early season dominance. The AL East has clearly been the division to beat across all of baseball, with the Rays and Yanks both among the league’s best records all season long. Perhaps more surprising than the Twins ineptitude thus far, would be the Rays struggles to down their first round opponent, the Texas Rangers. Like the Twins, Tampa has also pushed the series to the brink of elimination, needing to win 3 games in a row to stave off elimination.

The Rays actually won the AL East pennant, finishing with a 96-66 record, tops in the American League and 1 better than the Yankees. The Yankees were then almost uncontested in their wildcard bid, ending the year 6 games up on the Red Sox, who sported the next best non-qualifying record. Read the rest of this entry »

For the first 2 months of the season, Phil Hughes rose to prominence as the young darling arm of the Yankees, a prospect finally making good on his pedigree and potential. After all, Hughes was the Yankees first round selection in 2004 (number 23 pick overall) and is only entering his 4^th year of big league service. Still only 24 years old, the young right hander won his first 5 decisions of the season, and 5 of his first 6 starts overall. During that stretch, he baffled batters on his way to a 1.38 ERA, averaging almost a strikeout per inning. However, starting in the month of June, Hughes numbers begin to look a lot more like the pitcher who was bumped from the rotation and sent to the bullpen after his first 28 starts, beginning what should’ve been a predictable regression to normalcy. Read the rest of this entry »

If there’s one thing the Bronx Bombers are famous for (aside from the record 27 World Series wins of course) it’s suiting up other team’s players in pinstripes, just before the trade deadline passes by. This year did not see a major acquisition, despite the fact that the Yanks were in excellent mid-season position to make a playoff push and take one of the league’s best records into the post-season. When many projected New York to bolster its roster before boys turn to men in the fall, Roy Oswalt was arguably the most likely candidate to don a Yankee cap. Playing in Houston his whole career, the vet begged to be traded to a contender as the lowly Astros look to finish out the season in the NL Central cellar yet again. A team can never have too many live arms come October and, even at an advanced stage in his career, Oswalt put together a productive season down in Houston over the first 3 months of the season. Read the rest of this entry »

The last time Jorge wasn’t stepping to the plate in pinstripes, American’s were just getting over the hoopla of Kerri Strug’s broken ankle landing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. After a few summer stops in Sydney, Athens and Beijing, some things have stayed the same, with Posada still serving as Yankees’ reliable backstop. By the time the Summer Games get to London in 2012, however, Posada’s days as the main catcher in New York will certainly be finished, leaving a seemingly unprecedented hole to fill behind the plate. While Jorge may indeed still be around come 2012, after all who would bet against the 38-year old icon, it would most likely be in a part time DH or advisory capacity, perhaps even a foray into coaching. Fortunately, the Yankees are blessed with a stable of minor league catching prospects, just as they have been blessed with a decade and a half of faithful service from their longtime catcher. When Posada finally steps aside, youngsters Jesus Montero and Austine Romine look to square off in a competition to take over his duties. Read the rest of this entry »

General manager Brian Cashman and team president Randy Levine have both made it clear that they expect at least closer Mariano Rivera and shortstop Derek Jeter to return for at least one more season in Yankee Stadium. It is almost unconceivable that either would don another uniform, with retirement as the only logical option. Beyond Rivera and Jeter, Posada and Pettite, fancied as the “Core Four” by early season media coverage, will also have decisions to make regarding their playing careers at season’s end. Three of the 4 veterans have spent their entire MLB career with the Yankees and know no other uniform, while Pettite left the Bronx for a 3 year stint in Houston, before making a return in 2007. While their extensive championship experience is no doubt a major asset to the Yankees clubhouse, the looming question remains, “How much longer can the Yankees stay competitive with such an old lineup?” Read the rest of this entry »