Yankee Season Preview Part 2

Starting Pitchers

CC Sabathia


Sabathia is entering his fourth season in New York, with 59 wins and a 3.18 ERA in three seasons with the Yankees. Sabathia has also proven to be a work horse, pitching over 230 innings in all three seasons with the Yanks. After teasing opting out this offseason, the hefty lefty came back to the Yankees, adding another year to his contract, ensuring that the big man will be wearing the double-wide pinstripes until 2017. Sabathia came one win short of 20, despite dropping his ERA to 3.00 last season.


Andy Pettitte


GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!! OF ALL THE DRAMATIC THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN, ANDY PETTITE HAS UNRETIRED AND IS BACK WITH THE YANKEES!!! YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE YANKEE DUGOUT. A-ROD'S SMILING, JETER KNEW.

Breaking news from earlier today, Andy has announced that he's coming back home to Yankee Stadium. Pettitte gives the team another very good lefty starter. He may not be ready to start the season in the rotation, but he should be in there before Memorial Day.

Ivan Nova


Nova had an impressive rookie campaign, going 16-4 in 27 starts last season. Despite all that, the last time Yankees fans remember seeing Nova was Game 5 of the ALDS were he gave up 2 runs in only 2 innings  of work, that sent the Yanks packing up much earlier than anyone expected.

Michael Pineda


The man that the Yanks traded Jesus Montero is going to have a lot of eye-balls on him in 2012. He has the potential to be a very good strikeout pitcher, with 173 K in 171 innings in 2011. Pineda tired out after going 8-5 with a 2.58 ERA in the first half last season. If he can continue to develop his talent, Pineda could be one of the best young pitchers in baseball, but he will be tested by some good hitters in the AL East.


Hiroki Kuroda/Phil Hughes/Freddy Garcia


The 37-year old Japanese pitcher signed a one-year contract this offseason with the Yankees. He was an average pitcher for the Dodgers, 41-46, 3.45 ERA, but may not fair as well in the American League. Kuroda pitches to contact, which could be dangerous in the band-box that is Yankee Stadium.

Phil Hughes had a disappointing 2011 after a promising 2010, seeing his ERA jump from 4.19 to 5.79. During the 2009 season Hughes showed his worth coming out of the bullpen, and barring injuries that is likely where he is headed.

Freddy Garcia did what the Yankees asked of him in 2011. He wasn't blowing anyone away, but he was consistently average, which was enough with the Yankees offense behind him. Andy Pettitte's announcement that he's un-retiring may have knocked him out of the starting 5.

Bullpen

Joba Chamberlain

Joba's still recovering from Tommy John surgery, but reports are that he is ahead of schedule. If he can come close to what he was in the 2007 season, before the Joba Rules and failed attempt as a starting pitcher, the Yankees will be very relieved. 

Rafael Soriano 


Soriano lost his job as set-up man to Dave Robertson in his first season in pinstripes last year, and is looking to get back to the way he played in Tampa.

Dave Roberston


If you don't vote Ivan Nova as New York's biggest surprise in 2011, you'd have to pick Dave Robertson.  Robertson has a 1.08 ERA in 70 games last season, and may be the successor of Mariano Rivera.

Mariano Rivera


Mo has had a legendary career, and the Yankees won't be the same after he decides to retire at the end of this season. Rivera has made the last out of 4 World Series victories, with his only blemish coming in 2001 to Luis Gonzalez. His major-league leading 603 regular season career saves is an amazing stat, showing how consistent he has been. Hopefully he can end his career off with another World Series win.

ETC

Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni announced his resignation from the team on Wednesday following weeks of controversy after the return of Carmelo Anthony. While no one truly knows what happened behind closed doors, reports are that Stoudemire and Melo were no longer listening to the coach, and begged James Dolan to release him. What can't be disputed though is how well the team has played in their first two games with new coach Mike Woodson.