Starting pitchers, offense, shortstop, catcher, and bullpen? Oddly enough, those are the same things that must go right for the other four teams in the division.

Five things that MUST go right for the Yankees? Hmmmm.....

1) MLB must remain solvent and field a complete season.
2) The team charter shouldn't crash.
3) ???
4) ???
5) PROFIT!!!

Starting pitchers, offense, shortstop, catcher, and bullpen?

But the first base coach is rock solid!

The manufacturing of runs: As a team, the Yankees belted 245 home runs in 2012. At times the long ball was the only source of offense, which prompted complaints of “too many home runs” in Twitter land. A 2013 lineup without Swisher, Martin or Ibanez will now have to play more of a brand of small ball. Speedy, slap-hitters Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki will play every day, and a big factor will be whether the 39-year old Ichiro – locked up for the next two years – can come close to replicating his.322/.340/.454 line since his July trade to New York.

Well, if your problem is too many home runs, Ichiro is your solution.

Jeter turns 39 in June and ample rest will be critical, which is why it’s crucial Eduardo Nunez figures out how to play the field at the big-league level.

Is there a good reason for the love affair with Nunez's bat? He doesn't hit for average, doesn't walk, doesn't have any power.

Is there a good reason for the love affair with Nunez's bat?

It only shines in comparison to his glove.

Hey, he had a higher OPS and OPS+ than Ichiro last year

Is there a good reason for the love affair with Nunez's bat? He doesn't hit for average, doesn't walk, doesn't have any power.

Naked eye judge Mike Francesa: "If there's one thing we know...Nuny can hit."

Is there a good reason for the love affair with Nunez's bat?

That depends. If he can get better defensively at shortstop, a 25 year old SS with a 96 OPS+ is not that bad. Not a guy you want to build around, but a perfectly cromulent stopgap. If he can't, then the Yankees are screwed at shortstop as soon as Derek's bat stops justifying his glove. Which could be this year if Jeter's injury recovery goes poorly.

Is there a good reason for the love affair with Nunez's bat?

Only in this sense: When he's in a hot streak, he looks a lot better at the plate than his overall averages would suggest.** And when he's in one of those hot streaks, Kay & Co. will insert it into the narrative of "Yankee farm product playing at near-minimum salary." All fans tend to love their farm products first and foremost, but since so many of the Yanks' recent stars have been high priced free agents, the Nunezes and even the Cervellis get a lot more love than they would otherwise. It's sort of like the way parents might heap special praise on a child who doesn't usually do that great in school, but once in a while surprises them by bringing home a good report card. You kind of expect it from the stars, but it's like a nice little unbirthday present when it comes from a homegrown scrub.


**Don't even bother to refute this, since it refutes itself.

When he's in a hot streak, he looks a lot better at the plate than his overall averages would suggest.

This is pretty much the definition of a hot streak.

Only in this sense: When he's in a hot streak, he looks a lot better at the plate than his overall averages would suggest.

Shocking.

Only in this sense: When he's in a hot streak, he looks a lot better at the plate than his overall averages would suggest.**

**Don't even bother to refute this, since it refutes itself.

This is pretty much the definition of a hot streak.

---------------------------------

Shocking.

Sorry, I guess I should have realized that reading what follows the ** would be too much of an eyestrain.

What's the definition of a hot streak?

At times the long ball was the only source of offense, which prompted complaints of “too many home runs” in Twitter land.

This is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard of.

I am sure Yankee fans will be stoked when they have endure games where they "bang" out 10 singles coupled with 5 BB whilst scoring 2 runs and leaving 13 guys on base in a 9 inning game. Good times baby, good times.

Well, if your problem is too many home runs, Ichiro is your solution.

You know Ray, you cop a fair amount of sh*t on this site, some it deserved. However, that made me laugh out loud.

Aw c'mon Hugh -- Ichiro is the solution to every problem including the solution to too few home runs ... if he wanted to be.

At times the long ball was the only source of offense, which prompted complaints of “too many home runs” in Twitter land.
This is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard of.

Who was the genius who advocated doubles instead of home runs, as 'home runs clear the bases. They're rally killers'?

Nunez can run a little bit too, but he has got to be one of the most error prone SS I've seen in a long time, comparable to Edward Encarnacion bad, except that teams had the good sense of you know... keeping Edward Encarnacion out of the field as much as possible.

I guess it's now a tradition for the Yankees to run SS that can't field, either because they have no range or can't properly do routine plays.

As for the Yankees this year, meh, they'll pull something out of a rabbits hat and stay in the wild card hunt I'd think.

I still wish they had the Jesus Montero trade back though, PED allegation or no. ugggh.

Tony Muser

I wonder how his mind works.

No outs. Men on first and third. Double hit. Runner scores. Men on second and third. No one out. One run in.

No outs. Men on first and third. Home run. Three runs score. No one on. No one out. Three runs in.

Hmm. The first example is better. Momentum!

Or something?

1) Win games.
2) Score runs while also not allowing runs.
3) Win a lot of games.
4) Don't lose too many games.
5) Win as many games as possible.