Since we’ll soon be swimming in season previews that have the Yankees winning 100 games, the division, the league and probably the World Series, let’s have some fun and see what would happen if absolutely everything went wrong in the Bronx. To that end, here’s Part 1 of NYaT’s “The Yankees Worst Case Scenario.“ It’s a lot of this sort of thing:
Brett Gardner – What it would look like: Tony Womack II.
In 2005, the Yankees decided it would be a good idea to give an
everyday spot to a guy who was fast but couldn’t get on base to exploit
that speed. That’s the biggest fear with Gardner. The guy is never
going to hit for power but if he can get on base at a decent clip, he
can be dangerous for the Yankees. Also, if his defense isn’t as good as
the small sample size suggests, that really decreases the value of
Gardner. If he can’t play, the fans will get on him and he’ll face
“Johnny Damon” chants when he bats. That’s nothing good.
There’s one for every position player. Unlike Gardner’s, however, most of the entries involve a good player suddenly reverting to his worst season or partial season, such as Jeter returning to 2008 form and Mark Teixeira putting up a whole season in to match the beginning of 2009. This is highly unlikely to happen, of course, but it is instructive to remember that stars don’t always shine forever and, yes, one or two of these guys aren’t going to be as good in 2010 as they were in 2009.
I presume Part II will be the pitchers. Bookmark it, Orioles and Jays fans! It may be the best you feel all year!
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- Jackman - Feb 2, 2010 at 5:36 PM
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“Bookmark it, Orioles and Jays fans! It may be the best you feel all year!”
That is Cold!
How long before this becomes a 4 team monster in the AL East? The Orioles have the OF, Weiters, Bell, Roberts, and some pitching prospects for next year (not this year) that could make a big impact.
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- YankeesfanLen - Feb 2, 2010 at 6:03 PM
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Having read through this scribe, if everything were to happen at once (God forbid!)this team would look like…….The New York Metropolitans!
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- peteinfla - Feb 2, 2010 at 6:10 PM
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Not unless they also hired the Mets front office.
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- Nasty Boy - Feb 2, 2010 at 6:28 PM
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I not only agree with you about Gardner not hitting for power , he will never hit in the majors. He will never be able to use his speed on the base paths for two reasons : one, he flat out can’t hit, & two he doesn’t walk enough, because he strikes out way too much. I personally can’t wait for Carl Crawford.
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- Charles Gates - Feb 2, 2010 at 6:47 PM
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The O’s are going to be a fun team to watch this year for all the reasons you stated. Their lineup will score a lot of runs. It’s just a matter of the pitching keeping the opposing team’s runs total in single digits.
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- mick-7-1961 - Feb 2, 2010 at 7:51 PM
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Worst case scenario for the Yanks?
The win the Series in 7 games instead of 6 in 2010.
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- mick-7-1961 - Feb 2, 2010 at 7:52 PM
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Worst case scenario for the Yanks?
They win in 7 games instead of 6 in the 2010 World Series.
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- Walter Bishop - Feb 2, 2010 at 8:03 PM
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Craig Calcaterra is nothing more than a jealous Mutt’s fan that knows absolutely jacksh!t about the game of MLB. I have forgotten more about the game than this guy could ever hope to learn about the game. It just amazes me, that newspapers hire deadbeats like this guy. Hello Craig, maybe you should cover stories about the only the only thing that you’re an expert on, but I don’t believe there are any transgender professional MLB players, unless they let RuPaul onto the NY Mutt’s!
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- Simon DelMonte - Feb 2, 2010 at 8:27 PM
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I suspect that a good GM plans for this sort of thing at some level. Not that you really expect it. But that is why a good bench is crucial. And as good as the Yanks are, I think their bench is not that deep.
And while all these things are unlikely, it is likely that Posada will show his age, and that Jeter will not have the same kind of numbers again, and that someone will slump. Which doesn’t mean the Yankees aren’t the Yankees. But there were a lot of pieces that came together perfectly last year, weren’t there?
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- Rays fan - Feb 2, 2010 at 8:40 PM
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The Yanks pretty clearly have the most talent, but they (like everyone else) are vulnerable to the injury bug–especially with so many key players over 30.
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- Richard Dansky - Feb 2, 2010 at 9:30 PM
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Yes, but he has has forgotten more about not using “about the game” twice in one sentence than you could ever hope to learn.
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- RedsGhost - Feb 2, 2010 at 10:52 PM
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“about the only the only thing that you’re an expert on, but I don’t believe there are any transgender professional MLB players, unless they let RuPaul onto the NY Mutt’s”
OR Walter Bishop!!
SLAM!!
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- Old Gator - Feb 2, 2010 at 11:30 PM
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You apparently don’t read these blogs much or you’d know that Craig is an Atlanta mole. He loves the Mutts about as much as Cindy Crawford loves acne. You don’t have to be a Mutts fan to enjoy sitting back and daydreaming about the Borg suffering one disaster after another.
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So here’s one of my favorites: bottom of the ninth inning of the last game of the AL Championship Series in Anaheim, directly across the street from the strip mall where the Burrito King used to stand. Borg and the Los Angeles and Azusa Angels of Anaheim, Newport Beach, Pomonia, Covina, Laverne (these last three being the Android Sisters), Santa Monica and Cucamonga tied at 1-1 with two out.
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Godzilla steps to the plate.
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Now we know that karma is a real and existing principle, and at the Shoji Temple in Akasuka the statue of the seated Avalokiteshvara (Kwan-Yin if subtitled) is smiling, surrounded by clouds of votive incense and hundreds of Hideki Matsui bobbleheads repainted in Halo uniform, and a dozen or so little wind-up Godzillas lurching back and forth screeching and burping sparks. This can have but one ending. And you know what it is.
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- Robert Greene - Feb 2, 2010 at 11:34 PM
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Yankees are still the team to beat in the American League. The best BY FAR in all around positions. Pitching will be strong this year and as for hitting FORGET IT THEY ARE BY FAR THE BEST IN BASEBALL ALEX WILL HAVE A FANTASTIC YEAR WHICH HE HAS NOT HAD OF LATELY AND I SAID ( FANTASTIC ). HE HAS NO PROBLEMS THIS YEAR AND WILL CONCENTRATE ON BASEBALL ONLY. I LOOK FOR ANOTHER BIG, BIG TRANSACTION YET TO HAPPEN FOR A OUTFIELDER. THEY CAN DO IT AS NOT A PLAYER IN BASEBALL DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY FOR THE YANKEES AND WILL TAKE THEM EVEN IF OFFERED MORE ELSEWHERE.
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- Johnny Damon - Feb 3, 2010 at 12:30 AM
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Ain’t that da troof!
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- TampaBay - Feb 3, 2010 at 8:04 AM
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Mark Teixeira and A-Rod are the best 1b and 3b in the league. But Longoria and Pena are pretty good. Bartlett and Zobrist put up the same stats as Jeter and Cano last year. Granderson helps, but Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner/Randy Winn are just ok. Crawford, Upton and Desmond Jennings would be one of the best outfields in the baseball.
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- Randy - Feb 3, 2010 at 8:54 AM
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This article is dumb.
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- Mark - Feb 3, 2010 at 9:41 AM
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This article is as dumb as being a Yankum fan! Who cares about this team? They look like Plumbers anyway. Some stupid sports writer is saying they will win it again this year, so why are we even playing the season for??????
You find me a smart sports writer and I will try to find a smart so-called Black president.
Ya thats not going to happen now is it!
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- Real Honest - Feb 3, 2010 at 10:56 AM
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Not so fast with the braggin. Lou Pinella has plans. I know it is the Cubs, but hey it can be done. After stinking up the AL for 100 years, Boston did it. Besides, LA and Phily look good this year. And who can count out TLR? Besides if TLR gets his penant, the Yankees have to play the Cardinals, THE YANKEE KILLERS! So hold off just a bit.
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- Pilothawkeye - Feb 3, 2010 at 11:31 AM
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This Yankee fan is scared to death about the prospects for this year. I do not believe that Cashman has done anything worthwhile regarding middle relief. The Yankees demonstrated to everyone during last year’s post season run that they only have 2 1/2 dependable pitchers. CC was great, while I am glad to see Andy back for another year, I wonder how much longer he can go. AJ, well, he is AJ. Pitching will again be a problem for the Yankees.
Unfortunately, I feel that Boston has made the better off season moves. I do hope I am wrong.
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- moreflagsmorefun - Feb 3, 2010 at 11:47 AM
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Who is your team, friggin Royals fan annoy me.
I ask you, If the Yankees took a year off can your Royals carry
the American League like the Yankees, when they come to town, they sell out your stadium, how many stadiums do your Royals sell out on the road. Can your team sell out road games, NO, tehy can’t even sell out home games.Disgusting, taht is what it is!
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- moreflagsmorefun - Feb 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM
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TLR IS A DRUNK, the Cards better hope he get out of spring traing without a DUI.Man, how shameful, falling asleep at a red light.He now has a steroid using but not perfomance enhancing hitting coach, what great role models for the youth of America.
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- moreflagsmorefun - Feb 3, 2010 at 11:53 AM
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Who is your team, friggin Royals fan annoy me.
I ask you, If the Yankees took a year off can your Royals carry
the American League like the Yankees, when they come to town, they sell out your stadium, how many stadiums do your Royals sell out on the road. Can your team sell out road games, NO, tehy can’t even sell out home games.Disgusting, taht is what it is!
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- moreflagsmorefun - Feb 3, 2010 at 11:59 AM
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Mark – I will try to find a smart so-called Black president.
ONLY A LOSER WOULD WRITE THAT, GET LOST!!
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- Mr.Baseball - Feb 3, 2010 at 12:09 PM
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Gardner, Granderson, Swisher?
That’s pretty weak.
