2007 New York Yankees Baseball
The 2007 Baseball Season Looks Good for Jeter and the Bombers
The 2007 New York Yankees have the best hitting in baseball. The additions of Andy Pettitte, Kei Igawa and (maybe) Roger Clemens will give them a top rotation as well.
Depsite having to fight off the Boston Red Sox every year, the Yankees have won the AL East nine years running. Recently, however, their post-season play has not matched their regular season dominance. They haven’t won the World Series since 2000. With an almost $200 million payroll and ten all-stars on the roster, the Yankees should win their division. The only real question is how far they can go in the playoffs? Here is your Yankees 2007 MLB Preview.
2006 Record
97-65: First Place, American League East
Biggest Additions
Andy Pettitte: The southpaw returns to the Yankees after three seasons playing for the Houston Astros. While in Houston, Pettitte compiled a more than respectable 37-26 record with a 3.38 ERA. He also helped Houston reach its first World Series. The Yankees therefore have good reason to believe he can still be very effective.
Kei Igawa: In Japan, Igawa was a top of the rotation starter, with a career record of 76-46, a 3.26 ERA, and almost 9 strikeouts per game. In America, the man is almost a complete mystery. What is known is that Igawa works hard, gets along well with his new coaches and teammates, and throws a bullet-hard fastball with a lot of movement. The jury will be out on the man from Japan, however, until he throws that pitch by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in about June.
Biggest Loss
Gary Sheffield was an absolute terror for the Yankees. In two full seasons with the team (before he got injured in early '06), Sheffield was widely accepted as the team's Most Valuable Player. His two-year totals of 70 Homers and 244 RBI support that point of view. But now he is a Detroit Tiger. His loss will hurt the team unless Bobby Abreu can continue to play the way that he has played since he came to New York.
Burning Questions
Carl Pavano: He signed a $40 million contract before the 2005 season. Since then, a series of injuries have limited him to 15 starts and a 4-6 record. The question for Pavano is not when he will pitch again, but if he ever will pitch again. After missing two seasons, and suffering a bruised foot bone last week, the odds say that Pavano is just about done. Anything the Yankees get from him is pure gravy.
Alex Rodriguez: It’s not about his hitting. It’s about his fielding, his head, and his production in October. Should A-Rod play like he did in the 2005 regular season, at the plate and in the field, the Yankees will cruise to a division championship. If he can finally have a good post-season, they could capture the World Series
Philip Hughes: He is the highest ranked Yankee prospect since Derek Jeter. Peter Gammons called him the best prospect in all of baseball. Hughes has been marvelous in the minors: 21-7 with a 2.18 ERA over two years. Because he is just 20 years old, the Yankees will likely start him in Triple-A ball and then bring him to the Big Leagues around June. If Hughes joins the rotation, and is half the pitcher the Yankees expect, he will win at least 10 games this year
Roger Clemens: Who knows?? If he does join the Yanks, they could have an historic season.
The One Absolute: Mariano Rivera will be Mariano Rivera. That is, unless he retires first.
Prediction: 98-64; First Place in the American League East.
Check out the rest of the 2007 MLB Previews here.
