Even the most optimistic Pinstriped Pollyanna has to be depressed when viewing the Yankees through the MRI machine seemingly everybody has been shoved into recently.
When spring training opened, there was a chance Alex Rodriguez would miss the entire season due to hip surgery. But Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson were present to help cover the loss of Rodriguez’s bat from the middle of the order.
Now, Cano is the only remaining marquee position player for the Yankees, who open the season Monday against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Jeter is on the disabled list because his surgically repaired left ankle barked late in camp. The Yankees hope he returns by the end of the week, but that¹s a big reach.
Teixeira is rehabbing a tendon problem in his right wrist and hopes to avoid what likely would be season-ending surgery. The best case is a return in mid-May, but that¹s not the way to wager.
Granderson fractured his right forearm in his first exhibition at-bat and is looking at a mid-May return.
Kevin Youkilis replaces Rodriguez, who could return in July if everything goes right. Eduardo Nunez subs for Jeter. Lyle Overbay came in late after getting cut by the Red Sox and will get first crack at filling in for Teixeira. Brett Gardner shifts from left to center for Granderson.
Vernon Wells is the left fielder and Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart try to replace Russell Martin, a catcher ownership didn¹t believe was good enough to bring back.
A year ago, the biggest question going into the season was the pitching.
Today, it’s the strongest link in the chain even if there is a lot of age.
CC Sabathia is the ace and showed no signs that offseason elbow surgery is an issue during spring training. Andy Pettitte, 40, still can win. The issue is staying on the mound. Hiroki Kuroda, 38, proved he could be trusted last year, and there is no reason to believe he can¹t be this year.
Though he will open on the DL, Phil Hughes will be the fourth starter.
It’s his walk year and the right-hander is in for a big contract if he pitches like he did last year, when he went 16-13 with a 4.23 ERA.
Whether it’s David Phelps or Ivan Nova in the fifth spot, they need to deliver innings to keep the relievers fresh for when Pettitte and Kuroda work.
Mariano Rivera showed no signs that his surgically repaired right knee is a problem. Baseball’s all-time closer leads a bullpen that lost Rafael Soriano but has David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and lefty Boone Logan.
But until Rodriguez, Teixeira, Granderson and Jeter return and play up to their reputations, it’s difficult to believe the Yankees will make the playoffs.
Here is a closer look at the defending AL East champs:
YANKEE ESSENTIALS
MOST IMPORTANT EVERYDAY PLAYER: Robinson Cano won’t see many pitches to hit if the No. 4 batter behind him isn¹t a threat. Cano can’t respond by chasing balls out of the strike zone.
MOST IMPORTANT PITCHER: CC Sabathia is the ace, and it’s his responsibility to make 35 starts.
WILL HAVE A BIGGER YEAR THAN EXPECTED: Eduardo Nunez’s defense will improve because of a better throwing motion and consistent playing time at short. His bat is real and his body is live.
MOST LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT: Alex Rodriguez is the annual winner of this title. But nobody can blame him for anything this year. Ichiro Suzuki batted .322 in 65 games for the Yankees last year and .261 in 95 games for Mariners. If he is expected to hit .322, Ichiro will disappoint.
KEY CALL UP: Jose Ramirez will be in the big leagues at some point. Only question about the 23-year-old right-hander is whether he will start or relieve.
BIGGEST MANAGERIAL DECISION: How long does Joe Girardi stay with Lyle Overbay at first base before turning to Kevin Youkilis?
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: The next move the Yankees make is to acquire a slugging first baseman if Teixeira’s injury keeps him out past May.
SURE TO MAKE FANS GRUMBLE: If Ivan Nova’s nosedive in the second half of last season continues, the Bronx denizens will let the sensitive right-hander have it.
WILL MAKE PLAYOFFS IF: Granderson, Jeter and Teixeira return on schedule and perform like they did last year.
WILL MISS PLAYOFFS IF: The big names don’t come back — or return and don’t perform to their reputations.
INJURY THAT WILL HURT THE MOST: With three-fourths of the high-priced infield on the DL, Cano should dress in Kevlar.
PLAYING THE FIELD
FIRST BASE: The Yankees’ best all-around first baseman is their third baseman, Kevin Youkilis. He should see time at first in place of Mark Teixeira against lefties.
Lyle Overbay has a .995 career fielding percentage and should be able to hold down the position defensively, at least.
SECOND BASE: Robinson Cano is among the best players in baseball. However, if he gets a pitch to hit with the game on the line, the pitcher should be fired.
SHORTSTOP: This might sound like heresy, but Derek Jeter starting on the DL could give Eduardo Nunez the extended playing time he needs to reinforce to brass that his bat and athleticism are needed.
THIRD BASE: Youkilis still looks odd in pinstripes, but if he hits .275 with 15 to 20 homers and 75 RBIs, he will look better.
LEFT FIELD: According to an NL talent evaluator, if the Yankees want to get the most out of Vernon Wells, they have to play him regularly.
CENTER FIELD: Brett Gardner is back where he likes it and his speed and arm are assets. He has to stay healthy after playing in 16 games last year due to an elbow injury.
RIGHT FIELD: Nick Swisher is in Cleveland and Ichiro Suzuki will not provide the same power and run production. He will be a better defender.
CATCHER: Russell Martin says he never got a call from the Yankees so he left for Pittsburgh. Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart each will play.
The Yankees are hoping their defense helps make up for losing Martin¹s 21 homers.
DESIGNATED HITTER: Travis Hafner was signed with the hope he can stay healthy and litter the right-field seats at Yankee Stadium with homers.
BENCH: Jayson Nix can play second, third and short. Brennan Boesch offers some left-handed pop.
STARTING ROTATION: This unit is the strength of the Yankees, but it has a lot of age and mileage on it. If they stay healthy, there is no reason CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova or David Phelps can¹t keep the Yankees afloat.
BULLPEN: Mariano Rivera’s return led to Rafael Soriano leaving. David Robertson is Rivera¹s setup man. Joba Chamberlain looked good in spring training. Boone Logan needs to be more consistent.
PREDICTION
87-75
Third place in AL East