HOUSTON — Naturally, Joe Girardi likes the cards he has been dealt as the manager attempts to avoid a second straight dark October in The Bronx.
Yet, Girardi isn’t playing the Pollyanna role when it comes to viewing what awaits his remade team starting Tuesday night in Minute Maid Park against the Astros in the first game of the season.
“I like our club. Now, saying that we haven’t played a game yet,’’ Girardi said before a workout Monday. “We have to perform on a very high level. We know it’s a very competitive division. You might even argue it’s a stronger division than last year. You are going to have to play well every night to get around 95 wins to get a spot in the playoffs.’’
That’s 10 games better than a year ago when the Yankees’ season was ruined before spring training ended. During the winter the Yankees spent $458 million on Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to fill gaping holes.
Now, question marks remain at third base, second base, in the rotation and in the bullpen. How many of those questions are answered positively will determine whether the Yankees extend their season into October.
Girardi’s Opening Day lineup Tuesday night against Astros starter Scott Feldman will have one holdover from a year ago and Brett Gardner has gone from center to left field to make way for Ellsbury.
“I said basically when the season started we were going to have a new guy at every position,’’ said Girardi, who will bat Gardner seventh. “There has been a lot of turnover. We addressed some situations this winter and got some people healthy and that’s why it looks different.’’
The lovefest between fans everywhere and Derek Jeter kicks off Wednesday, when he’ll be honored by the Astros, but the Yankees need the 39-year-old shortstop to do more than simply wave to the crowd on each stop of the tour. Mark Teixeira has to bounce back from wrist surgery to produce in the middle of the lineup. Tanaka, McCann and Beltran, along with Ellsbury, were signed for big money to fill holes.
The turnover is reminiscent of 2009 when the Yankees started the season attempting to wash away the bitter pill of 2008 when they missed the postseason.
“I think there is a lot of the same feel. There are high expectations with the names that we added,’’ said Girardi, who greeted CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Teixeira in 2009 and won a World Series title. “We addressed a lot of situations because of all the things last year. It has a lot of the same feel.’’
Based on the cash outlay the Yankees are playing under very high expectations which are normal every year.
“I know how tough of a year it was for us, not being able to make the playoffs,’’ said Tuesday night’s starter CC Sabathia. “It was disappointing. You work hard and try to put yourself in position to win games and try to get back to where you want to be and that starts off by winning the division.’’
As currently constructed with Kelly Johnson at third, Brian Roberts at second, Ivan Nova and Micheal Pineda in the rotation and the bullpen in front of closer David Robertson suspect, those 95 or so wins Girardi believes it will take get to October look elusive.
“There is no doubt we have a lot of talent. We have a new group of guys and hopefully they can perform to their track record,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said.