1. Who is Derek Jeter?
Can the career .314 hitter rebound from a career-low .270 season? If he struggles early, does manager Joe Girardi take him out of the leadoff spot? Is he still hissed at the front office? Jeter is 74 hits shy of 3,000.
2. Will Jorge Posada hit as a full-time DH?
Russell Martin will catch and somebody besides Posada will be the backup.
This will be Posada’s first full-time crack at DHing. He figures to be healthier without catching, but will he hit? And if he doesn’t, what do the Yankees do with him — and when?
3. How about Martin?
Scouts say you can live with Martin’s defensive shortcomings if he hits. But he batted .248 last year and .250 the season before that for the Dodgers.
4. What happens if stud catching prospect Jesus Montero has a big spring?
It might be enough for him to be Martin’s backup and be used occasionally as the DH.
5. How will Rafael Soriano react to not being the closer after leading the AL with 45 saves in 48 chances last year for Tampa Bay in a walk year?
This season, he sets up Mariano Rivera. It’s a role more experienced hurlers have struggled with.
6. Where does Joba Chamberlain fit?
Somewhere in the sixth inning. Hard to believe the gas-throwing kid who surfaced in 2007 isn’t Rivera’s setup arm. Could Triple-A be an option at some point if he struggles?
7. Can more be expected from Curtis Granderson?
A career .268 hitter who batted .247 last year, Granderson should improve. But how much?
8. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild has an ocean of experience, but no Yankees ties.
Mel Stottlemyre, Ron Guidry and Dave Eiland pitched for the Yankees and became pitching coaches. They understood when the pitchers didn’t perform, questions were going to be asked about the coach.
9. Robinson Cano signed with Scott Boras before the final year of his four-year contract.
With the Yankees holding options for 2012 and 2013, is Cano looking for a long-term extension? If he doesn’t get it, will it affect him?
10. Will Hal Steinbrenner allow lame-duck GM Brian Cashman to make a big deal in July?
Steinbrenner ignored Cashman and signed Soriano. Was that an abnormality or the beginning of a trend?