The Yankees have not advanced past the first round since 2004, gone to the World Series since 2003 and been a champion since 2000.
VACACARO: BOOM TIMES FOR BOMBERS
LACK OF MOUND ACE WILL DOOM TWINS
BOOKIES PSYCHED BOMBERS ARE BACK
This team was constructed to get to the Canyon of Heroes. Can it get there? Here are five questions for the postseason:
1 WILL POWER ARMS MATTER?
The Yankees rebuilt their rotation to not only get to the playoffs, but to thrive once in the postseason. The common belief is that power arms win in October. The last time the Yanks were in the playoffs, in 2007, they ranked 12th in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings. The ace was Chien-Ming Wang, a groundball specialist who lost twice and pitched to a 19.06 ERA in a Division Series setback to the Indians.
For a quarter of a billion dollars, the Yanks purchased the power arms of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. This year, the Yankees led the AL in strikeouts per nine innings. And the strikeouts don’t stop with Sabathia and Burnett. The Yanks were the only AL team with three relievers (minimum 40 innings) among the top 20 in strikeouts per nine innings: David Robertson (12.98, which led the AL), Phil Hughes (11.40) and Mariano Rivera (9.77). Now Joba Chamberlain’s power arm also is going to be a bullpen factor, at least in the Division Series.
If all goes well, the Yanks could have their version of the Nasty Boys shortening games in the playoffs.
2 WILL POWER BATS MATTER?
In 2006, Tigers manager Jim Leyland lavished the nickname “Murderers’ Row Plus Cano” on the Yankees’ seemingly unstoppable lineup. In that series, however, Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman overwhelmed that supposed steamroller offense.
If anything, this Yankees’ offense is more impressive, leading the majors in most relevant categories, including runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and — of course — home runs. However, the Yanks were 12-22 when they did not homer. When the Yanks have to group hits to score, they have been less fierce. Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, in particular, have not been productive with runners in scoring position.
If the Yanks’ homer bats are contained, can they still excel with walks, timely hitting and speed? Brett Gardner brings an on-base element missing for the Yanks since Homer Bush in 1998.
3 WILL DEFENSE MATTER?
Recent Yankee playoff teams have been atrocious on defense. In 2006, for example, they made it worse by shoe-horning Gary Sheffield in at first base despite his lack of experience there. The alternative was Jason Giambi, which was a different version of unacceptable. Now the Yankees have brilliance at first in Mark Teixeira, who has had a positive domino effect on the whole defense.
In addition, Cano and Derek Jeter have been the double-play combination in previous years. But now Cano is more attentive from pitch to pitch, and Jeter’s first-step agility — specifically to his left — is far superior to what it has been in recent seasons. Johnny Damon is not a particularly good left fielder, but he was hurting the Yankees more in center. Either Gardner or Melky Cabrera is an upgrade in center; and, when the Yankees lead late, Cabrera will go to left with Gardner in center and Damon on the bench.
4 WILL LEFTY RELIEF MATTER?
The Yanks were bounced in the first round each season from 2005-07, and the lefty relievers used in those Division Series were Al Leiter, Mike Myers and Ron Villone. No one from that group worried opposing managers. Will Phil Coke or Damaso Marte (if he is on the roster) provide some lefty strength?
The Yanks will not play match-up late, simply employing Hughes and Rivera for at least the final six outs. Plus, lefties hit just .189 off Robertson, .212 off Alfredo Aceves and Chamberlain also could be a factor. But Coke held lefties to a .195 average and Marte to a .120 average (albeit in just 25 at-bats). There are bugaboos, however. Coke surrendered six homers to lefty hitters, the most by any lefty reliever in the majors. Marte’s reputation is the bigger the moment, the smaller the man.
5 WILL LEFTY BATS MATTER?
The Yankees use four switch-hitters in their regular lineup: Cabrera, Jorge Posada, Nick Swisher and Teixeira. So it is hard to play match-up against them. Here is what makes it harder still: Cano, Damon and Hideki Matsui — the three regular lefties — all hit southpaws well. Matsui tied for the major league lead in homers by a lefty off of a lefty (13). Cano was tied for sixth with 10, and Damon had seven. Cano hit .309 against southpaws. A Yankee opponent still mostly wants to turn the switch-hitters around to the right side and bring in lefties to face the lefty hitters — particularly at Yankee Stadium with its alluring right-field porch. Still, the Yankees’ lineup is less susceptible to lefty-righty relief maneuvering than most.
joel.sherman@nypost.com