Yanks Go Yard Radio Show Rewind: Astros-Yankees Preview (4/5-4/7)

For this episode, we get you set for the first series of the 2016 Yankees’ season against the Houston Astros

On this episode of the Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, I gave my reaction to the New York Yankees choosing CC Sabathia to be their number five starter over Ivan Nova and why I agreed with Joe Girardi’s decision. Plus, I talked about how Aaron Hicks is going to be in the lineup tomorrow against the Houston Astros, since the game has been cancelled today. Who should the Yankees bench and is it the right call to put Hicks in the Opening Day lineup over Jacoby Ellsbury or Brett Gardner?

The Yankees first opponent of the 2016 season is the Houston Astros, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in the Wild Card game at Yankee Stadium last October. This is the second time in three years that the Yankees will open a season against Houston. This offseason, Houston didn’t make the big splash in terms of signing a big time player, but they made some quality additions to a good young team.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Orioles are bailing out Yankees and AL East by botching free agency
• 4 blockbuster trade targets that could be Yankees next ‘big’ move
• MLB Network Radio host thinks Yankees should shell out for Dansby Swanson
• Guy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auction
• Did Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?

For the pitching rotation, they signed former National Doug Fister to a one-year deal to provide some veteran help at the back end of their rotation. In the bullpen, they went and traded for Phillies’ closer Ken Giles in a deal. Giles immediately helps a bullpen that blew a 6-2 lead in Game 4 of last year’s ALDS against the eventual champion Royals. As far as the lineup goes, their big move this offseason was Colby Rasmus accepting the qualifying offer and coming back after hitting a career-high 25 home runs last year.

In my season predictions, I picked the Astros to win the World Series because they have a good young lineup with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer, they have an ace at the top of their rotation in Dallas Keuchel (who dominated the Yankees), and their bullpen looks improved.

More from Yankees News

• Orioles are bailing out Yankees and AL East by botching free agency
• Guy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auction
• Did Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?
• Andrew Benintendi-White Sox deal proves Yankees were right to prioritize Carlos Rodón
• Twins already bailing on Gary Sánchez emphasizes Yankees’ trade failure

To talk more about the Astros, I spoke with the editor of Climbing Tal’s Hill and the host of the Talking Astros show, Eric Huysman. I was on Eric’s show last week to preview the Yankees, so we thank Eric for returning the favor and coming on our show. Here are some of the topics we addressed during this episode:

• Grading the Astros’ Offseason
• Scouting report on Houston’s new first baseman, Tyler White
• Impact that Giles has on the bullpen
• What are the expectations for Lance McCullers (starting the season on the DL) in his second year in the rotation?
• Pitching Matchup Breakdown
• What makes Keuchel (Tomorrow’s Astros starter) so effective against New York?
• How much should Yankees’ fans be concerned about Masahiro Tanaka’s spring? (Tomorrow’s Yankees’ starter)
• Do Astros’ fans expect more from Collin McHugh in 2016? (Wednesday’s Astros starter)
• The need for Michael Pineda (Wednesday’s Yankees’ starter) in 2016
• Mike Fiers to make his first start ever against New York on Thursday
• Why Nathan Eovaldi (Thursday’s Yankees starter) is the X-Factor to the rotation
• Yankees’ hitters to watch: Alex Rodriguez and Starlin Castro
• Astros’ hitters to watch: George Springer and Colby Rasmus
• X-Factors and Predictions on the 2016 Astros

Next: YGY Radio Rewind: 2016 Yankees Preview

Be sure to tune in Thursday night at 9 PM ET as we will be looking ahead to the Yankees’ next series against the Detroit Tigers with Aaron Nusbaum of Motor City Bengals. Aaron will give us his take on the Tigers’ offseason and we will preview the pitching matchups for this weekend’s series at Comerica Park.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ASTROS-YANKEES PREVIEW SHOW!!!