Yankees’ Editorial: Bronx is Boiling: Hopes for 2015

Sep 22, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Jose Pirela (67) hits an RBI triple against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. The hit was Pirela

5. Jose Pirela to become the next Luis Sojo.

Ok, I hope Pirela is better than Sojo, but the bottom line is that Sojo is one of my favorite Yankees ever. As I have said in other articles, there has never been a Yankee player that I remember that could sit on the bench for two weeks and then somehow deliver the big pinch hit. He was also a super-utility player that provided several heroics in the late 90s championship run.

Pirela has that opportunity. He can play second base, third base and right field. Stephen Drew has a history of injury problems and while several experts are predicting a bounce back for Carlos Beltran in right field in 2015, I simply don’t see it. Pirela’s versatility and ability to not just hit big league pitching, but hit it well, is invaluable to this team. The Yankees are known for going with veterans, but this time I hope they change their tune. Pirela is ready to make an impact on this team.

Next: Super Bullpen

Aug 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

4. The bullpen becomes the envy of the league.

The Kansas City Royals’ bullpen is insane. Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland were seemingly untouchable all season long. Unlike many Yankees’ writers, I bid David Robertson a fond adieu. It really does not have much to do with his ability (or inability) as a closer. It simply has to do with the fact that this Yankees’ bullpen is better than last year’s.

David Carpenter, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances are a scary three headed monster. Once the Yankees’ brass open their eyes and call Jacob Lindgren up to the big leagues (hopefully before the All Star Break) the Yanks could become untouchable for the last three to four innings of baseball games.

Imagine if CC Sabathia had to pitch five innings every five days. Or if Chris Capuano or whoever wins the fifth slot out of spring training can limit his innings until Ivan Nova is ready to re-join the rotation. Masahiro Tanaka was clearly not ready for the marathon of American baseball, so this season, they can limit him until the end of the season so he is fresh.

This bullpen is shaping up to be a vital weapon not just to close games, but to control them. Quite frankly, I don’t care if Betances is the full-time closer to start the year or if he splits time with Miller as the Yankees figure out the best option. The pieces are in place for this to be the best bullpen in baseball.

Next: Eovaldi Shines

Sep 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (24) pitches the ball in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Nathan Eovaldi to come into his own.

The Yankees parted with a future major league DH/ Catcher in Peter O’Brien to snag Martin Prado last season. It was ok with Yankees’ fans because Prado played his brains out and became enamored in the Bronx. The trade for Eovaldi and Garrett Jones raised many question marks amongst the fan base.

I, too, would have loved to have rolled into 2015 with Prado at second or third base, but alas he is not. Jones was an under-the-radar huge piece in the trade because last season there was no legitimate back-up first baseman on the roster for the injury-riddled Mark Teixeira. But, Eovaldi was the centerpiece and he needs to shine.

The Yankees’ aren’t asking Eovaldi to be an ace or even a top end rotation pitcher. They need him to be the fourth pitcher in the rotation and come May when Nova is expected to return, he could become one of the best fifth pitchers in the league.

It is concerning that Eovaldi was the most hittable pitcher in baseball last season surrendering a National League high 223 hits. His walk rate, however dropped nearly two points to a career low of 1.9 per nine innings and he rarely allowed a home run. If Eovaldi remains hittable in Yankees Stadium, the home run rate can change.

That’s why it is important that Eovaldi is working on his secondary pitches this spring. If the 25-year old righty can mature into the pitcher that the Dodgers envisioned when they drafted him, the Yankees will win in the Prado deal.

Next: The Future Ace

Mandatory Credit: milb.com

2. Luis Severino makes his Big Show debut.

I don’t want to see a September call-up. If the Yankees rotation falters and breaks down as it did in 2014 when they lost four of their five starting pitchers, I don’t want to see them dilly dally like last year. Chase Whitley was serviceable and I like Bryan Mitchell quite a bit, however both are realistically long bullpen arms capable of spot starts, not spots in the rotation.

Luis Severino is a special talent who skyrocketed from obscurity to elite prospect status in one season. His stats speak for themselves. A combined 6-5 record as he climbed three levels, a 2.47 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP while striking out 127 over 113 innings. He was invited to the MLB Futures Game and was named the Yankees’ No. 1 overall prospect.

Severino has never pitched more than 6 innings in a game in his young career, so he is not ready to break camp in the Yankees’ rotation. He should start the year with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as their ace.

Should the Yankees staff stay healthy this season, there is no reason to rush him along, and the Yankees could afford to give the 21-year old righty time to mature over a full year at Triple-A. If the Yankees’ rotation breaks down again – and let’s face reality folks, it will – then Brian Cashman can’t be relied upon for getting lucky with Brandon McCarthy-types again. It will be time to turn to the Yankees’ future ace, and I for one hope they do.

Next: A-Rod

Feb 25, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) makes contact during batting practice of the afternoon workouts at New York Yankee Minor League Complex. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

A-Rod needs to shut up and hit.

He’s back. He had his chance to talk to the Yankees’ brass, and he had his hand-written opportunity to apologize to Yankees and baseball fans. Now he needs to play baseball.

If he is truly apologetic, if he truly wants to be a baseball player again, then A-Rod needs to step back from the spotlight and do something this season that he never has. He needs to make this season about the Yankees and not A-Rod. He needs to care about winning and not about how close he is to eclipsing Willie Mays on the home run list or inching closer to 3,000 hits. He needs to realize that whether or not he gets his bonuses, he is lucky to have a job playing in the greatest baseball city on earth.

Unless he gets severely injured in spring training, A-Rod is here and he is here to stay. His bat, whether it be spelling Mark Teixeira at first base or as the every day designated hitter, could provide a serious spark to the Yankees’ boring, lackluster offense from 2014. Should A-Rod focus on winning and being a key cog in returning the Yankees to the playoffs for the first time in two years, things will change.

A-Rod will most likely never be forgiven. If he can hit .270 and belt 20 home runs, he can certainly become accepted, not necessarily liked, again by Yankees fans. If he can put the team first and show that he truly has matured, he will make strides in the right direction. If A-Rod keeps poking his head into the news and tries to steal the limelight like he has been known to do then he and the Yankees are in for a long season.

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