Yanks Go Yard Radio Show Rewind: 2016 Spring Training Preview

For this week’s episode, we looked ahead to some of the most important story lines this spring for the Yankees

On this week’s episode of the “Yanks Go Yard” Radio Show, the main topic of conversation was about the New York Yankees getting ready for spring training. On Thursday, spring training begins for the Bronx Bombers in Tampa, Florida, and there are numerous story lines surrounding this team after making it to the AL Wild Card game a year ago.

For this episode, my guest was Yanks Go Yard staff writer and frequent co-host of the show, Harrison Marder. The first topic that Harrison and I discussed was about the Greg Bird injury. While Bird being out for the season is a blow to the Yankees, New York does still have Mark Teixeira and Dustin Ackley as a backup and Ackley had a strong second half when healthy last season. Plus, should the Yankees add Ike Davis on a minor league deal to help their first base depth?

While we are away last week, the Yankees announced their non-roster invitees such as top prospects Aaron Judge, James Kaprielian, and Jorge Mateo. Harrison and I dove into some of the intriguing non-roster invitees such as shortstop Pete Kozma, catcher Carlos Corporan, and left-handed pitcher Richard Bleier.

More from Yankees News

• Yankees add to championship core with Wilmer Difo signing
• Aaron Judge’s ‘breadcrumbs’ showed he was never leaving Yankees, has more moves in mind
• Yankees analyst Cameron Maybin projects surprise landing spot for Gary Sánchez
• Yankees swipe intriguing minor-league FA lefty flamethrower from Braves
• What does Carlos Rodón’s new jersey number mean for Domingo Germán?

The other news of the week involving the Yankees was Masahiro Tanaka throwing off flat ground in Tampa. Harrison and I both debated whether or not Tanaka is the most important pitcher in the Yankees’ rotation for 2016. Our other topics included expectations for Alex Rodriguez for the upcoming season, why Ivan Nova and Jacoby Ellsbury have the most to prove in 2016, and the competition in the bullpen behind Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and new closer Aroldis Chapman. Of course, the Yankees still await Commissioner’s Manfred ruling on Chapman’s domestic violence case.

Harrison and I also took a look at the Yankees’ promotional schedule and gave some of our favorite promotions for 2016. The two most notable ones are on August 13 and 14 against the Rays. On the 13^th, the Yankees will honor the 1996 World Series Championship team and on the 14^th, Mariano Rivera will get his own plaque in Monument Park. But, another interesting promotion is A-Rod replica bat day on May 14 against the White Sox.

Next: Team-By-Team Look At The AL East

Finally, the two of us gave a quick look at the AL East before we do our yearly State of AL East series on the show in March. Two storylines we touched on was Baltimore’s interest in adding Yovani Gallardo to the rotation and the Blue Jays having a closer competition between Roberto Osuna and Drew Storen.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE YANKS GO YARD RADIO SHOW!!!