Yankees New Year’s Resolutions for the 2018 season

For the Yankees to win the 2018 World Series, they’ll need to focus on limiting their weaknesses. If each player commits to a firm New Year’s resolution to correct their flaws, this team could be unstoppable. 

Every Yankees player, including AL Rookie Of The Year Aaron Judge, newbie Giancarlo Stanton and fan-favorite Didi Gregorius has a weakness.

At this very moment, scouts on opposing teams are focused on developing a mode of attack to derail our Bronx Bombers from bringing home championship number 28.

Catcher – Gary Sanchez

New Year’s Resolution: Become a better fielder

Young phenom catcher Gary Sanchez’s offensive stats are obviously pleasing for us Yankees fans.  However, The Kraken forced us Yankee fanatics to grow frustrated at some point this season with his regressive fielding.

It was even rumored Sanchez’s former manager Joe Girardi was losing his patience with Gary at the catcher position. George A. King III of the New York Post pointed out an important statistic that shows how awful Sanchez was behind the plate last year.

"Sanchez’s 16 passed balls tied the Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal for the MLB lead and the 53 wild pitches with him catching were second to the Rangers’ Jonathan Lucroy, who had 58."

Rest assured, Sanchez has recognized his fielding issues, and he’s already working on improvements this offseason. Sanchez has been getting smaller by working out his core with Yankees strength and conditioning coach Matt Krause.

First Baseman – Greg Bird

New Year’s Resolution: Stay off the disabled list

Greg Bird possesses tremendous talent and potential, but none of that matters if he can’t stay healthy. He’s an essential piece to the championship puzzle, and he’s expected to be a key factor this season.

In 2015, Bird successfully debuted as a rookie with 11 home runs and a .343 on-base percentage.  His performance made it seem like the Yankees had their first basemen of the future.

Unfortunately, Bird missed the entire 2016 season because of shoulder surgery and missed most of 2017 battling an ankle injury. These misfortunes led some to question if Bird was the Yankees first baseman of the future.

The league is typically filled with a plethora of available first basemen that could match Bird’s performance.  Some fans even believed the Yankees should pursue current free agent first baseman, Eric Hosmer.

But the speculations occurred before Bird returned to the playing field and regained the Yankees trust. His clutch plays and powerful swings during the ALDS and ALCS brought life to the Bronx.

Now it’s safe to say Bird has the first base position locked down as long as he remains healthy.