The Best Time of the Year

Take a deep breath and hold it. Can you smell it? The smell of peanuts and popcorn, the sound of a wooden Louisville slugger being swung by Alex Rodriguez connecting with a baseball and just waiting to see how far the ball will travel. It’s back…baseball is here and the quest for #27 is finally underway.

Pitchers and catchers reported Thursday, February 14, 2008 to the newly named George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. If things seem a little weird without #6, Joe Torre, around, it’s because Joe Girardi has been handed the reigns of the most successful franchise in all of sports. Does that mean the Yankees won’t win? HECK NO!! After the disappointing playoff exit last season in the ALDS, a.k.a. BUG GATE!!!, and those guys from Boston winning it all, again, they are primed and ready to go.

Reigning MVP A-Rod had a monster year last season, look for him to duplicate those numbers as he is LEGITIMATELY looking to continue his pace to break the all-time home run record held by you know who, a.k.a. Asterisk Man!. Derek Jeter has a solid season every year as the leader of this franchise. He is the quietest captain I have ever seen. He leads by example on and off the field.

And now to the big question mark from last year…PITCHING. For the most part the rotation stayed the same: Wang, Mussina, Petitte, Ian Kennedy, and Phil Hughes. Joba will probably start the season in the pen, where I believe he should stay to take over for MO when he retires, but that’s just my opinion. If we can get one more quality starter I think we will be a force to be reckoned with. The addition of Pitching Coach Dave Eiland was a great move. Although, I love Ron Guidry, but Eiland was in the minors with all of the young talent that we possess and he knows those pitchers better than anyone.

Only time will tell how well the boys in pinstripes will do. As we enter the final year of Yankee Stadium, if you have never been, you need to go. It is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. Here are several keys that I have that I believe are crucial: 1) Stay Healthy, 2) Quality starting pitching, and finally 3) TEAM CHEMISTRY. The entire roster needs to work together because on a team with so many superstars there is NO “I” IN “TEAM.”

Here we go, we want to here your thoughts on the team. Please email us at hosts@yankeescast.com and let’s make this the most memorable year ever in Yankee’s History. GO BOMBERS!