New York Yankees: 5 Most Interesting Things so Far in 2012

The Yankees are the most successful team in MLB history. New York is considered by many to be the media capital of America and the Yankees are right in the middle of it.

Their success and struggles are always well covered and every move they make is discussed heavily. The start of the Yankees' 2012 season has been anything but boring.

Here are the five most interesting things about the Yankees so far in 2012.

Andy Pettitte's Return

The biggest thing the Yankees did this offseason was acquire starting pitching. Their rotation was originally a concern, but that concern went away after they signed Hiroki Kuroda and traded for Michael Pineda.

In the middle of spring training, the Yankees shocked everyone by announcing they agreed on a deal with Andy Pettitte. 

Pettitte called it quits following the 2010 season. Coming out of retirement always seemed possible but was never a big topic of discussion.

At first it seemed like there was actually no need for Pettitte to come back. However with the Yankees' starting pitching struggles early on, they need him back as soon as possible.

Whether Pettitte can return to his form before he retired will be one of the most interesting things to look for.

Joba Chamberlain's Ankle

Joba Chamberlain has only been in the majors since 2007. Yet, he has had one of the wildest careers in recent memory. Between the "Joba Rules" and the bugs in the 2007 ALDS, Chamberlain hasn't failed to draw discussion.

His 2011 season was cut short because of Tommy John surgery. He appeared to be healing quickly and was ready to return earlier than originally expected, but then suffered an open dislocation of his right ankle.

What makes this injury so interesting is the confusion it caused. 

At first, the injury was reported as career-threatening and possibly life-threatening. He apparently lost a lot of blood and people were concerned he would bleed to death. Brian Cashman labeled it as a significant injury.

Yet, when Chamberlain addressed his injury, he discredited the severity of it. He said his life was never threatened and he didn't lose much blood. Cashman also didn't rule out the possibility of Chamberlain returning this season.

It will be very interesting to see if Chamberlain is able to return in 2012.

Middle of the Lineup Woes

On paper, the middle of the Yankees lineup should scare any pitcher in baseball. Robinson Cano is among the best players in baseball, Alex Rodriguez is one of the best right-handed hitters ever and Mark Teixeira is a switch-hitter with incredible power. 

In 10 games, they are hitting a combined .248 with one home run and six RBI. That is going to have to change if the Yankees are going to compete for a World Series.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for these guys to start clicking.

Starting Pitching Chaos

New York currently has five starters in their rotation and Andy Pettitte and Michael Pineda are almost ready to return.

Their surplus of starting pitching will cause difficult decisions to be made.

The Yankees' second best pitcher in 2011 was Ivan Nova. Despite his success last season, Nova wasn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation and went into 2012 as the No. 4 starter. He currently leads the Yankees with two wins in his first two starts.

Phil Hughes was once one of the Yankees' top prospects. He had an awful 2011 season, but a solid spring put him in the middle of the Yankees' rotation. His struggles have continued in 2012 and he is currently 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA.

The most likely pitcher to lose his spot in the rotation when Pettitte returns is Freddy Garcia. However with Hughes' struggles, the door was open for Garcia to solidify a spot in the rotation. He has failed to do that, going 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in 2012.

What the Yankees will do when Pettitte returns is still unknown.

Pineda failed to impress everyone in spring training and shoulder tendinitis has landed him on the disabled list to start the season.

Another thing to follow is how well Jesus Montero does in Seattle. The Yankees took a risk by trading their top prospect for Pineda this offseason. While we may have to wait several years before we can see if the Montero for Pineda trade was good or bad, it will be interesting to see who makes more of an immediate impact.

Derek Jeter Is as Hot as Ever

Derek Jeter has been the bearer of criticism in recent years. Many felt he was an older player whose ability was declining at a rapid pace. 

Jeter has silenced those critics with his play in the second half of the 2011 season and so far in 2012. This season Jeter is hitting .378 with three home runs and seven RBI.

He has more home runs and RBI than Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira combined. Jeter also has 17 hits, which leads the American League.