7 Things the Media Doesn't Get About the New York Yankees

The 2012 season has produced its fair share of storylines for the New York Yankees already, and we aren't even at the All-Star break yet.

Whether good or bad, the media has already drawn its perceptions of the team and its players.

Here's where the media has been getting it wrong with this year's version of the Bronx Bombers.

CC Sabathia Is Not Fine

CC Sabathia has not been at his best this season, yet the big left-hander has failed to receive much scrutiny for it.

Why is that scrutiny deserved?

Maybe for the fact that Sabathia is raking in $23 million and hasn't even been the best pitcher in the Yankees' rotation this season. He makes more money than the entire rotation combined.

Sabathia has nine wins, but mostly thanks to a Yankees offense that supports him quite well.

The Bombers' ace is enjoying a run support average of 7.19. Without a great lineup to back him up, Sabathia wouldn't have the same nine wins he owns now.

A 3.55 ERA isn't ace material, at least not by the standards set by guys like Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw, to name a few.

By this time last year, Sabathia's ERA was nearly a run less than it is this year. His inconsistency has been alarming, and while it still might not be time to panic, Sabathia is not himself, meaning he is not fine.

Derek Jeter Isn't Going Anywhere

Derek Jeter isn't going to retire.

Just when you thought the Yankee captain might be slowing down, he turns his career around and looks like the player of old.

After a strong finish to the 2011 season, Jeter has picked up where he left off and is having another great season in 2012. He's currently hitting .313 with seven homers and 25 RBI.

Jeter has certainly slowed down from his incredible start, but he is still very much on pace to have another Jeter-esque season for the Yankees.

The 38-year-old's average should be above .300 once again, and while his RBI production looks to remain the same, Jeter has already surpassed his 2011 home-run total.

It looks like there's plenty left in those arms to swing a bat, and say what you want about his range, Jeter is still the best shortstop anywhere in the organization.

Just watching Eduardo Nunez play the same position and struggle makes Yankees fans appreciate Jeter that much more.

The Captain will get another contract in pinstripes. Contrary to popular belief, he isn't finished yet, and the Yankees will have no choice but to pay him.

Joe Girardi Isn't a Great Manager

Joe Girardi has won a World Series with the New York Yankees, but it's not because he's a great manager.

In fact, Girardi is a better over-manager.

There have been countless times this season already when Girardi has tried to out-think his opponent and instead shot himself in the foot. Some of those blunders were outlined in a piece I did not too long ago.

Several of those moves cost the Yankees potential wins in 2012. Recalling such mistakes could be looked at as over-analyzing or Monday morning quarterbacking if they weren't so obvious. But Girardi's mistakes are that obvious and therefore simply can't be overlooked.

I can't say everything Girardi does is bad. He does a great job of resting his players, even on the second game of a new MLB season.

All kidding aside, Girardi handles the Bombers' bullpen pretty well and isn't guilty of over-using any of the arms at his disposal. But even in that department, Girardi made the mistake of making David Robertson the closer when he already had a more experienced, high-paid candidate on his roster in Rafael Soriano.

Playing it by the book is a wise idea in most cases, but such an approach can never overrule common sense. That tends to be Girardi's problem, and that knocks him down a peg on the list of top managers in Major League Baseball.

Alex Rodriguez Surge Isn't Coming

Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be a new man thanks to a knee surgery recommended to him by Kobe Bryant.

But as the season goes along, it appears that surgery didn't solve all of A-Rod's problems.

The first thing that is noticeable with A-Rod is his bat speed.

Rodriguez isn't getting around on pitches the way he used to, and that's even with his improved knee.

Age is an inevitable variable in every player's career, and Rodriguez will be no different.

Gone are the days when A-Rod used to pummel home runs at will against poor opposing pitchers around the league. Now, Rodriguez will struggle to get to 25 homers, let alone the 30 to 40 he became accustomed to during his career.

There is no surge coming for Rodriguez this season. There will be no month when A-Rod will carry this team on his back and come close to the elite numbers he used to put up.

What you see is what you get, and in this case, Rodriguez looks old and on the decline no matter what his physical condition is.

Mark Teixeira Is Worth More Than His Average

So much is made about Mark Teixeira's ever-sinking batting average, but the Yankees' first baseman is so much more than just one stat.

Tex saves a ton of runs with his glove alone, as he gives the Yanks a Gold Glove-caliber fielder at first base who can make all the plays and save all the bad throws.

Oh yeah, he also is good for 30 and 100 every season, regardless of where his average ends up. That is the type of production that isn't easily replaced.

Teams around the MLB would salivate at the opportunity to put Tex in their lineup.

Its time to stop focusing on just one thing and appreciate all the good things Teixeira can do.

The Bullpen Is Fine

The Yanks might have lost Mariano Rivera for the season, but their bullpen isn't doomed just yet.

Soriano is an experienced closer and will fill in for Mo as the team's closer.

Sori had 45 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays just a few years ago, and David Robertson remains one of the best relievers in the entire league.

Bridging the gap might be a problem at this moment, but if Cory Wade can right the ship and Joba Chamberlain as well as David Aardsma can return from their respective injuries, the Bombers' bullpen stands to get much deeper down the road.

They should have more than enough already to get by without the greatest closer of all-time, and that's without the reinforcements that could come toward the end of the season.

Curtis Granderson Is Not an MVP Candidate

Curtis Granderson might put up impressive numbers that far exceed his own production of the past, but that still doesn't make him an MVP.

Granderson put up some great numbers last year and finished first in RBI and runs scored, as well as second in home runs.

However, it was his .262 average that was the biggest reason he didn't get the honor.

This year, Grandy looks on pace to have another 40-home-run season, but his RBI could be down as well as his average. If Granderson's numbers from 2011 weren't good enough, then his 2012 pace won't be, either.

Having other star players like Teixeira, Rodriguez and Robinson Cano won't help Granderson's stock as being more valuable to his team than any other player.