New York Yankees: What I Like (and Don't Like) About This Year's Team

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

If Cano can actually take what Kevin Long said to heart he could be great again.

Another thing not to like about the current Yankees is the fact that A-Rod is coming back and may be hurt or mentally fatigued already. Honestly, if you told me A-Rod will hit 35 home runs and drive in 110 runs I could believe that.

If you told me he will blame the hip and opt for surgery because he can't handle the pressure I could believe that.

Anything is possible with A-Rod this year. A-Rod really is in a fascinating spot and a lot of attention will be on him. And that's just the way he likes it!

Another thing I am not nuts about the Yankees in 2009 is Robby Cano. Honestly, he better have a short leash this year! He took off way too many plays last year and way too many at bats were squandered by his laziness.

It took Girardi until the end of the year to deal with this problem, but by that time it was way too late. Cano is young and amazingly talented but it seems like he needs someone like a Larry Bowa to motivate him and ride his ass every freaking day!

It just seemed that once he got fiscal security he stopped giving a damn about playing hard everyday. Say what you want about A-Rod, but he busts his butt everyday, even if it just for people to look at him. 

I think 2009 could be a year that Brett Gardner takes off! Seriously, I like Brett Gardner. Any smart Yankees fan knows what Melky Cabrera is: He's a decent outfielder that can't get on base and that will throw a few runners and play decent defense.

Gardner could be a weapon that the Yankees utilize now that the Steroid Era is over. Speed and defense matter now more than ever.

I think a lot of teams, like the Detroit Tigers, are going to suffer a horrible hangover from no speed and even less flexibility. The Tigers were built for 2002, not 2009! Hence the reason Sheffield was released!

Lastly, I think the Yankees bullpen is iffy. Edwar Ramirez is a joke. Phil Coke was terrific last year. Brian Bruney looked great when he was healthy. And Jose Veras can be great and can be bad. Mo is still one of the best closers in the game, if not the best. But they certainly seem like they far from perfect.

So what do you think? Do you like the Yankees' chances? Will they make the playoffs? Can they win the World Series?

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