4 Major Reasons Why the New York Yankees Will Not Win the 2011 World Series

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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 03: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays with teammate Nick Swisher #33 on September 3, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New Y

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In New York, it's either World Series or bust for the fans.

The Yankees are expected to be in the hunt every year, but unfortunately that is never enough. No doubt it will be a tough road for the Bombers this season, much tougher than the World Series run in 2009.

Here are four major reasons why the Yankees will not be raising their 28th World Series banner in 2011.

1. Weak Starting Rotation

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 28: Ivan Nova #47 of the New York Yankees pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

It's been a pleasure to watch Ivan Nova pitch as well as he has this year. Nova is certainly a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2011, but has never pitched this many innings in his young career. That can be unpredictable.

Nova has pitched well enough to be the Yankees' second starter in the playoffs, a tough spot for an inexperienced pitcher like Nova. He will soon discover that with all the added pressure, pitching in the playoffs is a different animal than pitching in the regular season. It is simply too much to expect out of him that he will handle it well enough to help the Yankees get to the World Series. The Yankees have gotten all they ever could have hoped from Ivan Nova, and being successful in a big-game situation like a playoff start would be an added bonus.

Then you have to take a look at the other starters the Yankees have. Can you really sleep easy at night knowing Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia are two of your playoff pitchers? You certainly can't sleep easy at night thinking of A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes taking the mound in the Division Series. The Bombers' pitching is just too unreliable.

2. Boston Red Sox

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 31: Josh Beckett #19 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the second inning against the New York Yankees on August 31, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Elsa/Getty Images

Posting a 4-11 record against the Boston Red Sox so far this year and it is clear to anyone with a brain that they have owned the Yankees this season. I have said it since April that the road to the World Series will almost certainly go through Boston. They are just too good. Not a single Yankee has pitched consistent enough against Boston to give fans any confidence that the Yankees can beat the Sox in a seven-game series. Not even ace CC Sabathia has fared well against the Yanks' rivals, leaving Yankee fans to wonder exactly who can pitch well enough to beat the Red Sox? If that series happens, the Bombers might need the Curse of the Bambino to once again rear it's ugly head in order for them to win.

3. Alex Rodriguez's Injuries

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 25: Russell Martin #55 of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates Alex Rodriguez #13 and Curtis Granderson #14 on his grand slam home run in the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics on August 25, 2011 at Yankee Stad

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The Yankees don't even get to the 2009 World Series if it wasn't for the bat of Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod's several clutch hits and home runs got the Bombers to the promise land in '09. In 2011, A-Rod's numbers are clearly down having battled injuries the entire season. I have trouble imagining that Rodriguez is 100% with all he's been through, and the Yankees slugger has proven that when he isn't healthy, he isn't hitting. The Yanks, much like 2009, will need A-Rod's bat if they want to win in the playoffs. Without it, I have a tough time believing the Yankees can claim their 28th World Series championship.

4. Stiff Pitching Competition

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 21: Starting pitcher Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the fourth inning at Nationals Park on August 21, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Despite Ivan Nova's great season, the Yankees 1-2 punch in their starting rotation can't compete well enough to match up with some of baseball's elite teams, such as the Red Sox and Phillies. We all know that great pitching can beat great hitting every time. The Red Sox 1-2 punch is better and more experienced than the Yankees, and will certainly give the Bombers' line up a tough time in the playoffs.

Even if the Yankees were to get past Boston, most likely they will have to deal with the Phillies who have the best rotation in baseball and certainly a better 1-2 punch. Having to face Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee back-to-back and twice in the same series is a scary thought. It will be nearly impossible to beat both, thus making it extremely difficult for the Yankees to win the series. Even if you get past those two, you still have to deal with Oswalt. It will be difficult to say the least knowing the Yankees' history against Halladay and Lee. The stars will have to align for the Yankees to avoid such a path to the World Series title in 2009.

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