New York Yankees: The 5 Reasons Why the Bronx Bombers Will Be Fine in 5 Years

The calendar has flipped officially to February, and we're about two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training.

Baseball is one step closer to being back.

It's been a very quiet offseason for the Yankees up until a few weeks ago, mostly because the Yankees already had a playoff-team constructed for 2012.

Most people demanded change after the Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 ALDS, but we all forgot that the Yankees also won 97 games and were the top seed in the American League playoffs.

Now, the reason I am writing today is to counter a B/R writer who wrote an article about why the Yankees will be terrible in five years.

Here's why in five years, the Yankees will be just fine.

David Robertson's Emergence

His first reason was: "The loss of Mariano Rivera."

There's a good chance that Mariano Rivera could retire after 2012. Nobody would blame Rivera. He's the greatest closer in the history of the game who has done everything possible in the game.

And in 2011, he broke Trevor Hoffman's saves record, which now belongs to Mo.

Rivera is still pitching for the love of the game and a chance at a sixth World Series ring.

But if Rivera were to walk away, the Yankees have a closer in waiting: David Robertson.

Who knew when Rafael Soriano got hurt, that it would be a blessing in disguise, because we got to see how dominant Robertson was.

4-0, 1.08 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 70 innings.

And he's only 26 and getting better.

Robertson will be the Yankees next closer when Rivera walks away, just like Rivera took over for John Wetteland when he left after 1996.

Brian Cashman

His second reason was, "Brian Cashman."

The funniest thing that writer wrote about Cashman was that, "he was starting to show his age."

I'm sorry, but 44 is old?

There is a reason why Cashman has had this job since 1998.

Since 1998 under his command, four World Series rings, six American League pennants and 11 division titles. Numbers don't lie, folks.

People try to label him the "checkbook GM," but he's really not.

Look at players who have come up and done well for the Yankees: Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova, David Robertson,

Just like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada came up for the Yankees in the early 1990's and started the Yankee dynasty.

Cashman has gotten away from trading for big-time players and has focused on developing the farm system.

He started that trend when he dealt Randy Johnson back to the Diamondbacks and Gary Sheffield to the Tigers after the 2006 season

Sure, the Yankees will always be trying to improve and bring in top-quality players. And they do add veterans to help, like Russell Martin, who now is the starting catcher.

But Cashman knows the importance of developing his own players, and he is doing that.

Cashman is a better GM than people give him credit for. In fact, he's a very good GM, and I'm glad he doesn't make impulse decisions, like trading for Ubaldo Jimenez last summer.

Quality Players

His third reason was, "Overrated players."

So overrated players win 97 games, huh?

Why don't you ask the Red Sox how they finished in 2011 as opposed to the Yankees?

You know, the Red Sox, who were supposed to smoke the Yankees right out of first place in the A.L. East and truck right on to the World Series after they got Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford?

Or even ask the Phillies, who after they got Cliff Lee, were the odds-on favorites to win the World Series because they had the best pitching staff in baseball?

How did that work out again? The Red Sox collapse in September and don't make the postseason and the Phillies got bounced out by the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

All the Yankees did was win 97 games and win the A.L. East. Now granted, their pitching staff wasn't built for October, but now it is with the additions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda to go along with CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova.

Now, the writer actually tried to say Derek Jeter was overrated, which a lot of people have.

What he didn't mention was when Jeter came back from injury on July 4, he went from a .256 batting average to end the season with a .297 batting average. Jeter in the second half was a much better hitter, probably because he got the pressure of the 3,000 hit out of his head.

Jeter plays to silence doubters, and he plays to win championships. So as long as Jeter is still the captain in pinstripes, the Yankees will be on the right path.

In 2011, we might have saw the emergence of Robinson Cano for the Yankees as their best hitter.

.302 average, 28 home runs, 118 RBI and 104 runs scored. In the playoffs, Cano also hit .318 and was the Yankees best hitter.

And at age 30, he's now entering the prime of his career.

And finally, Curtis Granderson.

Granderson made a case for MVP this year, hitting .262 with 41 home runs and 119 RBI with 136 runs scored and 25 stolen bases.

Credit Kevin Long for tinkering and fixing Granderson's swing, as the results in 2011 clearly showed. At times in the season when Mark Teixeira struggled and Alex Rodriguez was out, Granderson carried the offensive load for the Yankees.

Both Granderson and Cano are deserving of contract extensions, which when their turn comes up, Brian Cashman will take care of both players, because they are key to the Yankees offense over the next five years.

Yankees Farm System

His fourth reason was, "Improving rivals."

So his emphasis was on the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays all getting better.

What he failed to mention was the Yankees have very good players coming up through their system as well.

The Yankees did just trade Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners, but Montero was never going to be the full-time catcher.

The Yankees have Austin Romine, who saw some time at the majors this year, who former Yankees GM Gene Michael is very high on, and they have an 18-year-old named Gary Sanchez, who is their future starting catcher. His power numbers were good in 2011, but needs work with his glove and maturity.

But what 18-year-old doesn't need work with maturity?

Then there's Dante Bichette, Jr., son of Dante Bichette, Sr., who was a star for the Colorado Rockies and a dangerous power hitter.

Scouts say that Bichette is ahead of where his father was at his age, and he's only 20. Bichette is coming up as a third basemen and likely, will be the next heir to third when Alex Rodriguez moves to DH.

In the outfield, remember the name Mason Williams. Because he will be a star for the Yankees.

A lot of scouts are very high on Williams, who is only 19. He hit for average, has a ton of speed and can steal bases and has shown improvement with his power and glove.

In the minors, he's a center fielder, but that can always be subject to change when they get to the majors, but if it's in center field or right field, by the time he develops, Williams could be an impact player for the Yankees.

And finally, the pitching. Oh my, the pitching.

Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances are two of the highest-ranked prospects in baseball right now. Betances got a crack at the majors in September against the Rays and showed signs of being a very good pitcher.

And then there is Adam Warren and David Phelps, who could be in the majors as early as 2012, or maybe even 2013, depending on injuries to the current Yankees starters.

Hector Noesi isn't here anymore, so if the Yankees wanted to call up one of these guys to be a long-reliever first and see how they handle the majors, I can see Warren or Phelps being called up first.

Banuelos and Betances are being treated as top-level prospects who's maturation process will continue because they are seen as the future stars in the making.

But rest assure, Yankee fans, the Yankees future is bright with these kind of players coming up in the system.

What Choke-Hold Contracts?

His fifth and final reason was, "Choke-hold contracts."

Is there such a thing for the Yankees? The Yankees who generate the most revenue in all of baseball, and really, all of sports?

Now, he classified Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett into a group as players making a lot of money.

Burnett won't be with the team in five years, so yea, you can't really count him. Plus, his $16.5 million will be off the books anyway.

Mark Teixeira is still a Gold Glove caliber first basemen, who despite only hit .248, had 39 home runs and 111 RBI in 2011.

In each of the three years Teixeira has been with the Yankees, he's had over 33 home runs and 105 RBI. Those are good numbers.

If Kevin Long sees a reason why he would need to work with Teixeira on any of his mechanics or his swing, he would, and will.

CC Sabathia is showing no signs of slowing down, as he was 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 2011.

The 3.00 ERA was the best that Sabathia has ever posted pitching in his career. He'll be 32, but Sabathia isn't just a power-pitcher, he knows how to get people out, even when his strikeout pitches aren't working.

And finally, A-Rod. 2012 is going to be a cross-road year for the Yankees slugger.

A-Rod just had surgery done in Germany on his knee and shoulder back in early December called Orthokine therapy, a procedure A-Rod got recommended to him by Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Major League Baseball, the Yankees, and Brian Cashman all approved of A-Rod traveling to Germany to do this treatment, so there's no "illegal stuff" going on with this. It all got approved.

The Yankees wanted this done because they have a heavy investment with Alex. The Yankees are on hook for another six years and $165 million to their third basemen.

We know by year five or six, Alex will be a DH and going on 42 years old.

If Alex Rodriguez can keep himself healthy, out of trouble, and take the proper precautions to being in the best possible shape, then I don't see why he can't be a force behind the plate.

In 2012, if A-Rod is healthy, he's playing with a purpose. And that can be scary.

Conclusion

Lets remember one thing, and that's who owns the Yankees.

The Steinbrenners do.

OK, Hal Steinbrenner isn't as ruthless as his late father George was. Hal's a little more laid back, doesn't make as many outbursts, and doesn't enrage as many people like George did in his 30 years.

But Steinbrenner blood still goes through Hal's body, and he wants to win every single year, just like his dad wanted to.

That's why Hal increased the 2012 team payroll so Brian Cashman could get pitching reinforcements in January.

It's why after 2008, when the Yankees finished in third place and failed to make the playoffs, Hal told Cashman to make the Yankees better, and they haven't missed the playoffs since.

Hal Steinbrenner would never let the Yankees be a last-place team like the Kansas City Royals. Or the Seattle Mariners. Or the Houston Astros.

And he will never let the team be in as bad of financial shape as the New York Mets are.

Fans aren't demanding Hal to sell the team like the Mets fans are that the Wilpons' sell the team because they have become an embarrassment as a professional franchise.

As a Yankee fan, I am glad that the owners of my team have the last name Steinbrenner attached to it.

They will ultimately be the reason why the Yankee tradition of winning and success will go on. They know their father is watching somewhere.

And if George were still around, he'd tell Hal, "You're doing good, but you can do better to improve."

That winning spirit is what made George the passionate and fiery owner he was, and while Hal isn't as fiery, his passion for winning is there.

As long as a Steinbrenner still owns the Yankees, they will be just fine.