New York Yankees: One Question Concerning Each Member of the Opening Day Roster

The Yankees may have one of the most complete teams in the league (on paper, anyway), but that doesn't mean that the team doesn't have its fair share of question marks heading into the final weeks of spring training.

Some question marks are bigger than others, of course. A few players have more than one surrounding them this spring. The ones that most will focus on are those concerning the players who will be on the Opening Day roster.

The roster will obviously change as the season progresses, but getting off to a hot start could be the difference between winning the division and fighting for one of the two wild cards.

In order for the fans' qualms to be relieved, the following questions will have to be answered very early on in 2012.

Can Russell Martin Bring His Average Up to a Respectable Level?

Russell Martin was a great addition to the Yankees in 2011, improving the defense behind the plate and carrying the offense when it struggled early on.

The pitching staff responded to Martin's game-calling abilities well, as nearly every pitcher on the staff felt comfortable throwing to him.

In March and April, as I said earlier, he pretty much carried the team. He hit .293/.376/.587 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 23 games, while also stealing two bases.

He finished the season pretty poorly, though, as his final numbers stood at .237/.324/.408 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI.

Any offense the Yankees receive from Martin will ultimately be a bonus, as his true value lies in his ability to call games behind the plate.

That said, a player on the Yankees with a .237 average could quickly wear out his welcome.

If he really wants that three-year contract extension this offseason, he'd be wise to work hard and improve his average.

Can Francisco Cervelli Stave off Austin Romine?

Francisco Cervelli has always been a spark plug for the Yankees.

Whenever he's in the lineup, you can be sure that he will play harder than just about anybody else on the team. Unfortunately for him, that doesn't always translate into results.

Cervelli played decent baseball in 43 games last season, hitting four home runs and driving in 22 on his way to a .266 batting average.

His problem was actually his defense. In 316.1 innings behind the plate, Cervelli made six errors and threw out just 14 percent of potential base stealers. That was exactly half of the league average, 28 percent.

One of the Yankees big-name catching prospects, Austin Romine, projects to be slightly better than Cervelli offensively and is already a much better defender.

The only problem is his age.

Because he is just 23 years old, the Yankees would like to get him a bit more seasoned in Triple-A before calling him up for good.

They may have no choice during the season, though, as he will eventually become the obvious better option at backup catcher.

Is Mark Teixeira Serious About Going the Other Way?

When Teixeira came out and said that he would consider going to the opposite field more, fans rejoiced.

When Teixeira came out and said that he would consider bunting to beat the shift, fans were a little confused.

Well, at least I was.

Going to the opposite field more is great. If he can relearn the necessary fundamentals to take a pitch on the outside half of the plate to the opposite field, he will most likely be making better contact and driving the ball into the outfield.

He could try and harness some opposite field power and we could actually see his home run totals rise.

If he tries to bunt, though, we could see a bit of a decrease in his home run totals. Sure, his batting average would likely rise, but his job is to hit the ball a long way and drive in runs.

If Teixeira is serious about going to the opposite field, then fans have every right to be excited. He is a hard worker, and if he says that he will fix his game, he'll make every conscious effort to do so.

He should scratch that whole bunting idea, as he'd be better suited to just learn to hit the ball hard the other way.

Can Robinson Cano Win the AL MVP Award?

Yes.

Yes, he can.

Robinson Cano has made it known over the past two seasons that he is now the batter that pitchers should fear the most in the Yankees' lineup.

He has averaged 28.5 home runs and 113 RBI over the past two seasons, with a line of .311/.365/.534.

It's hard to believe that he had a somewhat "down" season in 2011, when he hit just .302, six points below his career average of .308.

In 2012, though, I predict that Cano will win the AL MVP Award.

If the Yankees can advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, Cano will receive much more recognition. It's definitely possible for him to eclipse the 30 home run mark for the first time in his career. Couple that with the fact that he is a candidate to hit .320 with at least 100 RBI every season, you have yourself a superstar and MVP caliber player.

Cano will carry the offense in 2012, on his way to his first career MVP Award.

Will Orthokine Treatment Be the Solution for Alex Rodriguez?

Alex Rodriguez has not been completely healthy in quite some time.

Actually, the last time he was healthy was 2007, when he had arguably the best season of his career. He won the MVP that season after mashing 54 home runs, driving in 156 runs and posting a line of .314/.422/.645.

Since that season, Rodriguez has struggled to eclipse the 30 home run or 100 RBI marks.

That is mostly because of his inability to stay healthy, as a serious of hip and knee injuries have hindered him over the past several seasons.

Fellow superstar Kobe Bryant recommended orthokine therapy, an experimental treatment, to Rodriguez over the offseason. With nothing to lose, he gave it a try.

It has worked for Bryant, who hasn't seemed bothered by any injuries at all this season. We can only assume that Rodriguez will recover in a similar fashion.

Opposing pitchers should beware of A-Rod in 2012.

Can Eric Chavez Play a Full Season?

Eric Chavez was enjoying a nice season in 2011 before an injury to his left foot sidelined him, though he was able to bounce back pretty well and put together a solid season off the bench.

In 58 games, Chavez hit .263/.320/.356 with two home runs and 26 RBI.

Those 58 games marked the most games he had played in a single season since 2007, when he played in 90 for the Athletics.

Assuming everyone in the regular lineup stays healthy, Chavez probably won't be asked to play in many more than 60 games next season. Even if the team were to suffer an injury, Eduardo Nunez would also be able to fill in, effectively keeping Chavez fresh.

Chavez won't make or break the Yankees, but it would be nice to receive a healthy season from the oft-injured veteran.

Can Derek Jeter Prove His Doubters Wrong Yet Again?

After experiencing arguably the worst season of his career in 2010 (.270/.340/.370), many wrote Jeter off as being too old to produce at a high level. He responded in 2011, bringing his average back up toward the .300 mark. Although he knocked out just six home runs and drove in only 61 runs, Jeter hit .297/.355/.388.

Jeter's season effectively silenced the doubters during the first few months of the offseason, but now many are starting to question his ability to surprise us yet again.

Although it has nothing to do with his training or preparation, Jeter may be rejuvenated a bit this spring now that fellow Core Four member Andy Pettitte has returned for another season in pinstripes.

The confidence that Pettitte has displayed over the course of the past few days may actually brush off on Jeter, lighting a fire inside of him to show the baseball world that the old guys can still play.

Don't be surprised if Jeter plays well in 2012, but keep in mind that it may be the last time we witness a productive season from the captain.

Will Eduardo Nunez Field Better?

Eduardo Nunez was both exciting and frustrating in 2012.

Much of the excitement surrounding Nunez came at the plate, where he provided a youthful spark to the Yankees' lineup. He hit .265/.313/.385 with five home runs, 30 RBI and 22 stolen bases in just 309 at-bats.

When asked to fill in for Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter when they sustained injuries, he did so admirably with the stick.

He did not fill in as admirably with the glove.

Nunez has a great arm and has the ability to get to balls that many middle infielders can't, but his throwing accuracy is horrible and he turns routine plays into dangerous adventures.

At shortstop last season, Nunez made 14 errors in 386.1 innings.

At third base, he made six errors in 285.1 innings. Those 20 errors combined for an atrocious fielding percentage of .916.

If Nunez can improve his defense this spring, the Yankees may have found the heir apparent to Jeter when he decides to retire.

Can Brett Gardner Steal 60+ Bases?

Brett Gardner suffered a down season in 2011, hitting just .259/.345/.369. Despite the low batting average and relatively low on-base percentage, Gardner still led the American League with 49 stolen bases.

In 2010, when he hit .277/.383/.379, he stole 47 bases.

If only he could have combined his 2010 line with his stolen base prowess last season. If that was the case, we could have seen Gardner steal at least 60 bases. With improved walk totals and less strikeouts, Gardner could easily top 60 steals in 2012.

Easily.

He gets great jumps and picks his spots very well. Throw in the fact that he's probably one of the five fastest men in the game and you've got yourself a legitimate stolen base threat.

Putting it all together has been a problem for Gardner so far in his young career. In one season he'll excel in one category, and then he'll excel in a completely different one the following season.

When he puts it all together during the same season, Gardner could become one of the top speedsters in the game.

Will Curtis Granderson's Ridiculous 2011 Season Be a Fluke?

We all know about Curtis Granderson's amazing season in 2011.

He set career highs in nearly every major statistical category on his way to finishing fourth in the AL MVP voting.

Many feel he should have placed higher in the voting, but that's an issue for another time.

The biggest question heading into this season is whether or not he will duplicate his success. In my opinion, he won't.

Yes, I'm saying he won't hit 40+ home runs or drive in 100+ runs next season.

I am not saying, however, that his 2011 season was a fluke.

I believe that last season will prove to be the turning point in his career, the point where he begins the transformation from above-average player to well-above-average player.

In 2012, it's safe to expect 30+ home runs and 85+ RBI from Granderson. Instead of seeing increases in home runs and RBI like we did in 2011, expect an increase in hits and doubles this season.

All in all, Granderson may not be the run producer he was in 2011, but he'll still put together one heck of a season.

Will Nick Swisher Finish the Season in Pinstripes?

Out of all the Yankees, Nick Swisher is probably the most likely to be dealt in 2012.

Given the team's plans to operate under $189 million by 2014, a big contract with Swisher may not be feasible. Plenty of teams would come calling about Swisher, and the Yankees would be wise to listen intently.

The team that would likely offer the most valuable package would be the Braves. They have already said that Swisher will be the team's top priority next offseason when he hits free agency, so it's very clear that they're interested.

Even with the Andy Pettitte signing, the Yankees wouldn't mind having some more proven pitching. Enter Jair Jurrjens, a pitcher who could provide a nice boost come the trade deadline.

In five seasons, Jurrjens owns a 50-33 record with a 3.40 ERA. He would definitely provide more stability atop the Yankee rotation.

The only problem will be dealing with the loss of Swisher. The team has no internal options that are ready to take over as a full-time outfielder at the major league level, and putting Raul Ibanez or Andruw Jones in the field on a regular basis is a huge risk.

Come the trade deadline, the Yankees will really have to plan ahead carefully when considering a Swisher deal. He'll most certainly help the team if he's a part of it, but they'd be wise to consider getting something back in return if they have no intentions of resigning him after the season.

Is Raul Ibanez's Horrific Spring a Sign of Things to Come?

Ibanez came on board soon after the A.J. Burnett trade with a team-friendly contract that won't hurt the team in the long term.

Because it's just a one-year pact, the Yankees would have no qualms about releasing Ibanez outright if he fails to produce at a high enough level.

If his spring is any indication, Ibanez may be on his way out sooner rather than later.

So far this spring, Ibanez is just 2-for-31 with an on-base percentage of .121. He has driven in just one run, while striking out seven times and scoring zero runs.

Yes, zero.

Ibanez experienced a drop-off in production with the Phillies last season, posting a batting average under .250 (.245) for the first time since 2000 (.229).

He did hit 20 home runs, but it's clear that his skills are diminishing.

If Ibanez can hit above .250 out of the gate, fans may be more inclined to give the guy a break.

If he struggles like this, he'll most definitely be on his way out.

How Will Andruw Jones Produce Given More At-Bats?

Andruw Jones produced nicely in a bench role in 2011 and will now be given the opportunity to play on a slightly more regular basis.

Jones figures to be the right-handed portion of a platoon at designated hitter with Ibanez, and will likely see a majority of the at-bats against left-handers.

Hitting left-handers was his speciality last season, posting a line of .286/.384/.540 against them with eight home runs and 25 RBI.

Compare that to his .172/.303/.406 line against righties, and it's clear where his strengths are.

Given more at-bats against lefties in 2012, don't be surprised if Jones hits upwards of 15 home runs. He likely won't get to 20, but anything close will be a nice bonus for the power-laden Yankee lineup.

As a fourth outfielder/DH type, Jones will be a very valuable asset to the Yankees this season.

Can CC Sabathia Fix His Postseason Struggles?

CC Sabathia has been everything the Yankees could have asked for and more during his first three seasons in pinstripes.

He has been a key part in getting the team to the postseason each year, compiling a record of 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA in his time with the club.

The only problem with Sabathia is his inability to pitch consistently in the postseason.

He owns a career playoff record of 7-4 with a 4.81 ERA. In 15 starts, he has thrown just 86 innings, which averages out to less than six innings per start.

Sabathia's only playoff success came in the team's 2009 World Series run, as his ERAs in the ALDS, ALCS and World Series were 1.35, 1.13 and 3.29, respectively.

If the Yankees have any hopes of making a deep playoff run this season, they will need their ace to carry the load.  

Will Hiroki Kuroda Be Able to Adapt to American League Lineups?

Brian Cashman made a nice signing by bringing Kuroda into the fold for the 2012 season, effectively strengthening the rotation and providing the team with extra pitching depth.

In 2011 with the Dodgers, Kuroda enjoyed arguably his best season in the majors. Despite a 13-16 record, he recorded a 3.07 ERA in 202 innings of work.

The only scary thing was that he allowed a career-high 24 home runs, a number that may continue to increase pitching in Yankee Stadium.

Kuroda owns a career ERA of 3.45, but that's most likely a result of pitching in the light-hitting NL West, where the only real offensive threat is the Rockies.

Upon shifting over to the AL East, a division that's the polar opposite of the NL West, it's almost a guarantee that Kuroda's ERA will go up.

Even if it increases a full run to 4.07, the Yankees will be thrilled if the 37-year-old can provide them 200+ innings of solid baseball.

Expect a brief adjustment period for Kuroda in 2012, but don't expect him to implode and become a liability. He will still produce at a high enough level that the signing will be considered a success.

Will Ivan Nova's Spring Struggles Carry over into the Regular Season?

Following a 16-4 rookie season, Ivan Nova has done nothing but frustrate the team and its fans in spring training thus far.

In four starts spanning 12.2 innings, Nova is 0-2 with a 7.82 ERA. He has served up four home runs, and opposing batters are hitting .296 against him.

Nova will be a key cog in the Yankee rotation in 2012, as the team expects him to progress from his breakout rookie campaign.

Manager Joe Girardi has stated that Sabathia and Kuroda are the only locks for the rotation, but it's assumed that Nova has the upper hand in receiving one of the final three spots over Michael Pineda, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes.

Nova has never struggled like this at any point during his Yankee career (spring training or regular season), so seeing how he adjusts to these growing pains will be a good evaluation of his maturity at age 25.

There's no reason to believe that his struggles will carry over into the regular season, but Nova will have to right the ship quickly if he even wants to be a part of the Opening Day roster.

What's the Deal with Michael Pineda's Drop in Velocity?

Most Yankees fans don't really know what to expect from Michael Pineda in 2012—most don't know much about the hard-throwing righty, at all.

Well, we think he throws hard.

Last season with Seattle, Pineda was a guy that regularly recorded mid- to high-90's fastballs. So far in spring training, his fastball has been clocked in the 89-92 range.

Yeah, yeah, it's just spring training—we get it.

Still, it's not a good sign that he can't rear back and fire a high-90's fastball like talent evaluators became accustomed to last season.

Pineda carries a big frame, 6'7'' and 260+ pounds. Maybe his weight has affected his velocity thus far.

Whatever the problem is, he had better be working hard to fix it. The Yankees need him to produce this season to justify trading away Jesus Montero, their best hitting prospect in a long, long time.

Can Phil Hughes Return to His 2010 Form?

Phil Hughes won 18 games in 2010 and many believed that he had finally established himself as reliable option for the Yankees.

In 2011, we quickly abandoned that belief.

Hughes was a victim of dead arm last season, as his velocity dropped significantly and he was not able to induce swings-and-misses.

In 74.2 innings last season, Hughes was 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA. He struck out just 47.

He has been spectacular so far this spring, posting a 1.08 ERA to go along with a record of 0-1. In 8.1 innings he has fanned five.

It appears that he has his velocity back, which is a very good sign for the Yankees. If he continues to pitch well, he'll likely be given the fifth starter's job to open the season.

He may not stay there, though, as Andy Pettitte will likely be coming back sometime in May. When he does, Hughes will likely be bumped back into the bullpen.

He's had success out of the bullpen in the past, so the Yankees need not worry about him if he can prove that his dead arm is a thing of the past.

How Much Longer Will Freddy Garcia Be Wearing Pinstripes?

Freddy Garcia entered spring training as the favorite for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

So far, he's been out-pitched by Hughes, making him the favorite to be the long man out of the bullpen.

Garcia can't be happy about that but, hey—at least he's on the team.

When Andy Pettitte signed a few days ago, Garcia was clearly frustrated with the team. When asked about how he felt regarding the signing, he simply replied, "I don't really care."

Ouch.

That's not the way you want to handle your business in New York.

That comment won't be the reason that Garcia is released or traded away, but the fact of the matter is that the Yankees will have a clear abundance of pitching when Pettitte is ready to make his debut sometime in May.

When that happens, there may be a few teams that could come calling. Many believe one will be the Marlins, as they could offer a mid-level prospect and Manager Ozzie Guillen and Garcia have a good relationship.

If Pettitte returns to form, it's hard to see Garcia staying with the Yankees this season.

Can Cesar Cabral Become Girardi's No. 1 Lefty Specialist?

Cesar Cabral was selected fifth overall by the Royals from the Red Sox in the 2011 Rule 5 draft.

The Yankees, who owned the 29th pick, gave the Royals $100,000 in exchange for the rights to Cabral.

He will have to stay on the Yankees 25-man roster this season—otherwise, the team will have to return him to the Sox.

So far this spring, Cabral has shown flashes of why the Yankees felt it necessary to make a deal with the Royals. In six appearances, he has posted a 2.84 ERA with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings. The only negative is that opponents are hitting .308 against him.

Girardi is in the hunt for another reliable lefty out of the bullpen, as Boone Logan has seen varying levels of success over the past two seasons.

Cabral could easily provide Girardi with the lefty he seeks—it's just a matter of realizing the potential that the Yankees believe he possesses.

Will Boone Logan Be Displaced by Another Lefty Specialist?

Boone Logan has not been terrible since joining the Yankees prior to the 2010 season.

In 115 games (81.2 innings) with the team, Logan has posted a 3.20 ERA to go along with a record of 7-3.

The problem with him is the fact that lefties hit .260 against him last season, compared to the .262 that righties hit.

Despite the fact that he's a left-hander, he isn't exactly a lefty specialist.

I highlighted Cabral in the previous slide, but here's another name to look out for: Clay Rapada.

The Yankees picked him up on a minor league deal this offseason, and he has impressed so far this spring. In six games (5.1 innings), Rapada has yet to allow a run and has struck out seven. Opponents are hitting just .111 against him.

Last season with the Orioles, lefties hit just .104 against Rapada.

He's really only capable of getting out lefties, though, and that's probably his only fault. Righties hit .692 against him last season.

Yeah, .692.

The lefty specialist battle will be an interesting one all season long, but Girardi will have plenty of options if he ever wants to make a change.

Can Cory Wade Repeat His 2011 Successes?

The Yankees picked up Cory Wade off of the scrapheap prior to last season and they sure reaped the benefits.

Wade did not pitch at all in 2010, but he struggled in 2009 with the Dodgers. In 27.2 innings, Wade went 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA.

In desperate need of bullpen help, the Yankees called him up June. He didn't go back down all season.

In 39.2 innings, Wade recorded a spectacular 2.04 ERA on his way to a 6-1 record. He earned the win in his first appearance with the team.

If he can pitch like he did last season, the Yankees' bullpen will be much deeper. He may even be able to displace Rafael Soriano from the seventh-inning role.

Will Rafael Soriano Live Up to His Huge Contract?

Rafael Soriano signed a huge three-year, $35 million contract with the Yankees prior to last season to become the team's primary setup man.

Injuries and the emergence of David Robertson bumped him from that role, and now he has become the highest paid seventh-inning man in all of baseball.

After struggling early on in 2011, Soriano took a trip to the disabled list and returned a completely different pitcher.

His final line was respectable, posting a 4.12 ERA and a 2-3 record. Considering where he started out, the Yankees should be happy with his final totals.

In 2012, the Yankees need Soriano to be better. They may have some nice bullpen depth, but Soriano is being paid entirely too much to be a mediocre reliever.

If his ERA is not under 3.00 by the deadline, expect the team to try to unload him and his contract, even if it'd mean selling low on him. 

Will David Robertson Prove Himself Worthy of Being the Next Closer?

David Robertson put up arguably the best season of any reliever in 2011.

In 66.2 innings, he struck out 100 batters and pitched to a 1.08 ERA. He was 4-0 and allowed just eight earned runs on the season. He only allowed one home run, a big fly that came off the bat of Jose Bautista.

He's always been a solid reliever, but Robertson can cement himself as the next Yankees closer if he can build off of his 2011 season.

He already has the mentality of a closer.

Robertson possesses swing-and-miss stuff, a calm demeanor and the uncanny ability to work out of jams. When he comes in with runners on base, the other team simply doesn't score.

His work last season has earned him the eighth inning job for 2012, and he probably won't be booted from that role unless he struggles mightily.

It doesn't seem like he will, though, and Yankees fans should be happy that they don't have to look very hard to find Mariano Rivera's heir.

Is This It for Mariano Rivera?

What other question could we possibly have concerning Mariano Rivera?

Unfortunately for Yankees fans, it's assumed around the league that Rivera will announce his retirement at some point in 2012.

He has yet to come out and say so explicitly, but he's hinted at it enough times to make it seem like he's made up his mind.

Rivera can still pitch effectively, and the Yankees would likely re-sign him for the next five seasons if that was what he wanted.

He's had an ERA over 2.00 just once in the past nine seasons (3.15 in 2007), and he has recorded at least 30 saves for the past nine seasons.

Rivera is the best closer in major league history and seeing him retire at the end of the season would be a hard thing for Yankee fans to swallow.

He deserves a happy and healthy retirement, but the fans definitely wouldn't mind if he stuck around for a few more seasons.