Yankees Renaissance: Responsibility Falls Heavily on Emerging Stars

Opening day is right around the corner, and the New York Yankees enter this season with the page having been turned on “Joe Torre’s team,” and while many of the same players remain, the team has embraced the infusion of youth in the clubhouse. 

The reins of the team are now turned to Joe Girardi who brings a renewed enthusiasm and grit to this team stocked with emerging stars.

If the Yankees are to win the World Championship in the final year of the “house that Ruth built,” the youth infusion could be the x-factor to push this talented team to reach the top.

Most of the Yankee lineup that ranked number one in runs scored and batting average is back again for another shot at a championship.  Again, a heavily left-handed lineup will try and open the season with much more production than in 2007, especially Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, and Robinson Cano. 

Although each of these players finished the season strong, their struggles before the All-Star Break put the Yankees in such a deep hole that they could not rebound to win the division for the first time since 1997.

Additionally, a healthy Jason Giambi is needed to play first base a majority of the time to allow Hideki Matsui to be the DH. 

The young players will have roles to play, and must produce as more responsibility is assumed. 

If we see an unhealthy Jason Giambi, Shelly Duncan will be asked to carry a heavier load at first base.  He is prone to the strikeout, but he has shown the power be to a legitimate right-handed bat.

After months of trade rumors, Melky Cabrera will be the opening day center fielder, but with a number of promising Outfield prospects making their way through the minors, his position is in no way a guarantee. 

Brett Gardner has caught the eye of manager Joe Girardi by showing a work ethic that mirrors the manager’s professional career.  Although he is only 21 years old, Austin Jackson has shown tremendous raw talent and a rare combination of speed and power.  At 19 years-old, Jose Tabata gives the Yankees very deep organizational talent in the outfield which can only up the ante for competition in an already overcrowded Yankees outfield. 

On the surface, the back-end of the rotation may be young and inexperienced, but in actuality, the team is stronger and deeper than in any of the years past. 

Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes have demonstrated tremendous talent and potential. Living up to these expectations will be another challenge, but the team is still better suited with these young guys than in previous years where the team heavily relied on Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kei Igawa, and Shawn Chacon just to name a few unsuccessful hurlers.  

The team is still without a true “ace” in the rotation, but it boasts two of the strongest No. 2 pitchers in Andy Pettite and Chin-Ming Wang, and will look for veteran leadership and a bounce back season from Mike Mussina coming off of a career low 2007 campaign.    

The bullpen is also more talented and deeper than any since the days of Mariano Rivera setting up for John Wetteland. 

Joba Chamberlain has shown he can be a dominant set-up man, and LaTroy Hawkins, brought in via free agency after a strong season for the Rockies, is an upgrade over Luis Vizcaino. 

These two pitchers will ensure that Kyle Farnsworth does not enter any games which he can personally destroy, and gives new pitching coach Dave Eiland the ability to mix and match his long and middle relievers to find out who will be most effective.  With a plethora of young pitching, those who do not succeed in the bullpen will not be given the ball.

The 2008 Yankees have all of the potential to win their 27th World Series and close out Yankee Stadium in the most fitting of ways. 

The abundance of young talent paired with reliable veterans can make Joe Girardi’s legacy just as reputable as Joe Torre’s.  But there is still heavy responsibility on many young stars that do not have any margin for error as always in the Bronx.