2021 Pre-Season Profile: New York Yankees

 #4

The New York Yankees once again bring a star-studded roster into the season, but they haven't found their way into Fall Classic in over a decade.  Will 2021 be the year they return to the World Series?

2020 Predictions

#5 - 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS

MIH - Giancarlo Stanton

MIP - James Paxton

PTW - Clarke Schmidt

2020 Results

#10 - 33-27, 2nd in AL East, lost in ALDS

The Yankees must be scratching their heads after spending all that money on all their superstars, and then they watch the small market Tampa Bay Rays win the division and knock them out of the playoffs.  Despite all their talent, the Yankees seem to be stuck and keep coming up short of the pennant, let alone a World Series championship.

Additions / Subtractions

This proved to be an interesting offseason in the Bronx as they tried to improve their team without being huge spenders.  They re-signed D.J. LeMahieu who has become the quiet heart and soul of the team.  On the pitching side, three veterans left the rotation in J.A. Happ and James Paxton signing elsewhere and mainstay Masahiro Tanaka returning to Japan.  They replaced them by signing former Cy Young winner and bounce back candidate Corey Kluber and by trading for Jameson Taillon.  In the bullpen, they traded Adam Ottovino to the Red Sox (what?!?) to save money (WHAT?!?!?!?) and replaced him with veteran Darren O'Day.

Most Important Hitter

Gleyber Torres

Gleyber Torres was anointed as the next Yankee superstar almost before he played a single game in the big leagues.  As a second baseman, he burst on the scene in 2018 and 2019, making the All Star Team both seasons.  In 2020, he moved to shortstop and his production took a dip.  Was it a young player having a down year?  Is Torres better suited to be a second baseman?  Well, he's back at short, but only entering his age 24 season.  If he bounces back, he is a really important weapon in that lineup.

Most Important Pitcher

Corey Kluber

The ace of the Yankees is Gerrit Cole.  That's a given.  What happens after him in the rotation is going to be fascinating to watch.  The Yankees are relying a lot on a guy like Corey Kluber that has only thrown 36.2 innings over the last two seasons to probably be their #2.  By all indications, the 34 year old starter is entering the season fully healthy for the first time in awhile, but the Yankees need him to be back to his old self, win double digit games, be an All Star candidate, and throw 150 innings.  Otherwise, their rotation runs the risk of being Gerrit Cole and that's it.

Prospect to Watch

Deivi Garcia

One pitcher that also might help with that rotation depth is Deivi Garcia.  He got a chance to start 6 games in 2020 for the Yankees with marginal success.  This 21 year old righty is the 87th best prospect in baseball entering 2021 and has the opportunity to add the depth the Yankees lost in free agency.  You don't normally see the Yankees rely so heavily on rookies, but you get the idea that the Yankees didn't work harder on filling holes in their rotation because they are counting on contributions from Deivi Garcia and fellow prospect Clarke Schmidt..

2021 Prediction

1st in AL East, lose in ALCS

The talent of the Yankees is undeniable.  I know the small-time Rays beat them out in 2020, but in a full season with that lineup, the Yankees are going to take the division.  With that said, the pitching is going to catch up with them in the playoffs and cost them a shot at returning to the World Series in 2021.

Fearless Prediction

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton will hit 100+ home runs combined.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are the big boppers (emphasis on "BIG") in the middle of the Yankees' lineup, however their storyline as teammates has been defined more by injuries than their on-field production.  Judge has only played one full season in his career, and Stanton has only played 41 games over the last two seasons.  When they play full seasons, their home run totals are some of the highest in baseball (Judge led the AL in 2017 with 52 as a rookie, Stanton led the NL in 2017 with 59 in his MVP year and last year in Miami).  I think this is the year they both finally play a full season together, and if they do, it could be scary.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Colorado Rockies

#10

The Colorado Rockies quietly have been improving over the last few seasons.  Will 2017 bring about more growth and maybe even a playoff birth?

My 2016 Predictions

4th in NL West

Carlos Gonzalez will be part of a blockbuster trade at the Trade Deadline.

2016 Results

75-87, 3rd in NL West

The Rockies played slightly better than expected in 2016.  They even had an outside shot at a playoff birth in September.  The struggle in Colorado has always been pitching, however a good group of young arms have made this a bright spot.  Over the last few seasons, Carlos Gonzalez has been on the trading block.  I thought last year would be the year he was finally dealt, but the Rockies decided to hold on to him and try to make a run in 2017 with him.

Additions / Subtractions

One of the surprises of the 2017 offseason was the Rockies signing Ian Desmond, who was a shortstop in 2015, a centerfielder in 2016, and is slated to be a first baseman in 2017 in Colorado.  They also bolstered their bullpen by signing closer Greg Holland and lefty Mike Dunn.  Possibly the biggest change this offseason was the firing of manager Walt Weiss and the hiring of former Padres' manager Bud Black.

Most Important Hitter

Trevor Story

When the Rockies traded Troy Tulowitzki in 2015, many were confused as to why.  When Trevor Story burst on the scene in 2016, everyone understood.  Story ended the year with 27 home runs in only 97 games before going down with an injury.  Now he is entering his sophomore season and won't be sneaking up on anybody.  He has several things to prove in 2017.  First, he needs to prove that 2016 wasn't a fluke.  Second, he needs to prove that he can adjust as big league pitchers adjust to him.  Third, he needs to prove that he won't have the same issues his predecessor, Tulowizki, had in being injury proned.  If he is able to prove all these things, he will help make the Rockies one of the most dangerous lineups in all of baseball.

Most Important Pitcher

Greg Holland

The Rockies have taken on a philosophy of building a rotation through their farm system while building a bullpen through trades and free agency.  Greg Holland is a perfect example of this.  Once the closer for the Royals, Holland missed much of the last two seasons with an injury.  He appears to be back to full health, and the Rockies are counting on it as they have made him their closer.  With him anchoring the ninth inning, the Rockies' bullpen sets up pretty well against just about everyone.  If Holland can't cut it, the whole bullpen has to adjust and might not be the strength it looks to be.  All this rides on how Greg Holland is able to pitch this season.

Player to Watch

Jeff Hoffman

The Rockies have one of the youngest rotations in all of baseball, with no starter over the age of 27.  Even with the loss of Chad Bettis to cancer treatments, the starting rotation is also a very deep position going into 2017 with several top prospects waiting in the wings to join the rotation if anything happens.  The best of these starters-in-waiting is Jeff Hoffman, one of the highly-touted prospects the Rockies received in the Troy Tulowitzki trade.  This 24 year old right-hander started 6 games for the Rockies last season, getting a taste of the big leagues.  Now he is ready to make a big impact when they need him.

2017 Prediction

2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

I love the way the Rockies look this season.  They have always sported a strong lineup, highlighted by batting champ DJ LeMahieu and the most underrated superstar in the league in Nolan Arenado.  Now their lineup was been upgraded by the signing of Ian Desmond.  Their pitching staff has grown up in Colorado and knows how to pitch there.  Their bullpen is strong with Greg Holland, Jake McGee, Mike Dunn, and Adam Ottovino.  They also have a new manager in Bud Black that is a former pitcher.  Everything going on is pointing to the Rockies being the surprise team of the season.  I have them taking a Wild Card spot, but not quite at a point that they can advance past the one game Wild Card Game.  If the Rockies make the playoffs though, this will be considered an extremely successful season in Colorado.

Fearless Prediction

A Colorado Rockies player will finish in the top three of the NL MVP voting.

Nolan Arenado is one of the best players in the game.  Ian Desmond has the potential to break out into a superstar at the plate.  One of these two, if not both, will finish in the top three of the NL MVP voting.  If the Rockies are to reach the heights I see them reaching this year, this is something that will have to happen.  Either way, the Rockies should be one of the big topics of conversation of the 2017 season.