Can the NY Yankees win a re-peat?
With Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui no longer part of the Yankees, can these guys return to the World Series this year?
That is the question most Yankee fans are asking themselves as we kick off the brand new 2010 MLB baseball season. Will the key additions of Javier Vasquez and Curtis Granderson be enough to fill the holes Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui left on the roster?
Without a shadow of a doubt, both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui were keys in the Yankees’ World Series run in 2009. Hell, Matsui was the 2009 World Series MVP for crying out loud. Thankfully, the Yankees are deep enough on both offense and with pitching that they can probably afford to lose out on those key elements on their title run heading to the season.
While some will remember Vazquez’s bad first go-around with the New York Yankees, things will be drastically different in that he won’t be counted on to be the ace or even second-best pitcher on the team. He’ll be the fourth starter behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte. There is no questioning Vazquez’s stuff and the second tour on duty with the Bronx Bombers should be a lot smoother.
Granderson can do a lot of things on offense, but would be so much better if he could hit lefties (.210 career batting average). Yet, in a lineup that includes Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, and newly (re)-acquired Nick Johnson, Granderson will be alright.
And so will the Yankees as they have a great shot to repeat. (Can you imagine if they lost Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter? Now THAT will be an entirely different story and a huge problem at that…)
Of course, while the Yankees prepare for a possible title run, their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, are looking for the opportunity to unseat them in the AL.
The Red Sox were winners in the John Lackey sweepstakes, add the fact that they have also signed Adrian Beltre, one of the better fielding third basemen in the league, and Mike Cameron in centerfield. There’s the old adage that pitching and defense wins championships and the BoSox certainly went that route.
It’ll be tough to surpass the Yankees for the AL pennant, but it’s not out of the question either. A rotation of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and either Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield is right up there with any other rotation in the MLB.
Which team will win the 2010 MLB World Series? SPORTSBETTING.COM has the odds.
New York Yankees 3/1
Boston Red Sox 6/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 10/1
Want more odds? Visit SPORTSBETTING.COM for more baseball betting odds. Want to watch baseball live? Get MLB tickets online now.
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