2008 Yankees

[MagicPunt]

Here's what the Opening Day roster projects to look like (this is an initial post with revisions to come throughout spring training):

LINEUP
LF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Abreu
3B ARod
DH Matsui
C Posada
1B Giambi
2B Cano
CF Melky

BENCH
Duncan
Phillips
Molina
Betemit

SP
Wang
Mussina
Hughes
Kennedy
Igawa

RP
Ramirez
Karstens
Rasner
Veras
Farnsworth
Chamberlin
Rivera

Chamberlin will likely takeover starting whenever Igawa falters or anyone goes down, whichever comes first.

[BronXBombers51]

I don't even see Igawa being on the roster.

Is this supposed to be a prediction of their roster or just who is currently under contract? I'd assume the former, since A-Rod, Molina and Rivera are still technically free agents. If it's a prediction/wishlist, here's what mine looks like...

1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Jason Giambi, 1B
9. Melky Cabrera, CF

C- Jose Molina
1B/OF- Shelley Duncan
IF- Wilson Betemit
OF- Bronson Sardinia?

SP- Andy Pettitte
SP- Chien-Ming Wang
SP- Phil Hughes
SP- Ian Kennedy
SP- Joba Chamberliain/Mike Mussina

The bullpen has a whole lot of options right now between Veras, Britton, Igawa, Karstens, Ohlendorf, etc.

Farnsworth and Edwar Ramirez should be definite, though. I'm hoping they bring back Rivera and Vizcaino as well.

[vtigers23]

My Hope would be this.

LF Johnny Damon
CF Melky Cabrera
SS Derek Jeter
3B Alex Rodriguez
RF Bobby Abreu
C Jorge Posada
2B Robinson Cano
DH Jason Giambi/Hideki Matsui
1B Doug Mientkiewicz (Resign)

SP Chien-Ming Wang
SP Mike Mussina
SP Phillip Hughes
SP Joba Chamberlin
SP Jason Jennings (FA)


RP Ian Kennedy (Ready in case Mussina falters)
RP Kyle Farnsworth
RP Edwar Ramirez
SU Luis Viscaino (Resign)
SU Francisco Cordero (FA)
CL Scott Linebrick (FA)

[blankman]

My Hope would be this.

LF Johnny Damon
CF Melky Cabrera
SS Derek Jeter
3B Alex Rodriguez
RF Bobby Abreu
C Jorge Posada
2B Robinson Cano
DH Jason Giambi/Hideki Matsui
1B Doug Mientkiewicz (Resign)

SP Chien-Ming Wang
SP Mike Mussina
SP Phillip Hughes
SP Joba Chamberlin
SP Jason Jennings (FA)


RP Ian Kennedy (Ready in case Mussina falters)
RP Kyle Farnsworth
RP Edwar Ramirez
SU Luis Viscaino (Resign)
SU Francisco Cordero (FA)
CL Scott Linebrick (FA)

Sorry, but

Jason Jennings would be an even worse Pavano situation; he's a career mediocre pitcher in the NL and you want to bring him into the AL East? You're also not going to be able to sign Cordero, a closer, to set up for a guy like Linebrink. That lineup is also a very bad allocation of talent. Melky is probably their worst hitter and you want him hitting second? If its going to be anyone other than Jeter, it would be Cano. Abreu is an on base machine and he sees a lot of pitches. This is the perfect guy to bat ahead of ARod.

I'd hope for:

Damon
Jeter
Abreu
ARod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Phillips/Giambi
Melky

Cano has the potential to move up, but he's got to improve his walk rate first.

Wang
Pettitte
Hughes
Chamberlain
Mussina

Kennedy will be ready when Moose gets hurt.

I'd like to see Rivera and Vizcaino resigned
then you've got Edwar, Farnsworthless, Ohlendorf, Britton, Bruney, Villone etc to fill out the pen

[MagicPunt]

Shaping up to:

LF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Abreu
3B ARod
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
1B Giambi
CF Melky

C Molina
1B/OF Duncan
IF Betemit
OF Sardinha

SP Wang
SP Pettite
SP Mussina
SP Hughes
SP Chamberlain

RP Bruney
RP Ramirez
RP Veras
RP Kennedy
RP Hawkins
RP Farnsworth
CL Rivera