Yankee First Round Thoughts

This is the year for the Yankees! There is no way anyone will take this opportunity away from them this time. They are determined and have one thing on their minds, winning. Every aspect of the team is functioning at playoff levels. This is the first time in a while that I have been confident in their pitching, from the starting pitching to the bullpen. I think the two additions with the biggest impact are and will be Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte.

The Yankees have always had strong starting pitching when they won championships in the past. They have already shown that great hitting alone will not win championships. The Yankees continue to have big bats in their lineup and now they have the arms to go along with it.

My favorite addition to the team is Joba Chamberlain, I can’t say enough about this guy. He is untouchable and is the perfect set man for Rivera. The velocity and movement he puts on the ball is too much for hitters to handle. I’m sure at some point they will figure him out but in the 2007 playoffs he has a good chance to be the MVP.

As for their match up with the Indians, this should not be a problem. I think the Yankees will win the Division Series in four games. Although, I think they will win this series in four I don’t want you to think that my perception of the Indians is poor. They have a very solid team, but I think the Yankees match up well against them; they can out hit them or out pitch them. I think the real playoff match up will come when the Red Sox and Yankees play each other in the ALCS, everything else is just a warm up.