New York, NY – For those of you tuning in looking for Cookie’s Corner and her hard-hitting celebrity and sports gossip, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Last week’s surprise blizzard left Cookie in the dark and Connecticut Light and Power has been working slower than Steve Trachsel to fix the problem. So I’ve been asked to take the mound on short rest this week. Cookie (hopefully) will be back next week.
Lets start with the big Yankees news from earlier this week. The Bombers finally re-upped with the big man. Thats right, folks. Brian Cashman will stay on as the Yankees General Manager for the next three years. And now that the important stuff is out of the way, the Yankees can get back to the minor task of signing players.
With the Bombers picking up the options on both Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano, the opening day position players are pretty much set. The pitching staff is another story altogether. CC Sabathia and rookie Ivan Nova were the only two reliable starters down the stretch so the Yankees have their work cut out for them to build a starting rotation that will get them into the playoffs in 2012. The Yanks caught lightning in a bottle with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia last season. But both old timers faded down the stretch and probably won’t be back in pinstripes next season.
AJ Burnett showed flashes of being an ace, or at least a solid number 4, down the stretch, but the good starts were few and far between and the big cream-pie-loving righty was mostly useless in 2011. Phil Hughes was also inconsistent this past season but missed a good chunk through injury. A fresh start in spring training might get Hughes back on track. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
The Yanks will likely go after CJ Wilson, who had a great regular season, but tiled himself a bit in the playoffs. The lefty would be a good fit for the Yanks but they’ll face some stiff competition trying to sign him. Mark Buehrle is also a free agent, but I think the aging lefty will re-up with the Chi Sox. Another possibility for the Yanks is ChibaLottAkita’s compatriot, Yu Darvish. Darvish is set to join the ranks of Major League Baseball from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. On an unrelated note, I think Ham Fighter is my nickname at the Christmas dinner table, and I’m 29-0. Anywho, the Yanks could go after the righty if they’re not a bit gun shy after the whole Kei Igawa thing. Igawa will probably go down as the greatest minor league pitcher named Kei Igawa in history.
We could also see some significant time in the bigs for the killer B’s coming up through the system. Expect Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos to get a good look in the Big Ballpark in the Bronx. And once the Yankees sign a dozen or so pitchers for the rotation and bullpen, they’ll be ready to storm the AL East castle once again.
Tune in tomorrow for The Public Professor’s storming of the MTM castle.
