David LeBlanc discuss who we can expect to see contending for the title this year
By DAVID LEBLANC
Staff Writer
As we all know, the L.A. Angels are going to be the big favorite going into the 2012 season. People also will most likely know about the big signing of other players like Jose Reyes and Prince Fielder, however what about the N.Y. Yankees?
Will they be issues as they always are in more present years, or will they simply have a somewhat unproductive season much like they had last season?
This off season, the Yankees have accomplished something that they have not managed to do in the “Steinberg era”, trade. Instead of going out and acquiring the talent and superstars they needed to make up the typical “evil Empire” starting lineup. They managed to trade for the necessities needed to become a high caliber team.
With the signing of Hiroki Kuroda from the L.A. Dodgers, the Yankees lacked one more pitcher to solve their fatal down flaw from last season. With that, they traded away their biggest prospect, Jesus Montero to get the hard throwing righty, Michael Pineda from Seattle.
With these quiet acquisitions, the Yankees managed to jump from 12 overall projected team, all the way to the top five. As most fans thought, the Yankees would most likely go into the winter meetings and simply throw money around, however this year that was just not the case.
They managed to not only keep their hitting core intact, but also add two huge Pitchers that will help their previously questionable rotation. Although the Yankees are not done, and are still morning the loss of their long time catcher, Jorge Posoda, and the last position they need to fill is the designated hitter spot in the lineup.
Although reports show that they have their eye on Raul Ibanez, if they fail to sign anyone, they do have Andruw Jones who also just signed another One-year deal with them.
Now, taking a step back and looking at the American League as a whole, which teams will have the greatest opportunity to be playing in late October of 2012? With the hard throwing reigning Cy- young winner Justin Verlander, who could count the Detroit Tiger out.
Well for those who did, they went out and signed Prince Fielder to even strengthen their team even more. Obviously with the acquisition of C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujous, the Angels must be in the mix. But who else?
Most analysts now say it is the N.Y. Yankees. After fixing their team flaws from last year, they have now risen to elite high powered team that was once threatened before. Furthermore, some sports writers and analysts do believe they have what it takes to be playing in the biggest game, on the biggest stage.
With CC Sabathia, Pineda, Kuroda, Nova, and Burnett rounding out their rotation, can anyone argue with them? Last year the Yankees fell short, losing to the Detroit Tiger in a divisional series. Their final record laid a measly 97 wins with 65 losses.
The question remains, will this year’s season go over differently for the once most powerful “dynasty” in all of sports, or has their reign as ruler came to an end? Only this season will tell, as we sit back, watch and wait eagerly for the 2012 Baseball season to start.
