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New York Yankees Predictions | 2011 Season Betting Preview

Shea Matthews weighs in with his New York Yankees 2011 Team Gambling Preview. The Yankees won’t be a total bust – flirting with 90 wins seems about right – but they don’t have the pitching to flourish this season. Do your MLB betting with Cappers Picks MLB expert picks in 2011…

2011 MLB Team Preview: New York Yankees

Hard to believe, as many of us watch the snow fall outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; teams will report soon to 2011 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.

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Yankees Calender

FEB. 1-18, 2011 – Salary arbitration hearings
FEB. 14, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players
FEB. 19, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for non-pitchers and catchers
FEB. 26, 2011 – Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players

How do you think the New York Yankees felt sitting on their hands when Boston landed Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez this offseason? Not good. The Bronx Bombers added Rafael Soriano and Russell Martin but, for the second straight offseason, they didn’t make the “big splash.” If the Yankees didn’t get better and at least one division rival most certainly did, is it time for this aging team to start sweating?

NEW YORK YANKEES
World Series odds: +600

Before we declare the Yankees dead, we first must acknowledge that their lineup is still as potent as any in the game. Robinson Cano emerged last season as perhaps the cream of the crop, batting .310 with 29 homers and 109 RBI. But he’s backed up by Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, who each hit at least 30 homers and drove in 100-plus runs in what many pundits called “off” years.

Add the powerful if flawed bats of Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson to the mix, not to mention wily vets Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter plus underrated speedster Brett Gardner, and you have a terrifying group of hitters.

Still – the lineup doesn’t come without question marks. A-Rod, Jeter and Posada are all very clearly on the decline at this stage of their careers. We don’t know if Swisher and Gardner can duplicate their career years from 2010. And Granderson was pretty awful for stretches last season. The Yanks will score a ton but they’re not an absolute slam dunk as baseball’s most dominant offense anymore.

Any real concerns about New York in 2011, however, are about pitching. The pen is more than fine; Mariano Rivera just never ages and the dominant Rafael Soriano makes for a fine eighth-inning bridge and eventual heir to the closer’s throne.

But what about that rotation? C.C. Sabathia is just about the only sure thing in the group. A.J. Burnett has immense talent but few starters are more erratic. He was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA last season. And this is supposedly the Yankees’ No. 2 or No. 3 starter?

Phil Hughes finally delivered on his promise last year, going 18-8. But he posted at 4.90 ERA after the All-Star break, suggesting that he still may be a work in progress.

Even if Sabathia, Hughes and Burnett all deliver this season, who else is there to pitch for the Yankees? Andy Pettitte retired. Joba Chamberlain doesn’t appear set to become a starting pitcher again anytime soon. That leaves Sergio Mitre and the unproven Andrew Brackman and Ivan Nova as possible alternatives.

If you think the Yanks are comfortable with their rotation, consider that (a) they signed Bartolo Colon, (b) they signed Freddy Garcia and (c) they’re reportedly interested in Kevin Millwood. Chasing those creaky vets reeks of desperation.

2011 OUTLOOK

The Yankees will have plenty of believers in 2011 but I’m not one of them. The Boston Red Sox have a much deeper, stronger starting rotation and they can now stand toe-to-toe with the Yankees’ offense after landing Crawford and Gonzalez. The Tampa Bay Rays have a talented, young rotation that will keep improving and should overcome any possible offensive shortcomings.

The Yankees won’t be a total bust – flirting with 90 wins seems about right – but they don’t have the pitching to flourish this season and their offensive core is aging. I see them slipping to third in the competitive AL East this season.

Prediction: 3rd, American League East

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.