View The MLB Cappers Leaderboard For 2009 \u00a0– Picks Packages for 2010 On Sale Now! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/p>\n They\u2019re baaaaaack.<\/p>\n It was only a matter of time before the New York Yankees, baseball\u2019s \u201cevil empire,\u201d returned to dominance. After a banner 2009 that culminated in a World Series championship, the Yanks are still as stacked as ever \u2013 even more so than last season. We know they\u2019ll contend; the main question is whether or not a new dynasty is upon us.<\/p>\n Partially because of their bandbox new stadium and partially because of Mark Teixeira\u2019s added presence, the Yanks were home-run machines last year, leading the majors with 244 and scoring 32 more runs than the next closest team. While Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera have left the Bronx, scoring won\u2019t be a problem.<\/p>\n Derek Jeter still has another .300 season or four left in his bat and acquiring Nick Johnson gives the Yanks another outstanding batting eye who gets on base quickly and should bat high in the order. We all know what Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez can do in the No. 3 and 4 spots; they\u2019re right up there with Braun\/Fielder, Pujols\/Holliday and Utley\/Howard as the top hitting tandems in baseball. Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano are dangerous run producers too \u2013 and Nick Swisher still swings a heavy stick.<\/p>\n New York\u2019s biggest offseason coup was getting Curtis Granderson from Detroit. Not only does he give the Yankees their rangiest defensive outfielder since Bernie Williams\u2019 prime, it gives them a potent (and still relatively young) lefthanded bat that can take advantage of the winds blowing out in right. Granderson topped 30 homers with the Tigers last year; does he have a shot at 40 in pinstripes?<\/p>\n All that and we haven\u2019t touched on New York\u2019s pitching yet. C.C. Sabathia was worth every penny of his gargantuan contract last season; despite his girth, he\u2019s among the most consistent and durable starters in the game. What A.J. Burnett lacks in consistency and control, he makes up in absolutely electric stuff, with a blazing fastball and power curve. Andy Pettitte has matured into a reliable innings eater \u2013 not similar in style but similar in role to what Tim Wakefield gives Boston every year.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s Javier Vazquez. The strikeout artist had perhaps his best season as a pro with Atlanta last year, placing second in the National League in K\u2019s behind Tim Lincecum and deserving Cy Young consideration. He naturally gives the Yankees amazing depth but I\u2019m not as excited about him in 2010 as some people are. New York remains in capable hands in the late innings. Mariano Rivera seems destined to dominate as long he still desires to play baseball. Regardless of who earns the fifth starter spot between Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain (it looks to be Joba right now), both guys have been absolutely dominant when called upon in relief. That was Hughes\u2019 role for much of 2009 and he flourished, going 5-1 with 13 holds, a 1.64 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 33 innings after the All-Star break.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret that the Yankees open 2010 as the class of the American League and possibly all of baseball. All the pieces are in place for repeat as World Series champs \u2013 particularly because the team\u2019s philosophy changed so significantly starting last season. These guys finally buy into the team concept, actually seem to like each other and aren\u2019t likely to change their ways after being rewarded so hugely last season.<\/p>\n The Yanks should win the East again \u2013 maybe even with a little breathing room between them and the pack.<\/p>\nMLB Team Preview \u2013 N.Y. Yankees<\/h3>\n
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<\/a> Vazquez\u2019s only season that comes close to matching last year\u2019s production is his 2003 campaign with the Expos, in which he posted a 3.24 ERA and whiffed 241 batters. He joined the Yankees the following year and tanked, watching his ERA balloon to 4.91. He failed his first audition in the Bronx, even after a monster year; why should we expect this year to be different?<\/p>\n