Potential for Success for The Yankees in 2019

By: Kenny Velez

Can the Yankees get it together this season?
Photo Credit: mlb.com

Last year, the New York Yankees got eliminated in the American League Division Series by the eventual World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

This year, the Yankees have a new look and aspirations to win the AL East.

But at the same time, they are dealing with several injuries at the onset of their season.

Luis Severino will be out until May with right rotator cuff inflammation.

It is more a precaution than anything, to avoid anything more serious like Tommy John surgery. Aaron Hicks is going to be out until April with a lower back injury.

CC Sabathia, who will retire at the end of this season, is currently dealing with a degenerative condition in his right knee.

When he returns, he will not start right away because he has been suspended for five games due to hitting a Tampa Bay Rays better.

Dellin Betances is dealing with right shoulder impingement, but could be back soon.

Didi Gregorius had Tommy John Surgery in the off-season, and will be out until at least June. These are among the injuries that the team are dealing with heading into the season.

Their 2019 season begins at home against the Baltimore Orioles.

Masahiro Tanaka was the opening day starting pitcher for the Yankees.

The starting lineup for opening day consisted of center fielder Brett Gardner, right fielder Aaron Judge, left fielder Giancarlo Stanton, Designated Hitter Luke Voit, third baseman Miguel Andujar, catcher Gary Sanchez, first baseman Greg Bird,  second baseman Gleyber Torres and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Another position player on the Opening Day roster is DJ LeMahieu, a new edition to the team who played for the Colorado Rockies last season.

The Yankees got him through free agency during the off-season.

The Yankees won the first game against the Orioles, but after the off day on Friday, they lost the next two games against them.

Not a good sign, as last year they went 12-7 against the Orioles.

In contrast, the Red Sox went 16-3 against the Orioles last season.

The Yankees finished 8 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East in 2018.

If they had won more games against the Orioles and other last place teams, they could have won the division.

Relief pitchers on the Opening Day roster include Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder.

Among the off-season moves they made was the signing of Tulowitzki.

He missed all of 2018 after having surgery on both his heels.

The Toronto Blue Jays released him in December, and it was assumed that he would never play in the Major Leagues again.

But to his credit, Tulowitzki worked hard to make a return to the baseball after having last played two years ago.

One of the players who left the Yankees during the off-season is Andrew McCutchen, who signed a three year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Another is Neil Walker, who signed with the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees’ top prospect from last year, Justus Sheffield, was traded to the Seattle Mariners along with Dom Thompson-Williams and Erik Swanson for starting pitcher James Paxton.

Paxton is among the members of the starting rotation to begin the regular season.

The others being Tanaka and J.A. Happ.

After the opening series, Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar were both placed on the 10-day injured list.

Stanton with a left biceps strain, and Andujar with a right shoulder strain.

Andujar’s injury could potentially be serious and require surgery.

The Yankees have the pieces that they need in order to win, but they all need to come together and actually win games before they can think about getting to a World Series.