The Optimistic Pessimist's Guide to the 2011 Yankees
Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty person?
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It's all enough to drive a man to drink until his glass was half full or half empty.
It's finally here.
The offseason was longer than anyone liked and it didn't feature the fireworks we've grown accustomed to, but another Yankee season has finally arrived. On Thursday afternoon, there will be a roll call from the bleachers, CC Sabathia on the hill and all will be right with the world.
Opening Day is about nothing but pure joy. The entire season needs to be viewed a bit differently.
It needs to be treated with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as you weigh the team's pros and cons against each other. For some people that leads to unbridled enthusiasm about the year to come, while others only see the things that can go wrong and leave the Yankees short of the playoffs come October.
The latter group should keep this guide to grievances produced by River Avenue Blues handy, while optimists are invited to keep the channel turned to YES for the remainder of the season. Both groups should check out the items to come so that they can temper their more extreme tendencies over the long haul.
Optimism: The Yankees have a lineup that is going to put up a lot of runs this season. They can get on base, hit for power and could get even better if Jesus Montero shows up to juice things up around the middle of the season.
Pessimism: Mike Mussina is throwing out the first pitch at the Stadium Thursday. That's great, but couldn't someone talk to him about throwing 80 more some time next year?
Optimism: Robinson Cano is on the cusp of superstardom. His 2010 campaign might have been an appetizer for a full-on feast this summer.
Pessimism: We won't rehash the endless Derek Jeter debate, but will point out that Jorge Posada also looked like he was running on fumes last season. Age can catch up with a bat in a real hurry.
Optimism: Rafael Soriano was one of the best closers in baseball last season. Now he is setting up one of the few better ones and giving the Yankees a chance to make games awfully short.
Pessimism: Charlie Sheen's rehab counselor has a better track record than non-closers with long-term contracts in the Bronx.
Optimism: In Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones, the Yankees actually have bench players that know what it is like to be successful major leaguers.
Pessimism: That bench would be looking a lot better if it was 2005.
Optimism: The farm system is getting high marks for the depth and quality of players coming up the pipeline. Montero, Manny Banuelos and others could be contributors as early as this season.
Pessimism: See the comment above about the age of the team. Youngsters don't seem to get a shot in New York unless desperation gives the team no other choice.
Optimism: David Cone is back as part of the TV crew calling games this season. His good humor and willingness to deviate from the party line makes for good viewing.
Pessimism: John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman are still on the radio. You can't really say they are calling games, because their brand of Kabuki theatre doesn't qualify under that definition.
Optimism: Curtis Granderson is now totally comfortable playing in New York. His second year is going to be much better than his first.
Pessimism: A.J. Burnett is incapable of being helped and will sink even further this season. Even worse, he'll drag Phil Hughes down with him.
Optimism: Yes, the Red Sox got a lot better at the plate but they are even iffier than the Yankees on the mound. Jonathan Papelbon is still around.
Pessimism: Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis for years to come. Papelbon is going to be gone at the end of the year, if not before.
Optimism: Crawford and Soriano are just the tip of the iceberg of the Rays losses from last season. Manny being Manny doesn't jive with a young team built the right way.
Pessimism: Manny Ramirez likes to make people look stupid, himself included. The Rays churn out fresh talent the way the Bloomberg Administration churns out bike lines.
It's all enough to drive a man to drink until his glass was half full or half empty.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City. You can follow him on Twitter and he is also a contributor to Pro Football Talk.
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