Here is one video that shows Granderson taking some swings against a men’s softball fast pitch pitcher:

Here is Granderson doing some non-baseball outdoor activities in New Zealand:

Sabathia got behind hitters often in Game 1 and didn’t have great command. He didn’t walk a batter in this start. Although his hit total was high, he worked out of trouble and didn’t allow the big hits with runners on base.

After the game ended, I heard Nick Swisher yell “two more” to his teammates. If the Yankees keep hitting like they did today and pitching like they did today, Swisher’s words could become a reality. But those both could be gigantic ifs. Phil Hughes, who got knocked around in Game 2, goes for the Yankees in Game 6. He, like Sabathia, can make up for his poor first start with a big performance in another elimination game. The Yankees are also going to have to keep their bats going because if they score seven runs in Game 6, they will have a great chance at sending this series to a Game 7. I’ll worry about Cliff Lee in Game 7 when that game comes. The Yankees are going to have to get there first.

The Yankees are a year older, but that’s what was said last year when they were coming off a year in which they didn’t make the post-season. The “Core Four” is growing old together, but there is a great mix of young players and multiple championship-winning veterans that will make up the 25 man roster to start the season.

I hear a lot of talk about the Yankees’ 7-8-9 hitters, of Granderson, Swisher and Gardner, being weak. That may be “weak” when considering it to Yankee standards, but that bottom three is still one of the best in the majors. How many teams can say that they have a guy coming off a 30 home run season batting 7th and a guy coming off a 29 home runs and a .371 OBP season batting 8th? I know Granderson is stymied by lefties and that concerns a lot of people, but I’m willing to deal with him being an automatic out most of the time against lefties if he can tear the cover off of the ball against righties. That becomes a different story in the playoffs, but I’m optimistic that Granderson’s average against lefties won’t be sub-.200 (.183 vs. lefties in ’09).

Another question for the Yankees is which Javier Vazquez will they be getting? The one that struggled somewhat in 2004 (14-10 record, 4.91 ERA) with the Yankees or the one with a 2.87 ERA (15-10 record) with Atlanta in 2009? Since he will be the team’s fourth starter, I’d be extremely happy if he has 13 or 14 wins and an ERA ranging anywhere between 3.40 and 4.00 in 2010. The Yankees haven’t had double-digit wins out of its fourth starter since Jaret Wright won 11 games in 2006 (4.49 ERA). I’d be concerned if Vazquez was being asked to be the No. 2 starter, but as a No. 4 starter, he is more than capable of giving the Yankees more than they’ve had in recent years out of the pitcher in that spot.

Now to the main question. Can the Yankees repeat in 2010?

Yes.

Having a healthy A-Rod for the entire season could mean an MVP season for Mark Teixeira. He finished second in the AL MVP voting last year and he had a poor start to the season. If he can get off to a good start in April and May (unlike last year) he could be looking at an MVP season with 40+ home runs, 140+ RBI and a .315+ average.

A pitching staff of Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Vazquez and Hughes should be better than last year’s staff when they pieced together a fifth starter and the fourth starter, Joba Chamberlain, was on inning restrictions.

If Mr. Consistent, Derek Jeter, stays Mr. Consistent, and Nick Johnson remains healthy the entire season, those two guys will score a ton of runs in front of A-Rod and Teixeira. Robinson Cano becomes a key part of the lineup with the departure of Hideki Matsui. He’ll be counted on to produce with men in scoring position more often while batting either 5th or 6th. He didn’t hit well with runners in scoring position in 2009, so that may be a concern. If he lives up to his abilities, though, it shouldn’t be a problem. We still haven’t seen the best of Cano yet and hopefully we’ll see the peak of his talent in upcoming years.

It’s hard to argue that this team did not improve from a year ago for the mere fact that the pitching staff is deeper now. But other teams have improved as well. The Yankees should be able to hold off the demons in the AL East and get back into the World Series in 2010 barring any major injuries, which sometimes comes with age. I like this team’s chances to repeat as World Series champions.

Versatility is key for the Yankees in the outfield. Gardner and Granderson can each play left or center. This gives the Yankees options. When Winn plays in left, either Gardner or Granderson can play center field.

Most people will yawn at this signing, but the Yankees brought in Winn as a veteran insurance policy if one of their outfielders gets injured and he will be an experienced player to use to give Gardner and Granderson days off.

I would have liked to see the Yankees go with a young player as their fourth outfielder, but I understand their need for a veteran outfielder. This means youngsters like rule 5 draft pick Jamie Hoffman and recently acquired Greg Golson won’t make the 25-man roster.

The Yankees will be losing some power, but they hope the jet stream to right field will help Nick Johnson hit more home runs. What Johnson lacks in power he makes up with patience at the plate. He has a .400+ career OBP and he’ll be given a lot of fastballs to feast on which should drive his average up. Pitchers will be less inclined to walk him knowing Teixeira and A-Rod loom on deck. It would be quite a feat if Johnson walked more than 90 times this season. He walked 99 times last year. 

Granderson, who hit 30 home runs last year, will hover around the same mark in 2010. He’ll fill some of the power void left by Matsui. Although he doesn’t hit well against lefties, he should improve with some tutelage from hitting coach Kevin Long. 

The Yankees lose veteran and post season experience but they get younger and by not giving in to Damon’s demands, they save some money which can be spent on a pitcher to help solidify their rotation.

Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine

The Yankees introduced their newest acquisition, center fielder Curtis Granderson, today in a press conference from Yankee Stadium. Granderson will don number 14 since Joe Girardi is taking number 28 in reference to the team’s goal of a 28th title. The Yankees hope Granderson will be the next great player that fits into the team’s lineage of exceptional center fielders.

“I’m excited to get a chance to be here with the defending world champions,” Granderson said at the press conference. “Hopefully we can look to repeat and add titles throughout the course of my career and be in the great city of New York.”

Granderson’s character will fit well in the Yankees’ clubhouse and his bat will fit well in Yankee Stadium.