Kuzul

Summing up the power of the American League East is simple. Just consider this startling statistic: In the last four years, three separate teams from the American League East have made the World Series.

Furthermore, in 15 seasons since the wild-card was introduced, only five teams other than the Yankees or Red Sox have won the award. Simply put: the American League East is an elite division.

Even before the Tampa Bay Rays startled the world in 2008, the Yankees and Red Sox were two of the most powerful teams in Major League Baseball. With the addition of the Rays, who have been a serious contender since 2008, the American League East is nearly unstoppable.

However, as the 2010 season comes to a close, after featuring a rare World Series without the Yankees, Rays or Red Sox, we are beginning to see signs that the American League East may be losing some of its power.

Maybe for the seasons to come, the American League will be more even-matched. 

Let’s start with the New York Yankees.

After winning the World Series in 2009, the Yankees had a rocky season in 2010, ultimately ending in a Texas Rangers defeat in the American League Championship series. New York was up-in-arms over the loss, but not because the Yankees weren’t in the World Series. Rather, it was because, for once, the future didn’t look so bright.

The Rangers showed the world something about the New York Yankees: if you can get to CC Sabathia, the Yankees aren’t all that scary. A.J. Burnett was a disaster, and nobody has any reason to believe he will recover. 

The rest of the pitching staff is a bit concerning as well.

Nobody knows where Andy Pettitte will be in the years to come, and nobody knows what to expect from Phil Hughes. In fact, even when both pitched great games, the Yankees failed to prevail.

When Derek Jeter didn’t perform this season, the age concerns finally began to manifest inside the minds of Yankees fans. How will Jorge Posada fit in in the future? Can we rely on Alex Rodriguez? What can we expect from Jeter? Will Mariano Rivera continue to perform? Will Andy Pettitte be back? 

Even when all of these questions are answered, the future will still look uncertain.

Yes, the Yankees know they can, and probably will sign Cliff Lee, and that will help. But the concern surrounding the Yankees goes beyond big-time pitching.

The players that were essential to the teams success for the last decade now look to be on the decline, and Yankees fans are left to hope and prey for the future. The Yankees will always succeed, but how the questions as to how they will succeed are all too concerning.

The Red Sox are next. After a dreadful season—by their standards, at least—Boston looks to be in no position to improve. Victor Martinez will likely be gone next season, and nobody knows if Adrian Beltre (the one bright spot this season) will be back either.

Their pitching staff is extremely concerning as well. Even with the varying success of Jon Lester and Clay Buccholz, the Red Sox had trouble maintaining leads and win streaks. Their bullpen is nothing special, and Jonathan Papelbon does not see a pretty road ahead of him. 

David Ortiz is also another point of concern for the Red Sox.

After resigning him to a one-year deal, Boston fans are likely to see another dismal season from the aging power hitter. Earlier this year, he spoke out against another one-year deal, citing the negative effects it would have on him. Although he has recently shot those comments down, you have to believe there is some truth.

Then, there is the Tampa Bay Rays.

All season, everyone in the world new that 2010 was the last chance for the Rays to make something happen— at least for the near future. Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano will likely all be gone next season, and that says everything that needs to be said for this team.

The American League East will always be a top division, but it looks as though there may be some legitimate competition for these teams in the years to come. As of now, there aren’t too many options to drastically improve teams, and the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees may find the most drawbacks in that sorrowful truth. 

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Pretend for a moment that you are the general manager of a Major League Baseball team. You have a bunch of money coming off the books this offseason, and your job is simple: Get your team to the World Series.

As you enter the offseason, you have your priorities. In your particular situation, you need a shortstop. Your organization has some young prospects who could be successful in the future, but thus far have not done much and may not be ready. So, you look to the free agent market for the answer. 

You don’t have many options. The best seems to be a 36-year old veteran who won the Rookie of the Year in 1996 and is an 11-time All-star. He has played 16 solid seasons in the big leagues, putting together a .314 batting average and almost 3,000 hits. His contract with the Detroit Tigers is expired, and you just may try to haul him in.

You’re thinking about this choice. Yes, he is a solid player, but he is coming off a horrible season where he hit .270, and he looks to be on the decline. You don’t have any more options, however. Thus, you sign him to a one-year, $3 million deal. The deal makes sense, and the offseason continues.

In case you haven’t figured it out, that situation was meant to resemble the New York Yankees 2010-2011 offseason. The player described was Derek Jeter. All the stats were true except for one: He was not a Detroit Tiger, he was a New York Yankee.

As you were reading, you probably thought it would have made sense. Usually, veterans at the end of their career have deals similar to the one-year, $3 million deal mentioned. The case with Jeter is different, however, and it is all because of that one fact that I changed.

What this means is simple: The Yankees are going to sign Jeter because of his value as a Yankee, not because of his value as a player. If the Yankees were to offer him a one-year deal, it would be outrageous. It’s probably what a player in his situation deserves, but it is not at all realistic.

Rather, he is going to get a multi-year deal worth about $15 million a year, the kind of money top players make on most teams. 

Why will he make so much? What makes him different from Ken Griffey Jr., who had over 600 career home runs but still had to sign small, one-year deals?

It’s simple: Jeter makes millions of dollars for the Yankees. Think of all the Jeter T-shirts and jerseys that are sold. Think of all the people that will come to Yankees games just to see Jeter get his 3,000th hit. 

Enter the world where baseball meets business. Jeter is going to be on the Yankees 25-man roster for one reason: to bring fans to the stadium. He will go 0-for-20, he will hit .268, but he will still be there. All for the benefit of Yankee Global Enterprises, LLC. (Go ahead and Google that.)

Am I suggesting that the Yankees shouldn’t sign the almighty Derek Jeter? No. I am simply saying that Jeter is going to make way too much, for way too long, and it will only hurt the production of the Yankees. 

Remove the fact that Jeter is a lifelong Yankee, and then think about giving him a three- or four-year deal. Ridiculous.

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Nobody doubts the power of Cliff Lee. In nine postseason starts in his career, he has an ERA below two and a SO/BB ratio of above nine. After winning the Cy Young in 2008, Lee has blown away hitters in both leagues, recording earned-run averages below 3.50 for three different teams in two seasons. Toward the end of 2010, he helped the Rangers get to the World Series, mowing down all opposition in between.

For these reasons, the Yankees are going to throw everything they have at Lee during the offseason. Especially after not accomplishing the ultimate goal in 2010, the Yankees are again feeling the pressure to get back to the World Series, and Lee is the man they need. 

While this seems to be usual business for the Yankees, things may be a bit different this time. The Rangers will also be in on the bidding, and could pose as a threat to the Yankees. 

Regardless, many believe that the Rangers simply don’t have the economic power to compete with the Yankees, not to mention the psychological power. However, even with the Rangers out of the picture, the Yankees are going to need to do everything they can to bring Lee aboard. Why? Because there are no other choices.

Looking at the free agent market beyond Lee, there are virtually no other options that will bring talent even close to that of Lee. Instead, the market is full of options that include has-beens, injury prone starters and unknowns.

Hiroki Kuroda and Chris Young are probably the best options other than Lee. However, Kuroda is entering his late thirties, and Young pitched just 20 innings last season. Sure, you can make a reasonable bet on either of these guys, but the Yankees are not looking for the steal-of-the-decade, they are looking for a sure-star.

The next two options are pitchers that Brian Cashman may need to mention in the midst of a fake cough if he wants to convince Yankees fans. Forgive me for bringing them up, but Carl Pavano and Chien-Ming Wang will both be available. Wang is having some injury troubles, and no airline with ties to New York will give a flight to Pavano. Both are out of the question.

Brandon Webb, Justin Duchscherer, Erik Bedard and Rich Harden constitute what I like to call the nostalgic squad. In other words, these would have been great options four years ago, but now they pose serious injury risks, and very minimal production at most.

Kevin Millwood and Pedro Martinez are both reasonable options as well. However, they are going to need time this season to fill out their AARP forms, and won’t have much time for baseball. Again, these pitchers would have been great options for the ’99 Yanks, but certainly not the ’11 club.

Jake Westbrook, a former Yankee, is the last option and arguably the best option past Lee. However, while he may be a solid veteran starter, he has never been the difference maker that the Yankees are looking for. 

All other options aside, the Yankees have no reason to be timid with Lee. After all the re-signings the Yankees are set to make, there will be plenty of money left to give Lee the record-breaking contract that he is expected to get. True, not much money will be left over after that, but the Yankees aren’t going to need another star besides Lee. 

Clearly, Lee is the guy the Yankees are going to target. They want to get back to the World Series, and Lee is the pitcher that can get them there. Nobody expects the Yankees to be quiet during this process, but perhaps there is some extra urgency in this particular deal. Fortunately for the Yankees, it probably wont matter.

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The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire and Major League Baseball is considering some ground-breaking changes that could alter the course of baseball for years to come.

ESPN reports that Major League Baseball could make a series of changes to the 2012 regular season and postseason. These include shortening the regular season, making the Division Series a best-of-seven series and increasing the amount of wild card teams. 

Changes to the 2011 regular season and postseason are unlikely and would be minor. 

These changes would be bad for baseball. By the time the World Series comes around, people are tired of watching baseball and that has led to the declining television ratings for the postseason. Adding games to the postseason would only worsen this problem.

Adding more wild card teams would also negatively impact the game. Currently, many teams clinch the postseason early in the season. With more chances to qualify for the playoffs, the possibility of a meaningless September would only increase.

The NFL and NBA have more postseason qualifiers than baseball, which is an argument being used by supporters of postseason reform. Both sports have considerably less games than Major League Baseball does, so it makes sense that more teams should make the postseason.

Furthermore, there have been many instances in the NBA where teams who clearly don’t deserve to make the postseason end up making it. 

The one possible change that does make sense is to shorten the regular season. However, the players’ union has said that it is unlikely because teams would lose revenue.

I am the last person to feel bad for Major League Baseball in this regard. True, shaving 10 games off the regular season would cause teams to lose millions of dollars, but that is the equivalent of me losing 25 cents.

Even so, I really couldn’t care less about how much excess money is going into the pockets of these already wealthy organizations.

Finally, all of these arguments are aimed at increasing revenue for Major League Baseball. If this is going to continue to be their objective, we might as well send Alex Rodriguez to law school and Albert Pujols to medical school.

In other words, baseball should be shying away from the business aspect, not embracing it.

Baseball is a business. I do not doubt that, but too often, people involved in the sport think they are entitled to much more than they deserve. That alone has been, and will continue to be, very harmful to the sport.

Enough about increasing revenue. Baseball is supposed to be fun for the fans and the players, not a money-making machine. It may just be possible that Derek Jeter doesn’t need a spare gold-plated hubcap after all.

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If you followed the Yankees in the latter half of the 20th century, you know why the team earned the title “The Bronx Zoo.”

From fights between Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson, to routine managerial firings, to passenger seat managing from George Steinbrenner, the Yankees were an absolute mess.

As 2010 comes to a close for the New York Yankees, we are beginning to see a new mess emerge.

Ambiguous, mixed feelings are being bounced around, and it seems as though everything could go wrong for the Yankees in the upcoming offseason. Sure, they will win, but it may come at a very damaging cost.

Luckily for the Yankees, there is no clear resemblance to what went on in the ’70s and ’80s. There is no fight within the front office or between the players.

However, while there may be no fighting going on, there may be a sense of betrayal.

It all starts with Derek Jeter. While we know he is going to be back, there are no clear answers to what exactly his contract will say. Many will argue that the old “blank check” analogy may come into play here, but that is anything but true. 

The Yankees are not happy with the result of 2010 and will likely go after Cliff Lee as a result. They are not going to waste money on Jeter, especially if they feel he isn’t as valuable as he used to be. He will obviously expects a pay cut, but it may be a cut he wasn’t expecting—and if there is something that can make Jeter’s image turn ugly, it’s money.

Then we move to the Yankees’ pitching coach, Dave Eiland. Brian Cashman announced today that Eiland would not be returning in 2011. He mentioned that the reason was “private” but also hinted that it was influenced by a lack of production from the Yankees pitching staff during the postseason.

Again, we are unclear what the feelings are within the clubhouse. The words we are hearing are ambiguous, and that is never a good sign. Eiland will be gone, so his feelings won’t matter, but I can’t imagine that this won’t stir up some harsh feelings within the Yankees’ clubhouse.

A.J. Burnett is next. As he cleared out his locker, he declined to comment to reporters on Sunday. Suddenly, we are beginning to hear about possible trade rumors regarding Burnett. If the Yankees address those rumors, it will have lasting emotional effects on Burnett. With multiple years left on his contract, the last thing the Yankees need is a fight between him and the Yankees’ front office.

Trade rumors have also begun to surface for Joba Chamberlain. Word is that the Arizona Diamondbacks may have some interest in the right-handed relief pitcher. Again, trade rumors will not have positive effects on any player, especially one that is so young as could be around for a very long time—not to mention the damage the Yankees have done to him already.

Nobody doubts that the Yankees are going to win. No matter what situation they are in, the Yankees are always going to be equipped to bring in the best talent. However, that doesn’t mean things will go as smoothly as they have in the past. Winning does not wash away harsh feelings and anger.

For the Yankees, they stare that right in the face. Now is their last chance to avoid it.

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Ever since Javier Vazquez made a name for himself in 2004, after giving up a grand slam to Johnny Damon in the American League Championship series, Yankee fans have dreaded the sight of the right-hander on the mound. 

When the Yankees traded for Vazquez in the 2009 offseason, mixed feelings were going around. He was coming off an incredible, Cy-Young worthy season, during which he recorded a 2.87 ERA for the Braves, but Yankee fans still had a hollow spot in their hearts for Vazquez.

To everyone’s dismay—and to some, their surprise—Vazquez revived, and sealed those horrible feelings in the 2010 season. Finishing with a 5.32 ERA in 26 starts, Vazquez hurt the Yankees more than he helped.

For a trade that seems horrible for the Yankees at initial glance, you would think that Yankee fans—of all people—would be up-in-arms over the Yankees decision to bring Vazquez back to New York.  

However, while Yankee fans may be very loquacious, they are equally intelligent.

When measuring the success of the trade, clearly you need to measure both sides: the players the team received, and the players the team lost.

On the Yankees side, they gave away Melky Cabrera, a very popular switch-hitting young outfielder who played the first five seasons of his career as a Yankee, and Arodys Vizcaino, a 19-year old prospect who pitched to a 2.13 ERA with the Staten Island Yankees, and who was ranked as the 69th best prospect in 2010 by Baseball America.

Cabrera, now 25, had a sub-par year for the Braves, ultimately ending in his release. Had he stayed with the Yankees, he would have served as a fourth, or maybe even fifth, outfielder. In other words, he would have made minimal difference.

Vizcaino, on the other hand, presents an interesting situation. Very successful, young stars, are always a point of interest. But in baseball, even a No. 1 rank usually has little predictive value, let alone a 69th ranking. (Not to mention he was put on the disabled list in July with a torn elbow ligament, which is usually horrible news for a young pitcher.)

On the Braves side, they sent over Vazquez, along with Boone Logan, a 25-year old left handed relief pitcher.

Vazquez, as was mentioned earlier, did little help to the Yankees. He had one good run in June and July (when he pitched to an ERA just above three) but was otherwise atrocious. 

However, if Vazquez were not there, we have little idea what the Yankees’ rotation would look like. Given what we saw in 2010, the Yankees wouldn’t have gotten anything much better from their minor league system, or bullpen. Yes, it is true that the Yankees may have been more inclined to go after Cliff Lee if Vazquez was not around, but that would have had its costs as well, probably including the Yankees young catching prospect Jesus Montero.

Logan, on the other hand, may have made the deal all together worth it. In 51 appearances, Logan had a 2.93 ERA, and struck out 38 batters in 40 innings pitched this season for the Yankees. At just 25, Logan can be a very valuable left handed pitcher in the Yankees’ future.

As quick as many may be to criticize the Yankees for this trade, or come up with reasons to hate Vazquez, it is important to weigh both sides of the equation. Yes, the Yankees gave up a young outfielder and a pitching prospect for virtually a useless starter, but the two pieces they gave up have questionable values. Furthermore, they gained an extremely valuable member of their bullpen that may succeed for years to come.

Trades are tricky, and they usually end up having unpredictable results. In this case, it may or may not have worked out, but it won’t be until years past until we truly know the value of this trade.

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Just a day removed from the Yankees elimination, it isn’t hard to find a disappointed New Yorker. The beloved Yankees are done for the year, and their dreams of a second consecutive world championship are diminished.

As many love to do, we can sit here and talk about what could have happened and what should have happened. We can talk about the mistakes the Yankees made; we can talk about the Yankees lack of luck; we can talk, and talk and talk.

Or, we can put things in perspective, and come to the realization that Yankee fans are lucky enough and we are lucky as it is to have the chance to enjoy baseball.

The Yankees have been to the World Series 40 times in their existence. The Rangers, when the 2010 World Series begins, will have been there once. My point? It’s okay for another team to win for a change.

In the past 16 seasons, the Yankees have made the postseason 15 times. They won the World Series last year, and won it three straight times in the late nineties. The farthest the Rangers made it in the last 16 years is where they are right now. Once again, it’s not a bad thing for another team to be in the World Series.

History aside, why are Yankees fans disappointed? Even with a late season collapse, the Yankees won 95 games, and made it to the sixth game of the American League Championship series.

Yankee fans consider that a failure, while Nationals fans prey for a .400 winning percentage in the regular season.

Yankees fans are lucky, and there is no reason to be disappointed. This was a great season, without many injuries or problems in the clubhouse. Not to mention that the Yankees will likely be back in the postseason next year, and many years to follow.

Furthermore, it’s not a bad thing for Major League Baseball to host an American League Champion that isn’t the Yankees for a change. Too much of anything can be very harmful, and it’s a pleasant change of pace to see a motivated, talented team such as the Rangers in the World Series. 

And, of course, Yankee fan or not, you should never be disappointed when your team does not succeed. Sports are meant to be fun, and any sorrow that is created as a result of sports is unnecessary.

Yes, the Yankees lost, but the sun will rise tomorrow, and everyone’s lives will go along, unharmed.

NY Fans: you have it better than anyone, so try not to complain. Baseball fans: your right to watch, enjoy, and root for your team is precious enough, and it’s a victory for us all.

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Major League Baseball is considering adding a seven-day disabled list option for players with concussions, a person familiar with the proposal told the Associated Press. The proposal could come into effect as soon as next season.

Recently, concussions have been catapulted onto the national stage, as high school football players, and NFL players alike, have begun to suffer injuries. The state of Washington has already passed legislation intended to protect youth football players from concussions. Other states have laws already in place, and others will likely follow.

The NFL has begun to crack down on illegal hits that could result in head injuries. Just last week, three players were fined at least $50,000, and the league was warned that suspensions would be handed out in the future.

Concussions have recently become a problem in Major League Baseball as well. The Twins lost their star Justin Morneau, and the Mets lost three sluggers in David Wright, Jason Bay, and Ryan Church, all to concussions.

Clearly, concussions are a problem.

Major League Baseball currently has two disabled list options: 15 days and 60 days. The new, seven-day policy would allow players to return faster if they had a concussion. 

Sounds like a good idea, right? Concussions are becoming a problem, so let’s solve that problem by encouraging players to have quicker recoveries. No. Bad idea.

Concussions are becoming a problem because new technology has allowed us to detect injuries that were undetectable in the past. If anything, we should be encouraging longer recoveries, not shorter ones.

Now, I am not a doctor, but I can’t imagine that eight more days of recovery is a bad idea. What I do know for sure is that Justin Morneau missed almost three months with a concussion. Would a seven-day recovery have worked for him?

On the one hand, a seven-day disabled list option may encourage teams to shut down players instead of letting them play through the injury. But, on the other hand, a seven-day recovery does not seem adequate, and the idea of encouraging teams to have faster recovery processes can only lead to more injuries.

To read more thoughts and analysis, check out my blog. You can also send me an e-mail, follow me on Twitter, and check out more at jesskcoleman.com.

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Two seasons ago, the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first—and last—time this decade. They went into the offseason with a sense of urgency—a sense that holds none of the connoted nerves for Yankees fans, considering they always have the financial power to get the job done.

And they did.

The Yankees signed three of the top free agents to long-term deals. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira were all Yankees. They would go on to win the World Series.

After accomplishing the ultimate goal, the Yankees sought out to polish up the necessary pieces in the 2009 offseason and add in some smaller pieces that they thought could help their team repeat. Javier Vazquez, Lance Berkman and other small pieces were now Yankees.

These two situations are normal for Yankees fans. New York is always going to be in the bidding for the top free agents, and they will always look for ways to improve their team. However, in the 2010 offseason, the Yankees are going to enter some unfamiliar water, and it will be interesting—and essential—to see how it is handled.

Why is it going to be different? Among all the normal acquisitions, the Yankees are going to be dealing with players who have been essential to their past but may not be too important in the future. Additionally, they will be negotiating with players who will hopefully be replacing the players who were important in the past.

It all starts with Derek Jeter. Jeter, 36, has been a Yankee his entire life and is nearing 3,000 hits. He will be a Yankee next season—nobody doubts that. But the question looms over the amount and the duration. It is expected to be a smooth process—no other team is in the mix, and the Yankees need Jeter as a marketing piece—but look back in your memory and try to think of a time when an offseason move went smoothly for the Yankees, without any bumps along the way. Difficult, right?

Then there is Andy Pettitte. At 38 and as another member of the “core four,” Pettitte is statistically and historically set to pitch for another few years. However, he ponders retirement nearly every offseason in recent memory, and he will surely consider it this offseason as well. The Yankees will be happy to wait for his decision, but it will not help to have yet another possible tough decision looming over their heads.

The last member of the “core four” to be a free agent this offseason is Mariano Rivera. Rivera, 40, doesn’t seem to have any problems on the mound. Although he has had spots where he looked off, he is generally pitching at his norm. Two seasons ago, he hinted that this would be his last season. However, if he can still pitch, there will be no reason for him to hang it up so suddenly. Again, another tough decision will wander in the minds of the Yankees front office.

Then the youngsters come into play. Boone Logan, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, all aged 25 or younger, will be eligible for arbitration for the first time in their careers (except Logan who will be eligible for the second time in his career). Arbitration is always a messy process, and the Yankees will thus avoid attending the hearing by trying to work out a contract. However, these pitchers, all essential to the Yankees’ future, have never dealt with the Yankees before in a financial setting. We have no idea if their egos will take over. If such is the case, we could be in for a very, very messy process.

Lance Berkman will also present a tough decision. After putting on a show in the early rounds of the playoffs, the Yankees have realized how valuable he can be. He has a club option for 2011, and the Yankees will need to decide which direction they are moving in. 

After that, it will be relatively easy for the Yankees. Small pieces such as Vazquez, Austin Kearns and Marcus Thames will become free agents. The Yankees will simply need to make yet another decision on all three of them. The good news is that there will be no serious repercussions.

And then, of course, come the big free agents. The Yankees are expected to go after Cliff Lee. Don’t expect that to be an easy process, with many other teams expected to bid as well. Furthermore, the Yankees have expressed varying interest in Carl Crawford, who will also be targeted by many teams. These decisions, however, are normal for the Yankees.

Just like every offseason, the Yankees will look to improve their team. However, for a change, the Yankees are going to be faced with many, many decisions that will induce crucial effects on the future success of the Yankees on, and off, the field. The Yankees love winning, but as we all know, winning has its costs.

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CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes.

What would you say if I told you that was the starting rotation of a Major League Baseball team? You would probably say that they would inevitably be in the World Series and it would be nearly impossible to beat them. 

Oh, you can also add in that it would be for a team that has had the best offense for two straight years. 

That team is the New York Yankees. Everyday that passes, this startling fantasy becomes closer to reality.

Lee and Pettitte are the two pieces to this puzzle that are a bit loose. Lee isn’t even on the Yankees at this point and Pettitte contemplates retirement every year. But if history gives us any indication, this dream rotation is not very far off.

Lee, the 31-year old left-hander of the Texas Rangers, is set to be a free agent after the 2010 season. He was the Cy Young winner in 2008, leading the league in ERA. Since then, he has found homes in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Seattle and Texas. He will be looking for a more permanent home this off-season and the Yankees seem poised to haul him in. 

Especially after a season where starting pitching was a weak-point, the Yankees are going to be eager to bring in a top-flight starting pitcher. And just like we saw with Mike Mussina in 2000, Jason Giambi in 2001, Hideki Matsui in 2002, Johnny Damon in 2005 and Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Burnett in 2008, if the Yankees feel they need something they are not going to let it slip away.

Then, there is Pettitte. At 38 years old, and a contract that is about to expire, it seems like a perfect time for the 240 game winner to call it quits. Retirement has been in the discussion every year, and it will be taken even more seriously after the 2010 season.

However, history tells us that retirement after this season should not be considered. 

This season Andy Pettitte became the fifteenth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to pitch at least 3,000 innings and win at least 200 games in his career. If he retires after this season he will be the first of the 15 to retire before age 39; if he retires after next season he will be only the fourth to not pitch into his forties.

Historically speaking, it would be very surprising if Lee and Pettitte were not on the Yankees next season. The Yankees need pitching and Lee is the best available help, while Pettitte is historically dominant enough to pitch for at least two more years. 

Burnett is a legitimate concern as well. With a 5.26 ERA this season, he had one of the most inconsistent seasons of his career, frustrating Yankees fans week after week. 

However, Burnett is going to be in the Yankees rotation next year. That part we know. As for his success, it is likely that another horrific season will not happen. This was the first season of his career where he had an ERA above five. Chances are it won’t happen again. Plus, with Lee and Sabathia in front of him—and Pettitte behind him—there will be virtually no pressure on Burnett. Will that help? We will see.

Hughes, who is entering his prime, has given us no reason to believe that he is on the decline. As a 25 year old next season, he will be in his second full season as a starter, and that can only help him. 

As for Sabathia, nobody worries about him.

If the Yankees seemed scary in 2010, or even 2009, watch out for them in 2011. The Yankees have a good chance of putting together a rotation full of pitchers that most teams would love to have as aces. All they need to do is remain the Yankees they have been for the past forty years.

E-mail me at jess@jesskcoleman.com, follow me on Twitter @jesskcoleman, and check out more at jesskcoleman.com.

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