The Bronx Bombers are no exception to this exciting transition into the regular season



competition. The New York Yankees organization is riding high with expectations for the

upcoming regular season. A ball club steeped in so much tradition of winning should

have high expectations. This year they have a lot of young players to help the team get

back to the playoffs and advance much further then another early stinging elimination in

the divisional series.

Players like Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang have a lot of potential to try and get

this team back to the World Series. Robinson Cano is entrenched at second base

because of his range and athleticism; he continues to astound everyone that witnesses

his rock solid defense. Based on spring training he should have a breakout season this

year and all years beyond. Hitting and fielding has always been one of his strengths

along with his knowledge for the game. Cano is still young and has a long career ahead

of him. Chien- Ming Wang is a young pitcher the Yankees picked up in 2004 from

Taiwan. He helped the Chinese-Taipei team advance far in the Olympic tournament in

2004. He pitched with the Yankees triple A team for five starts and then was called up to

the big leagues in 2004. This pitcher has great potential to rack up a lot of wins. Barring

serious injury he should be a mainstay in the Yankees rotation for years to come.

The Yankees have a surplus of talent in the minor leagues, names like Kevin Reese,

Melky Cabrera and Eric Duncan. Reese has been with the Yankees organization since

2002. He started out with the Yankees AA team and is now at the AAA level. He has had

brief stints with the Yankees at the Major League Level. He??s a very patient hitter and

does not strikeout a lot. He makes very good contact with the baseball and has average

speed but doesn??t steal very many bases. Reese??s batting average ranges between

.290 and .300.

Melky Cabrera grew up in the Dominican Republic. He has been in the Yankees

organization since 2003, started out at Single A ball and now has moved up to the

Yankees AAA team. He has had brief stints with the Yankees at the major league level

in 2005. Coming out of spring training he had a shot to make the Yankees major league

roster but was optioned down to the AAA team due to the veterans on the team that

have more experience at his outfield position. Cabrera??s batting average is .285 to .290;

he steals bases from time to time but not often. He does make good contact and can lay

down a bunt with the best of them.

There are other good, solid prospects on the horizon as well; Eric Duncan is a 3rd

baseman in the Yankees organization. Currently he is playing at the AAA level where he

continues to amaze everyone with his glove work and his on base percentage. He has

incredible range and is an exceptional athlete. He is one of the top prospects in all of

baseball. Unfortunately, Alex Rodriguez is the starting 3rd baseman for the New York

Yankees. A change in position or a move to another ball-club might benefit Duncan??s

chances of making it on a major league roster to play every day. Of course, all these

young up and comers are going to need great leadership.

There is no better way to exhibit great leadership than by winning. Everybody knows that

good pitching wins games in major league baseball. The Yankees have one of the best

starting rotations in the American League. Randy Johnson seems right at home in New

York, even though he??s only been there for one season, he practically owns the town. It

must have caught the eye of the Yankees when "The Big Unit" came into the game in

relief for one inning in the 2001 World Series and slammed the door in the face of the

Yankees?? hopes of winning it all. It was the first time Johnson had come in for relief since

1996 when he was with the Seattle Mariners. It wasn??t exactly a surprise move, as

Johnson was the best they had sitting in the bullpen, but it sure got the fans?? attention.

Surely Diamondback fans miss his blazing fastball. Although Johnson is 42 years old he

can still bring it to the mound every night and be dominating. Although he struggled a bit

with the Yankees last year, there are a lot of expectations for his return to his glory

status.

After all is said and done in spring training, the Yankees are high on their prospective

outlook for a successful season. The conditioning of their players has reached peak

levels, the line-ups are set, and the boys of summer are inspired. The New York -

Boston rivalry is going to be as strong as ever. Both of these organizations are going to

look to their veteran leadership to provide guidance by example to a fresh batch of

rookie talent, as well as the seasoned minor-leaguers brought up into the majors

through excellent showings in spring training 2006.