Johnny Damon may have been voted by SI readers as having the worst arm for an outfield (we all know this)… but he sure can hit to that right field porch.   He smacked his 200th last night hitting a multi-run dinger  joining the hitting party which commenced during the Yankees pummeling of Tampa Bay.

This entire team continues to be fun to watch… 9-1 in their last 10 games.   But the players I’m enjoying the most are Derek Jeter and Robi Cano.  Do you remember the off season talk about the aging shortstop in the Bronx?  How about this for Jeter… .325 avg, 402 OBP, 126 hits near the half way point!  Derek is kicking ass.    Robi Cano batting .311, 26 Doubles, 123 hits…  I remember reading post this past winter about trading him.  A complete turn around from last season.   Is there any team who has a better middle infield combination than the Yankees?  I don’t think so.

Looking for C.C to dominate Scott Kazmir tonight.   Looking for Tex to have another big night.

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As Alexander Pope once wrote ”hope springs eternal”.    It’s almost spring.. almost time for baseball at a new (unbelievable) stadium.  There may be a certain amount of “hope” in my 2009 Yankee predictions, but I have solid confidence in this year’s team.  Here it goes…

1. Yankees will win home opener at the new stadium against Cleveland on April 16th.  C.C. Sabathia will get his first win over Cliff Lee.  Unfortunately Bronx Bomber fans won’t get a chance to “cheer” Carl Pavano during the home opening series… only 4 games and Pavano is projected to be #5 in the rotation.  While I hope it doesn’t happen, fans wil probably give A-Rod the old “bronxcheer”.  Let’s hope he answers with 2 homers so the fans tone down and team can benefit from his ability.  What’s done is done.. now let’s win!
   
2. If he stay’s healthy, C.C. Sabathia will post 23 wins this season.   He’s has one of the best offensive teams in baseball giving him run support.   If they give him 5-6 runs a game he may win 25!
   
3. A. J. Burnett and Chien-Mein Wang will remain healthy all season winning 18 and 20 games respectively.  Again, run support.
   
4. Derek Jeter will bat .300 or above this season..  OK, pretty much even money on this one.
   
5. A-Rod will have a tough April and May.   However, will break out in June to finish the season at around .300 with 38 HRs and 109 RBIs.  The fans will be on him all year while he’s in the field so get use to hearing “E5″.   I hope I’m wrong but 20+ errors for A-Rod this year.
   
6. Mark Teixeira will prove to be a GREAT Yankee first baseman.  I mean along the lines of Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez and dare I say Lou Gerhig.  He will flash the leather and quietly bat in the low .300′s.   Yankee fans will welcome him as another “clutch” player.
   
7. Joba Chamberlain will end up being the 7-8th inning dude.  For three reasons.. A. The Yankees will figure out that it’s better to have one of the strongest arms in baseball effecting the outcome of 65 games instead of 35.  B. Phil Hughes will bloom.  C. They’ll need to fill a gap in the bullpen. 
   
8. Johnny Damon will hit the ground running offensively.
   
9. Jorge Posadawill platoon with Melina.   The Yankees will want his bat in the lineup so he may see some DH time if Matsui isn’t performing.  I hate to say it but this may be Jorge’s last year behind the plate.
   
10. Robinson Canowill have a killer season batting .305 with 32 HR, 98 RBI’s.   He will be one of the best hitting 2B men  of 2009 in all of baseball.  Well, at least I hope so.
    
11. Melky Cabrera and Brett Garnder will end up sharing time in Centerfield, with Garnder usually coming in late in the game as a pinch runner.
    
12. Marino Rivera… no prediction on this one.  I hope he comes back to form after the shoulder surgery but we really won’t know until around late April after he’s in game situations.  If he’s not at least 90% of the old Mo, the Yankees have a serious problem.  He’s got to retain his 9th innning dominance in order for the Yankees to have a shot at the playoffs.
    
13. The Yankees will win 97 games beating the Red Sox by 1 game for the division title (thus making the playoffs).  Wins per pitcher breaks down a follows… Sabathia 23, Burnett 18, Wang 20, Pettitte 15, Joba 4, Hughes 12 & 5 games won by the bullpen.
    
14. The Yankees will beat the Angels to win the ALCS and face the Phillies in the World Series.  Will they win the WS?  If they get there I’ll be sure to post my prediction.
    
15. Joe Girardi will be back as the Yankee manager in 2010.

Disclaimer:  The predictions provided above have been made by a Yankee fan who may have his head a bit in the clouds (or up his ass) because he is so hungry to watch baseball again and he wants his team to make the playoffs.  These prophecies were made under the assumption that all of the players mentioned stay off the DL for the most part and that Yankees develop a good solution to the middle inning pitching challenge.  It would also help if Boston and Tampa Bay play like crap from April through June! 

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