WIN METHOD 2012 Spring Training

What a gorgeous spring in Tampa, spring training home of the YANKEES.  Captain Derek Jeter has taken charge and is showing the ropes to the youngsters and conveying the WIN METHOD attitude.  Everyone looks in splendid shape and all are working hard to reach the goal of 28 in 12, nothing else.   As all WIN METHOD fans know, the key to winning is performing WHEN it counts, making the big defensive play and doing what is needed at the plate to help decide the game WHEN it matters most.   The thought of amassing great individual stats has shown to be meaningless if you do not help your team WIN.   Baseball is played for the team to win with every player on the team contributing in their own various ways.

Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances are very close to making significant contributions to the big team and either or both may be called up at anytime this year.   The addition of Pinedo and Kuroda to go along with Sabathia and Nova while Hughes and Garcia fill out a solid six man starting staff, make for one of the best rotation in baseball.   The bullpen, believe it or not , will be better than last years best in baseball.   We also have several men trying to be the second left hander in the bullpen.   Whom will it be?

Much of the YANKEE success in 2012 will depend on Alex Rodriguez, who has been talking WIN METHOD talk.   We will see if he walks the WIN METHOD walk in 2012.   If he does what he always did we will get what we always got.   A lineup that has to try to deliver and win, playing around the black hole in the lineup.   If Alex can play WIN METHOD baseball, we can have a very promising year.   That is a very big IF. 

We have solid backup rotation pitchers in AAA if the need arises.  Adam Warren leading the pack.   Warren, if in another organization would be a starting major league pitcher now.  In the YANKEE organization, Warren is surrounded by so much talent, it is hard to get to the big team.

There are no imminent needs right now and even if a key player goes down, there is enough depth to make any loss less devastating.

We did not get Yu Darvish, and as everyone has seen Darvish did not sign with the Rangers until the very last day.  He wanted to go back to Japan.  However his Japanese team wanted the 51.7 million dollars more than they wanted Darvish.   Darvish wanted to play for the YANKEES.  But, what is, is.    We skipped on CJ Wilson, who was not WIN METHOD.   The backup plan succeeded and we traded Montero for Pineda and Campos.   We lost a great talent in Montero, but he did not fit the team needs and we did get what we needed in the deal.

Jorge Posada retired and now we are down to two of the core four.  Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter are still going strong.  Think of it YANKEE fans, we have the best reliever and the best position player in baseball over the past twenty years anchoring this 2012 team.   All those playoffs, pennants, and World Series rings.  No other player in baseball has helped their team to more wins and successes than Rivera and Jeter.

In a few weeks we play WHEN it counts and play to achieve 28 in 12.