Yearning for the Yankees…The Countdown to Spring Training Commences

Added by Elizabeth DiPietro on January 4, 2012.

Baseball, where are you?

I never thought I’d say this, but being a sports fan in New York kind of stinks right now.

The Jets have been prematurely eliminated from playoff contention amid a sea of eaten crow and shattered egos. A week after we thought we were getting basketball back via a lockout-shortened season, a dispute between Time Warner Cable and MSG network has barred customers from viewing most Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils games. That’s right; it’s one childish dispute between billion-dollar corporations after another, and who loses out? The fans, of course.

So unless you’re a Giants fan or lucky enough to be served by Fios in your area, you’re probably pining for the pinstripes just as much as I am.

Fear not, Jeter junkies and A-Rod aficionados. Season activity officially begins Feb. 19, when pitchers and catchers report for duty to Tampa, Florida. Spring training games begin the first weekend of March, a mere two months from now.

So what’s in store for the Yankees this season? As far as I’m concerned, it’s not too early to start talking about them. Most of their roster is shaping up to look a lot like last year’s. This could be good news or bad news depending upon how you look at it, considering many Yankees had inconsistent seasons last year. Is the first- or second-half Jeter going to show up? Will the injury-prone Rodriguez stay healthy?

Given these question marks, it’s comforting to know that our number one guy is sticking around. During the offseason, CC Sabathia and general manager Brian Cashman quietly came to an agreement to keep the southpaw in theBronxuntil 2016. But Sabathia appears to be the only Yankee starter with a period, if not an exclamation point, after his name.

 Will Ivan Nova fall victim to the sophomore slump? He certainly earned consideration for the Number 2 spot after going 16-4 in his rookie season. What are the Yankees going to do with A.J. Burnett? The heavily-tattooed right-hander spent much of 2011 as a punchline, but melted fans’ hearts by giving the Yankees one last chance with a fine performance in Game 4 of the ALDS. The Burnett question (and the A-Rod one, for that matter) goes double for Phil Hughes. Hughes has had success and failure in both the starting rotation and the bullpen, so his role is uncertain.

Another offseason move by the Yankees was exercising Nick Swisher’s 2012 $10 million option. After this season Swisher will become a free agent. Many have speculated that the Yankees resigned Swisher mainly as trade bait, but they currently do not have a viable replacement for him. It would behoove the Yankees to keep Swisher around next year; the crowd-pleasing right-fielder provides power and patience at the plate and boosts clubhouse morale. Andruw Jones has also been resigned to a one-year contract.

Yes, there are uncertainties. Regrets from 2011, we’ve had a few. But believe me, I’ll be counting down the days until CC takes the mound on Opening Day.

And if Time Warner ever drops YES—watch out. Hell hath no fury like a Yankee fan scorned.