Yankees scouting report

March 28, 2008

A major-league scout's take on the 2008 Yankees, as told to Newsday's Jim Baumbach.

ROTATION
Chien-Ming Wang will be fine and Andy Pettitte, if healthy, they know what they're getting. Phil Hughes has good stuff and can be a good pitcher. Is this the year he breaks out? Ian Kennedy is not overpowering, but he knows how to pitch. When he's got his command, he's tough. He takes a little off and adds a little to his pitches. Mussina's on the bubble. From what I've seen, I still have no idea what to expect from him.

BULLPEN

Keeping Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen is the right move. That's where he belongs, right in front of Mariano Rivera. That's a tough back end, the best in baseball. Kyle Farns worth really needs to believe that he has a good arm. The rest are question marks, but who else is that deep? If they can get five or six innings from starters, they're fine.

CLOSER
Mariano is Mariano. There's no reason to believe he's going to fall off. You know what he's going to do.

CATCHER
Jorge Posada had his best year last year and I don't think he's done improving. He's one of the best in the game. He can still catch and throw with the best ... much-improved catcher. He's a big plus.

FIRST BASE
Jason Giambi / Shelley Duncan. What are they going to do for defense? Giambi and Duncan are not good first basemen. Offensively, they're fine. Giambi is back. He won't hit 40 home runs. But he's still a plus offensively when healthy.

SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano is about to become maybe the best at that position. He's done a great job with the glove, very improved. He's a very accomplished hitter. He'll hit 15 home runs.

THIRD BASE
Alex Rodriguez is the best in the business. I don't like him ... his makeup is another thing. He's going to hit 45, 50 home runs. He's going to play third base with the best of them. He's a lock.

SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter has slowed a step, but he gets by because he knows how to play the hitters. He's still a knowledgeable hitter. Knows how to move the runners and all that stuff. And he's the captain for a reason.

OUTFIELD
I'm concerned about Melky Cabrera's speed. I think he's lost something. This spring I haven't really seen that speed chasing fly balls that he's had in the past. Johnny Damon is no centerfielder anymore, but he's fine in left. Bobby Abreu is still one of the best hitters in the game, and he can still play the outfield. A "plus" arm, but his range is limited.

DH
Hideki Matsui always comes up with big hits in big spots. He's clutch. He'll get his numbers.

BENCH
I'm not sure about their bench. Of all the guys that impressed me, only a few will make the team. I like Wilson Betemit because he's a good hitter and can play around the infield, although I don't like him at shortstop. I like Cody Ransom because he can pick-and-throw with the best of them, but he may get stuck in a numbers game. Jose Molina is a fine backup catcher. The kid I really like is Brett Gardner, who I think they'll send back because he has options. He has speed and he can play the best outfield they've got.

DUGOUT
I lost some respect for Joe Girardi when he pulled that bit with Tampa Bay. Going hard into home was the right play. For him to say we don't play that way in spring training, what are you talking about? You play to win and you want to establish that right away. I don't know whether he's mellowing or he's going to be a double-talker or what, but I lost respect for him.