'08 RAPs: New York Yankees

With the new Steinbrenner regime in New York, the off-season strategy of the Yankess was changed this winter. Instead of going out and acquiring the best guys on the market, the Yanks are willing to allow their whole to hang on the shoulders of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy. While I'm not a big fan of this strategy, I must say it takes guts and faith in your prospects to allow your opening day rotation to be two unproven, young pitchers, one pitcher who has spent the whole off-season talking about HGH, a sinker-baller who chokes in every game of any sort of magnitude, and either a 'dying' "Moose" or a "Kei" that hasn't quite work.
However, the worst move, by far, for the Yanks was allowing Joe Torre to go. Sure, old Joe had a tendency for burning out every pitcher in his pen, but he is great with the young players. Where as Joe Girardi, who was able to anger and ruin a franchise in one year, single handily destroyed the best young rotation in baseball in Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, and Anibal Sanchez.
Here are the Yankees off-season moves:
-Signed infielders Morgan Ensberg and Chris Woodward to minor league contracts.
-Signed pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to a one-year contract

Pitching Staff:
SP1: Andy Pettitte
SP2: Chien-Ming Wang
SP3: Phil Hughes
SP4: Ian Kennedy
SP5: Mike Mussina/Kei Igawa
CL: Mariano Rivera
SUM: Joba Chamberlain/LaTroy Hawkins

Field:
DH: Hideki Matsui
C: Jorge Posada
1B: Jason Giambi
2B: Robinson Cano
SS: Derek Jeter
3B: Alex Rodriguez
LF: Johnny Damon
CF: Melky Cabrera
RF: Bobby Abreu

Predictions:
Easiest- The Yankees will not win the division for the second straight year.
Boldest- The Yanks will finish in third or fourth, behind the Rays.
Team MVP/Best Season- Alex Rodriguez (30-35 HRs, 100-115 RBI)
Best Pitcher/Breakout Player- Phil Hughes (10-15 wins, sub-4 ERA, 160-180 K's)