Posted on February 27 2011 by Brayden Dixon

New York Yankees – Three Questions for 2011

Last season the New York Yankees finished with 95 wins and a wild card berth. Yet, there is less excitement surrounding this Yankee team than in any year in recent memory. The talk is that they do not have enough talent to overcome the Red Sox or even the Rays this year and could be on the outside looking in on the playoffs for only the second time since 1994 when there were no playoffs.

Can AJ Burnett regain his form?

Burnett has had his share of up and down press over the course of his career, but the amount of such press has increased heavily – as it typically does – since entering the New York market. The usual knock on Burnett is his lack of ability to stay on the field. Well we can put that to rest considering he has started 100 games in the last three seasons. However, his performance last year was the worst of his career. Burnett’s problems stemmed from a decrease in strikeouts coupled with home run issues. His fastball lost a bit of velocity last year, which is a problem that typically has long-term ramifications, unfortunately for the Yankees.

How much of a liability will Derek Jeter be on the field?

There is no question the New York Yankees needed to re-sign Derek Jeter. Despite his already below average defense that is likely to worsen as he progresses through his mid thirties, he is an asset to the organization. His quest for 3,000 hits is going to be a cash cow for this team. Unfortunately, they will lose some of that benefit on the field as his defense and bat decline further. It’s just not reasonable to expect anything but decline from a mid-30s shortstop.

Can ARod stay healthy?

Alex Rodriguez is yet another player who has had some issues with the New York media. A bigger issue for him going forward could be his health. He is yet another aging star on this Yankee roster with aging star problems like declining defensive ability and nagging injuries. They will need him on the field if they want to make a playoff run.

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