No team has divided baseball analysts quite like this current Yankee roster, but there’s no denying the upside present and their place in the stadnings. With that in mind, here are 3 reasons why we think this New York Yankees team can put it all together and win a World Series title in 2015:
3) The Bullpen
With Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances anchoring the bullpen, it’s reminiscent of 1996 when Mariano Rivera was setting up for eventual World Series MVP John Wetteland. With both having great seasons, Miller healthy again, and Chasen Shreve, Justin Miller and Adam Warren handling the early relief work, the bullpen is clearly one of the team’s strengths. Given the success of the Royals last year, as well as the Yankees of the late-90’s (does anyone remember Ramiro Mendoza, Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton?), it’s clear that they are attempting to shorten the games.
2) Two Aces
Both Michael Pineda and Masahiro Tanaka have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Pineda had a 16-strikeout game, with no walks, against the Orioles and Tanaka has bounced back nicely from an elbow injury a year ago and a stint on the disabled list earlier this year. He appears to be more economical with his pitches when his stuff is on, rather than going deep in to counts looking for the strikeout.
3) Explosive offense
The Yankees have scored the second most runs in the league entering play today. With two of the premier table setters in the game in Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, and the resurgence of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees offense seems good on paper. Many wondered where the Yankees would get their offense from this season, but that's been the least of their worries during the opening stretch of the season. They also rank in the top five in slugging percentage and 14th in on-base percentage, and don't numbers aren't expected to go down with the way they are swinging the bat.