I’m not relying on too much rebound from him, though will hope for it, for all the obvious reasons. He’s apparently rejigging his swing to do the ‘quicker to the ball’ thing, less dive with the front foot.

I actually have no single ‘must do it’ player. I expect Grandy to be better, too, as someone said above. Red Sox are loaded, have to remember how badly they were injured last year, and still competed. Tampa, realistically, would need to find the promised land with Manny (Damon will be what he is now, but a bit better in their park maybe) not to take two steps backwards.

We need a 4th starter. Badly. Somewhere – in house (SuperNova?) or acquired. We may need a 2nd starter. If so it’ll get worrisome fast.

I expect Grandy to be better, too, as someone said above.

The reality is the Yankees gave 364 ABs to non-pitchers with an OPS+ of 61 or lower last season. I’m not saying give Jeter a 1B and OF glove to free time for Ramiro Pena. I’m not saying Jeter is Babe Ruth. I’m saying he’s not Greg Golson. Penciling in Jeter for 150 games at SS means you don’t look at other quality MIF on the market (esp. not with Cano an MVP candidate).

If a terrible Braves team wants to deal a hot FA-to-be Omar Infante for AAA pitching should the Yankees look at a deal? If the Marlins are horrid and start shopping Hanley Ramirez should the Yankees ignore them? Jeter’s refusal to entertain moving from SS at all is about a lot more than getting Ramiro Pena time at short.

At what level of performance is Jeter not a given at SS? Posada at C? Rivera as closer? The team reached a level with Posada. I’m not trying to push anybody out. I’m trying to figure out what is reasonable in advance so when somebody is swinging a wet noodle bat for 2 months the response isn’t “one more month”.

Also, Jeter did not have a below AL SS year last year. He had a below Jeter year last year. He was either the second or third most valuable short stop in the American League last year by a lot of different measures including fangraphs WAR and RAR. If the Yankees keep getting even last years production from Jeter, he will be an advantage over most other teams. If he snaps back even half way to his career average he will be a significant advantage.

Key players to watch?

I think A-Rod is going to absolutely rake this year. Just got a feeling. I think he winds up top in MVP voting. The Tex-ARod-Robbie 3-4-5 will be the best in baseball by quite a margin.

I think CC might take a step back. These past few years are going to catch up with him at sometime, and the knee issue he had is a warning flag. I hope not, but I think he’s due for a down year. He’s the guy I’m going to watch most closely, ’cause so much is resting on his making every start. Hopefully if he drops down a notch, AJ will pick it up a notch and balance it out. AJ can’t get much worse.

Finally, I think Granderson has a big 2nd year in Yankee Pinstripes. He was a different hitter at the end of the year than the beginning and let’s hope he carries it into the 2011 season.

C’Mon baseball!! We can hardly wait.

I’m also watching to see if Jeter plays any OF or 1B in spring training. He should volunteer to do. If Jackie Robinson, Paul Molitor, and Pete Rose can play different positions, so can Jeter. Cal Ripken was a below average hitter 7 of the last 10 years of his career. I don’t want to see that in pinstripes from anybody. Jeter deserves the benefit of the doubt, he’s been a very good hitter all but one year for the last 14 years, but that year was last year.

Should the Yankees give Bonderman a low ball contract, and see what he can do in spring training?

If Joba pitches well enuf through July, trade him for a needed part.
And Jeter’s offense and defense can’t slide from his 2010 levels …. gulp!

Sadly, Mitre & Nova. Otherwise (still trying to get used to the one space after a period) Yankees will have to win an awful lot of 11-10 games.

No sun today, just snow showers. Three weeks til pitchers and catchers.