Do the Yankees have a legit shot this year?
117624
They have a legit shot provided their starting rotation does not implode. Their hitting is decent, and could be even better if some of those guys would stop swinging for the fences on almost every at-bat.\n\nI would watch out for Cleveland and Chicago in the AL though.
1144281
i'm a yankee's fan, but if the season eneded right now, i don't see them going the distance only becuase their pitching has been inconsistant at best. detroit is playing some amazing ball, but i think they might lack the maturity to really carry it through( if they stay intact, i'd think they'd be a really great pick for next year). I guess if i'm gonna stick it out there, i'd have to give it to the chicago white sox in the american league. they might be a little shaky in a couple of positions (center field need's a ton of help)...but to me they are the entire package, good offence and for the most part solid 'd' and pitching( i love contreras).\n\nin the national league, the mets are playing incredible baseball right now. their sticks seem to always be on fire and with pedro and glavine pitching the way they are, they almost seem unbeatable. billy wagner might be the thorn in their side, he's great, but he show's a vunelrability that could be the mets down fall in  tight games.\n\nof course st louis is out there too. right now without poujous, they might not be able to put it all to bed, but it's early...and i'm sure when he comes back....the cards will be a major contender.\n\nthe reality is it's way too early in the season to think in terms of october, a lot of teams cleveland, oakland, minesota, which were getting shlacked early on are starting to get all the pistons running at the same time...oh yeah let's not forget the dodgers...they are really starting to turn it on.\n\npersonlly, i'm thinking this could end up being an exciting season. there are a lot of good teams out there....the diffrerance between the "have's' and the "have not's" is a clearly defined as in years past.
305964
I think it's highly possible.  Not only Cubs are playing well this season, Marlins is also the one of worst teams in MLB right now.
1053755
yes it is. it seems tht the fans in New York and Boston stuff the ballot box meaning tht we'll get starting lineup full of Yankees and Red Sox. and for exampl righte now Jason Varitek is leading the AL Catchers in voting, but Joe Mauer should be the clear cut starter because hes batting almost 100 points higher thn Varitek. i feel Troy Glaus should be the starting 3rd baseman and not A-Rod, ARod is having a mediocre year by his standards. but the all star game has turned into a popularity contest and its up to the managers on both teams to select the players who were chosen but didn`t make the teams.
916343
They're not mathematically eliminated.\n\nBut unless they win 4 of 5, no (That includes vs CAR @WAS @NYG @DAL vs ATL)\n\nThey'll be lucky to get to .500.  But they do hold their own destiny, thats a good thing.
301796
Yes. The way baseball is now teams that can spend a lot of money, and do it wisely, stand a much better chance of being competitive. I expect that both teams will be in the playoffs this year and I'd give it a 1 in 4 chance that there will be one this year.
275286
Depends on the team. Take a lok at the yankees...always buying the best players, no other team has a chance to get decent players.\n\nThen look at The Tigers, lost 119 games in 2003, and havent had a winning (.500 or better) in 13 years.\n\nIt's all about the owner, and how he decides to run it.
1014167
Actually the Yankees have brought up quite a few first class pitchers over the last 20 years. Most of them pitch/ed for other teams. Drabek for example came up with the Yanks but won 20 games for the Pirates instead. \n\nCurrently  Brandon Claussen and Eric Milton are examples of recent Yankee prospects showing signs of developing into good solid pitchers. \n\nAndy Pettite and Mariano Rivera are two great pitchers the Yanks brought up from the farm system. \n\nThe Yankees while Stienbrenner was suspended built up an impressive farm system in an amazingly short time. Besides Pettite and Rivera the Yanks brought up Jeter, Bernie Williams, Posada, Soriano, Cano, Lowell are some examples. Unfortunately the Yankees keep dumping prospects for washed up overpriced vets. When the Yankees were mostly home grown they were a dynasty. When they went back to trying to buy the WS they suddenly became the most expensive team that could not win a WS again. So many talented Yankee prospects are lost when they do this as well. \n\nSo opportunity is the hardest part for up and coming Yankee pitchers. The Yanks have too little patience with them. They have to produce right out the door but very few great pitchers become effective without a couple years of mediocrity or outright stinking it up in the majors.
323138
Honestly, it will be very difficult. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays are all gonna take some games from each other this year. to me, Roy Halladay is the best picther is baseball when he is healthy. He does nothing but make guys look stupid when he is on the mound, him and that stinkin palmball that he has completely perfected. NY, Boston, and Toronto all play each other a bunch of times and that will hurt all 3 of them because these are 3 very good teams. TB isnt even that bad offensively what with Huff, Cantu, Gomes, Crawford, Gathright, and Lugo. They have a pretty impressive offensive lineup. The problem with Toronto over the past 5 years has been consistency. Can they play well throughout the entire season? With Halladay, Burnett (who is very good despite the crap you hear about him), and Ted Lilly that gives them a pretty solid starting 3 in a series. Vernon Wells is a stud, Glaus and Overbay are very good hitters, Alexis Rios is also another good young stick in the lineup. Signing BJ Ryan was very big for them since now they have a slam-the-door closer, but the rest of their bullpen is very shaky. I would say they have a chance if Halladay stays healthy, Ted Lilly lives up to his expectations as a good pitcher, Burnett pitches like he did 2 years ago in Florida, and the bullpen comes around. Sure they can contend for the wild card, who knows if they over-achieve they may just win the division, but I highly doubt it. I would say right now they are the 7th best team in the AL behind NY, BOS, CLE, CWS, OAK, and LAA. They would need to overachieve very badly in order to get the WC.
1073054
Greetings from inside the Yahoo Brain in New York City!\nHope you're catching the live webcast at: http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\nWhile I'd love to say the Yankees will win, unless they pick up Barry Zito soon, it's not going to happen.\n\nGotta love those St. Louis Cardinals.\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
409997
im not a red sox fan but i believe off the top of my head they have the best chance. lost damon but got a solid man in crisp who is somewhat underrated and they added beckett to an already great pitching staff and of course ortiz and ramirez will get over 140 RBI's each this year. thought i dont think they will win it watch out for the mets a lot of big adds and i believe they will win their division. sorry ATL
354923
The Yankees obviously have the best players, but if they are the best team still depends on if they can mesh.  I'd say them right now though, you can't go wrong saying so.
521382
The Yankees do have a great lineup...\n\nBut man!  Take a look at ther pitching staff!\nTalk about a bunch of dinosaurs!\nSome of them are older than Yoda!\n\nThe Bo-Sox are a more complete team and should take the pennant.  No guarantees, tough.\nLet's face it.  These are the Majors...
289798
They should finish in first place this year. But that will depend on the pitching staff. They have a great ace in Pedro but the rest of the rotation could be kinda shakey espically Zambrano. They have upgraded their bullpen by getting Billy Wagner who is a top notch closer but they have to be able to get the ball into his hands. Their lineup has the potential to put up alot of runs and they have 4 players who have a good chance of hitting 30 hr ( Floyd, Beltran, Delgado, Wright) They also have the ability to steal bases with reyes and beltran But for them to be able to steal those bases Reyes will have to get on base more by taking more walks. They upgraded in the catcher department with Lo duca who is a huge defensive upgrade over piazza he wont provide as much power in the lineup but he has a good bat. They will need to bolster up the second base position sometime during the season as Kaz Matsui dosent have what it takes to be an everyday player in the major leauges and they right field platoon of Diaz and Nady should be adequate and they both also provide some pop in the lineup. Overall the Mets 8 position players have the talent on paper to put up tons of runs which should allow the pitching staff to get the ball into the hands of billy wagner. The Marlins have sold off the bulk of their talent and will likley be a non factor this season. The Phillies have a decent team this year but i dont think they will be able to keep up with the mets. and the braves are gonna be tough again they have a good mix of veterans and young players but the loss of furcal does hurt them. This is the best chance the mets have had to take the division in a long time but than again the games are played on the field so we will see what happens
482287
I believe they will seeing as in the offseason they managed to pick up worthwhile veterans like Mike Piazza and Mike Cameron.  Mix that with the number of young standouts like Jake Peavy and Khalil Green and you have a winning combination.  That does not mean they will make the playoffs though.
19889
I am afraid they will struggle around .500 this season, falling between 3rd and 4th place unless some major roster moves are done before Feb. They are very weak at 3rd base and with their pitchers, especially starters.  No one is a true Ace, and they could very easily have two rookies in the rotation on opening day.  Meanwhile the Mets have spent like crazy and the Braves are the Braves.
371344
Not this year\n\nLee and Ramirez will have good years, but who else in the lineup is productive?\n\nWood and Prior are hurt, Zambrano is the only legit pitcher on the staff, they have no closer, and Maddux is starting to lose it\n\nThey won't beat the Cardinals, but they may challenge for hte Wild Card if Wood and Prior come back healthy\n\nHowever: Compared to other lineups in the AL and the NL, the Cubs don't scare me