YANKEES WOMEN: YANKS NO "UNDERDOG" IN 2011

At long last, the 2011 Season, respectfully named Mission:28, has been underway for 1 week. The National Anthem has been sung, the first pitch was thrown, and home runs and pitching are coming along nicely. All winter long, especially after the Cliff Lee fiasco, the media has been portraying the New York Yankees as the underdog of Major League Baseball. We disagree. Here’s why:

(photo: Daily News)

• Sabathia- CC has been good. Yes, his first start wasn't amazing, but his second was great. He looks a little leaner and more precise. His timing seems a little more in sync with his stuff. He looks cool, confident, and ready for battle.

• Joba- Now, I am not the only one who shudders with uncertainty when Joba Chamberlain is called out of the bullpen. Let’s face reality. With all of the pampering he’s had via “The Joba Rules”, he was anything but consistent. Having him as a bridge to Mariano didn’t always pay off, and many times, it's hurt us. But Joba Chamberlain has been pretty lights out. Yes, a little heavier than last year, but Joba is taking the mound and has had a lot more placement to go with the velocity of his pitches. He doesn't seem rattled, and he's been getting the job done. It seems that maybe our big Baby Huey is growing up a little bit, and has a different frame of mind this year.

• Soriano- Forming a two man bridge to Mo is a smart move, and it's working, except for that one bad night against the Twins. That being said, it's a great bridge, Joba lays the framework, and Soriano nails it in.

• Mariano Rivera- When the Sandman enters, we all know what’s coming. Despite the long rants during the off-season about his age, 41 year old Mariano still runs out to the field, and starts the assault, throwing pitches with such precision that one would wonder if he was a surgeon in another life. Carefully, methodically, and exactly, Mo puts the game to bed...still. Mariano Rivera remains at the top of his game.
  
  

• AJ- Burnett's on the way back. 2-0 this yearalready and looks more focused than ever. Many hope the confidence stays and the wins keep on coming for the once lost soul.
  
  

After all the media hype about the Yankee’s lackluster pitching, it has been more than a pleasant surprise to see that it's all coming together like clockwork. But we can’t balk at the hitting, can we?

• Teixeira- Well known for a slow start, he's already logged four “Tex Messages” in 6 games. A very good sign.

• Granderson- He started strong and followed suit. He will show us results of his hard work from the off-season.

(photo: Getty)

• Alex- No slouch, that's for sure. His timing is dead on and he's healthy as a horse.
  
  

The end result at this very moment: The New York Yankees are 4-2. The games are played smart and hard, just like the fans like it. There's balance, determination and confidence. So far, it's a great start and a good indication that things may not always look the same as they do on paper. As my Dad used to say, green isn’t really green unless you take it to the bank. The Yankees deposited their first four wins of the season, and in doing so, laid some of the naysayer’s predictions to rest.

“There's no need to fear…UNDERDOG is here!”

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer

Follow me on Twitter @ChristyLee127







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