Hank Steinbrenner Firmly in the One Dee Ten Tee Club

This just in.  Yankees CEO Chief Executive Blowhard, Hank Steinbrenner, predicts the Yankees will repeat.

“The two trades that Brian did, I was really pleased with and very proud of,” Steinbrenner said. “I think that is going to make a big difference for us.”

“We needed another top-notch starter and got one,” said Steinbrenner.

Well, one could say with largest payroll in the league, you would expect them to win every year and I guess he does.  And the ability to make trades like that should help -key word here being should.

When he puts that thing up to his lips and sucks, he’s definitely smoking something and it ain’t tabakky.

Here’s the three biggest reasons they will not repeat:

1.  They ain’t getting any younger.

• Captain Derek Jeter turns 36 – his defense has become a liability
• Catcher Jorge Posada turns 39 and there’s no backup for him in sight
• 3B Alex Rodriguez turns 36 and his game totals will decline once more due to the fact that he can no longer turn to steroids to help him recover
• P Andy Pettitte turns 38 and there is no way he wins 14 games again for them
• P Mariano Rivera just turned 40.  Can he keep up his amazing run?

2.  They blew up the team a bit and the new guys aren’t really that good.

• Curtis Granderson in.  Your new leadoff hitter had an OBP of .327 and during his career strikes out about 2 and half times more than he walks.
• Javier Vazquez in.  After a career year in Atlanta, he turns 34 during the season and he will revert to his old ways.
• Randy Winn in.  The Yankees signed him to replace Johnny Damon.  This after one of his worst seasons in the majors.  He turns 36 during the season.
• Nick Johnson in.  Injury riddled former Yankee.  Why?
• Johnny Damon out – They didn’t want to pay the money, so he’s gone and Winn’s in.  Not an upgrade on the field and definitely not in the locker room.  He’ll seek his revenge elsewhere.
• Hideke Matsui out.  Another question – why pick Johnson over Matsui at the DH spot?
• Melky Cabrera out.  If Vazquez tanks, the Yanks will rue the day they made the trade.  No matter what Steinbrenner the Chief Executive Blowhard says.

3.  Pitchers Joba Chamberlin and Phil Hughes – Clearly the Yankees do not know how to utilize either one of these potentially very good players.  The clock is ticking on Chamberlin to reach his potential, but where?  As a starter or in the bullpen?   Should the Yankees hand the closer role over to Hughes now?  Or at least start easing him in?

Hank is sadly mistaken if he thinks this team can take him to the promised land.