Furture is so bright, I gotta wear shades

One of my favorite bits on the old Late Night With Conan O’Brien show, before he went over to the dark side of the Tonight Show was “The Year 200,” where O’Brien and a guest would look into the future.
I know most of us in baseball land see the future as existing only within the next few months, but I thought it would be fun, as we turn our attention to the second half, to look beyond that………all the way to the year 2010.
What will the Yankees look like in another year? Well, here’s what I would like to see when the Yankees begin the 2010 season.
First base: Mark Teixeira — There are gonna be a few pretty obvious names on this list and Tex leads off the bunch. He has been a little more streaky than you would like, starting off horrible, heating up to nuclear levels, then going 90+ at bats without a homer and watching his average fall below .280. But you can already tell that he is good for a .280 - .300 average, 30+ homers, 110+ RBI each year while playing excellent defense. Barring injury, he’ll end up being worth the money.
Second base: Robby Cano — I know we all go hot and cold on Robby, but consider his numbers right now for a second baseman: .308, 13, 46, 61 runs. If he kept up at that pace, he would score 113 runs, drive in 85, and hit 24 dingers. That’s the kinda production from second almost no one else this side of the Phillies and Chase Utley can touch.
Yes, sometimes it seems like he’s watching clouds, or counting his steps to first. Yes, he looks like a freshman on his first day of high school when he comes up with men on. Yes, he tried to bunt being up 3-0 in the count. He aint the sharpest tool in the shed. But, again, where are you finding a second baseman with his talent, his production, at his age? Thank you.
Short stop: Derek Jeter — Hey, anyone notice the old man Jeter is having one of his best years ever? The veteran captain is on pace for over 20 homers (aided by the new Stadium) 30+ steals, 100+ runs scored, and, of course, over 200 hits and a .320+ batting average. Oh, and his defense has been pretty darn good as well.
The rumors of Jeter’s baseball death seem to have been greatly exaggerated.
Third base: Alex Rodriguez — Some days it looks like that $3 billion contract the Yankees gave the man is worth every penny. Other days, it looks destined to be ranked as one of the great financial mistakes not headed by Bernie Madoff. Only time will tell, but this much we do know: A-Rod is gonna be your happy-go-lucky third baseman in the Bronx for a long, long time.
Catcher: Francisco Cervelli — Here is when things get interesting.
Is Cervelli the real deal of Shelley “Shrek” Duncan with a cooler accent? Only time will tell, but you can’t fake that kind of defensive prowess. He has an absolute gun for an arm, and it’s accurate as all hell. He likes throwing behind runners and daring them to try and steal. While I love Posada, as a fan, your heart sinks every time a speedy runner gets on first. With Cervelli, you are almost hoping they try and run. It is sort of like watching a great shot blocker in basketball. You want the other team to go inside as much as possible because you know he is going to regulate that area.
Will he ever be a good enough hitter to make him an every day catcher in the league? I think so.
Look, he isn’t going to be Jorge Posada. Few catchers are. Jorge has quietly amassed a Hall of Fame-caliber career and is an elite offensive player. Cervelli won’t be that, but could he hit .260+ with a few homers, few RBI? Sure, why not? He essentially did that while up with the club before.
With this offense, you should be able to have a great defensive catcher play everyday as long as he is solid offensively. I think Cervelli will hit more than enough to justify his spot on the team.
Right field: Alex Rios — The Yankees need a corner outfielder with pop. The Blue Jays are going to be looking to dump payroll and no one is going to take Vernon Wells. The Yankees’ tenuous situation in the starting rotation right now makes a deadline trade for a bat unlikely as their offense is flying, but in the off season, why not put together a deal for Rios? He’s 28, has a gun for an arm, plays virtually every day, steals 20+ bases, and has pop, which should only be more useful in the new stadium. Plus, while in Toronto he is expected to be a great player, in New York he would be able to fit in a little neater. If he hits 22 homers and drives in 85 RBI for the Jays, he is a disappointment. Ironically, in the ever-harsh atmosphere of Yankee Stadium, those numbers would be perfectly acceptable.
I look at Rios and I see the Yankee answer to Jason Bay and, because he is owed a good chunk of change, I don’t think the Bombers would be forced to give up HUGE prospects to get him.
Center field: Brett Gardner — He’s spunky, he’s gritty, and he is exactly what the Yankees have needed now for a while. Gardner, after working out the kinks early in the season, has become the type of hitter the Yankees were hoping for. He’ll bat .280 because, well, he’ll beat some plays out and get enough in the gaps to create some pain for other teams. He puts extreme pressure on the opposition’s defense. I can think of a few times (the Alex Cora wide throw to second) where his speed was a major reason for an important error. And, given a full season, he’ll steal 40-60 bases, guaranteed (I’m not sure he has even learned HOW to steal as of yet).
He has a Chad Pennington arm in center, but he catches up to balls and is taking much better routes now than early in the season. And he is fearless.
You win with players like him on the team, and they need that.
Left field: Jesus Montero — This one is actually right out of left field, but I think this young man is going to be special. He destroyed A-ball, was moved up to AA, had about a week’s worth of adjusting, and is now destroying that league as well. He’ll be in AAA in another few weeks and then, after that, why not the majors? Everyone is so worried about “rushing” kids, but if Montero is as special as he seems, why not bring him up and let him learn at this level?
Now, about the position change: Montero is a catcher, but he is a big, big kid and, while he has a gun for an arm, he evidently isn’t making Johnny Bench sweat. The Yankees have Gardner, Austin Jackson, and Melky Cabrera as good outfield options (Jackson and Gardner could potentially be exceptional) but they are all center fielders with little power. Montero has the power to be a corner outfielder easily. And since the Yankees are (surprisingly) stacked at the catcher position (Cervelli and Austin Romine), moving him would make the most sense.
Montero should be moved by the end of this year and then allowed to play winter ball as an outfielder. By next season he should be ready and, if not, a month or two extra in the minors, as someone holds down his spot (Melky?) should be just fine.
DH: Jorge Posada — I know he won’t want to do it but Posada needs to be moved to the DH spot by next season for two very good reasons: 1.) he’s not a good defensive catcher anymore and there are MUCH better options in the system and, 2.) Posada is far too valuable offensively and he needs to be rested more than he is now.
Posada at the DH spot would be allowed to focus solely on hitting and, since he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down with the bat, his numbers should remain consistent, even at his elevated age.
There is a far better chance that Posada remains an offensive force for the next two years of his contract if he is moved to DH than if he insists on staying behind the plate.
Take a cue from your coach Jorge and help one of the new kids move into the role.
Bench: Melky Cabrera, Austine Romine, Ramiro Pena, Nick Swisher.
Starting rotation, #1 spot: CC Sabathia — He’s a horse who will only pitch better the second half than the first. You would have liked to see him step up in two specific spots this first half (third game against Boston at Fenway and third game against Angels in Anaheim, both to stave off sweeps) but, overall, you can see why the Yankees paid him what they did. Look for big things second half and next year when he is more comfortable.
Starting rotation, #2: AJ Burnett — Has been on a roll since losing to Boston and has the best stuff on the team. When he is going right, he is virtually unhittable. The question is, can he stay healthy and avoid meltdown games?
Starting rotation, #3: Joba Chamberlain — I am going out on a limb and saying that, by this time next year Joba will be your bona fide #3 starter. First, he doesn’t get traded. Second, he turns it around in the second half and pitches better. Third, by this time next year he will have had a full season under his belt and have matured. He’ll be your man next year, making for a deadline 1-2-3 in the rotation.
Starting rotation, #4: Erik Bedard — I know people don’t like him as a person, and he is an injury risk, but it is the reason the Yankees will be able to get him on the cheap and slip him into the rotation. If he stays healthy, the Yanks have a steal, as he has the ability to be one of the best lefties in the game. He is also only 30, meaning he has a chance to turn his last two years around and pitch for a long time. Upside? Very up. Downside? He breaks down. But, by next year, some of your younger pitchers, like Zack McAllister and (gulp) Ian Kennedy, along with Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances, should be closer to making a contribution.
Starting rotation, #5: Phil Hughes — If everyone pitches as expected, he’ll be allowed to grow into the job and the experience he is gaining in the pen right now will prove to be invaluable.
Bullpen, closer: Mariano Rivera — You have a better chance of winning powerball 5 straight weeks than you do in predicting when Rivera will slow down.
Bullpen, rest: Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Alfredo Aceves, Damaso Marte, Mark Melancon, BJ Ryan.
This is how you do a pen, you pull guys off the scrap heap. Ryan was really, really bad for the Blue Jays this year, but last year, in 60 innings, he was great. In fact, other than this year, when he has been healthy he has been great. Can he stay healthy? That’s a question, but it won’t cost you anything to find out, and if he ever got some of that electric stuff back, how good with that bullpen be?