1994 New York Yankees Team Directory
Chairman of the Board: George Steinbrenner
General Partner: Joseph Malloy
Vice-President/General Manager: Gene Michael
Vice-President/Player Development & Scouting: Bill Livesey
Scouting Coordinator: Kevin Elfering
Senior Advisor: Arthur Richman
Director, Media Relations: Rob Butcher
Traveling Secretary: David Szen
Manager: Buck Showalter
Home: Yankee Stadium (57,545)
Field Distances: left field line: 312 ft; left field: 379 ft.; left-center: 411 ft.; center field: 410 ft.; right-center: 385 ft.; right field line: 310 ft.
Spring Training: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
-The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
HITTING
"The Yankees hope to pick up where they left off last season when they led the American League in batting (.279) for the first time since 1962 and tied Detroit for second in the majors with 178 home runs. The Yankees had six players batting .300 or better, most on an AL club since the 1950 Boston Red Sox.
Danny Tartabull (.251, 31, 102) supplied much of the power and run production, becoming the first Yankee since Don Mattingly in 1987 to produce at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a season. Though no longer a superstar, Mattingly (.291, 17, 86) remains a potent offensive player. Paul O'Neill (.311, 20.75), Mike Stanley (.305, 26, 84) and Wade Boggs (.305, 2, 59) provide three more booming bats, so losing part-timer Dion James (.332, 7, 36) doesn't figure to hurt- especially with the signing of free agent Luis Polonia (.271, 1, 32, 55 SB)."
-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
PITCHING
"Jimmy Key will try to muster an encore following a rousing pitching performance last year in which the ace left-hander established a career in victories with an 18-6 record and posted a 3.00 ERA. The Yankees were 24-10 in Key's 34 starts, and 11-3 when he started after losses. However, the team ERA was 4.35.
Jim Abbott (11-14, 4.37) and Melido Perez (6-14, 5.19) must regain their form after subpar seasons for the Yankees to contend. Although Abbott basked in the glory of a no-hitter last year, the lefty's overall performance was much less than the Yankees hoped for when they acquired him from California. The Yanks hope the off-season will help Perez recover from shoulder problems.
Right-hander Scott Kamieniecki (10-4, 4.08) is looking forward to his first full season as a major league starter after pitching very well in the second half. Sinkerballer Bob Wickman (14-4, 4.63) can start or relieve. The Yanks added needed bullpen help by acquiring right-hander Xavier Hernandez (4-5, 2.61, 9 Sv with Astros) but he'll have to close because the Yanks passed on signing Steve Farr and Lee Smith."
-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
FIELDING
"If Mattingly can secure a ninth Gold Glove, he will become the all-time leader at first base, surpassing Boston's George Scott. Last year he set the Yankees' record for fielding percentage by a first baseman (.998). Second baseman Pat Kelly, catcher Stanley and outfielders Bernie Williams, Polonia and O'Neill are all above average defensively."
-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
OUTLOOK
"Buck Showalter's Yankees hope to use last season as a springboard to their first division title since 1981. They made a 12-game improvement over 1992 in achieving an 88-74 record that abruptly snapped a string of four consecutive losing seasons.
Whether the Yankees can end their drought will depend, in part, on a continued low profile by principal owner George Steinbrenner. When he begins to meddle, the results are usually ruinous."
-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1994 Edition
"The New York Yankees, last in the majors in stolen bases a year ago and unpredictable in the bullpen, are ready to speed things up with free agent Luis Polonia and assure their leads with Xavier Hernandez. The Yankees were first in hitting and on-base percentage and almost won the home run title for the first time since 1961. But they're still questionable in the rotation after Jimmy Key."
-Joe Goddard, Chicago Sun-Times (Street & Smith's 1994 Baseball)
"The Boss was back in 1993, and in honor of George Steinbrenner's return from a two-year suspension, the Yankees had a winning record for the first time since 1988. Steinbrenner had little to do with it. Manager Buck Showalter kept the team close until the season's final weeks by letting the players play while creating harmony in the clubhouse that hadn't been evident in years.
The Yankees were tied for first place for 18 days and had a winning record in every month but one. Unfortunately, the month was the last one. A 13-16 mark dropped them into second, seven games behind the eventual World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays.
The team, though, made an impression on 10-year veteran Don Mattingly: 'I really believe this is the best team I've played on with the Yankees.' Steinbrenner, who did his best to bring a title by urging his players to 'rise to the challenge' while he left management alone, made his first moves after the season by having four coaches removed. Brought back for the second time was Billy Connors, bringing to 29 the number of pitching coaches under Steinbrenner in 21 seasons.
Pitching is easily identifiable as the team's major need in 1994. The staff's ERA of 4.35 last season sharply contrasted with the team's major league best .279. The Yankees had six players with .300-plus seasons, the most of any team since the 1980 Cardinals.
The Yankees revolve around Jimmy Key, who finished fourth in the Cy Young Award balloting with an 18-6 record, a 3.00 ERA and only 43 walks in 236.2 innings. He had a 11-3 record after team losses and his winning percentage was the team's best since 1986. The dropoff after Key was steep, however, a no-hitter by Jim Abbott notwithstanding. Scott Kamieniecki, winner of 12 straight Yankee Stadium games before a September defeat, was 10-7 with a 4.08 ERA. Abbott was a major disappointment at 11-14, 4.37, considering his previous two ERAs with the California Angels were 2.77 and 2.89. Bob Wickman had the luckiest 14-4 but an unsightly ERA of 4.63 and was demoted to the bullpen. Connors had Wickman go to Florida in the off-season to work on a changeup. With top prospects Brien Taylor and Ryan Karp still more than a year away, the Yankees will look again to Melido Perez, whose 1992 ERA of 2.87 nearly doubled last year to 5.19 (with a 6-14 record) due to shoulder problems. Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock gets back into the picture after nagging injuries limited him to 1-2, 4.65, along with Sam Militello. The International League's best pitcher in 1992, Militello had shoulder surgery. The Yankees will have to decide where big Mark Hutton fits. He was 10-4, 3.18 at Triple-A Columbus and split his two decisions in New York.
Riding up from Houston to help a beleaguered bullpen is Xavier Hernandez. Bypassed by the Astros as a closer, Hernandez hopes to fill the savior role that Steve Farr, Steve Howe and Lee Smith left. Hernandez was 4-5 with a 2.61 ERA at Houston, but his eight blown saves were second worst in the National League. The setup relievers are anyone's guess. Maybe Wickman, Bobby Munoz (3-3, 5.32), Howe (3-5, 4.97, four saves), Paul Assenmacher (2-2, 3.12) or Paul Gibson (2-0, 3.06).
Catching them will be Mike Stanley, who had an astonishing year of .305 with 26 home runs (one every 16.3 at-bats) and 84 RBIs and got some MVP votes. Only 10 major league catchers have hit .300 with 25 homers. Three of Stanley's homers were grand slams. Matt Nokes (.249, 10, 35) and Jim Leyritz (.309, 14, 53) are in support, with Leyritz able to play first and the outfield.
The infield is solid but aging. Wade Boggs at third is 35, Mike Gallego at shortstop is 33 and Mattingly at first is about to be 33. Only Pat Kelly at second is young at 26. Boggs with .302 with 59 RBIs after a disastrous .259 with Boston in 1992 and for the first time led the league's third basemen in fielding percentage. Gallego was such a nice surprise at shortstop with .283, 10 and 54 that the Yankees could let Kelly play full time at second. Kelly responded with .273, 51 RBIs and a team leading 14 steals. Mattingly fought through a wrist injury that required a postseason operation to hit .291, his best season in four years. His homers went up to 17 and he had 86 RBIs. Defensively, he set a team record for first base fielding percentage with .998. Randy Velarde is a swingman off .301 in 85 games. Kevin Maas (.205, 9, .25) is a left-handed power hitter off the bench. Russ Davis (26 homers at Columbus) is the third baseman of the future.
The outfield could be one of baseball's best if everyone stays healthy. Left to right it's Luis Polonia (.271, 55 SB at California), Bernie Williams (.268, 12, 68) and Paul O'Neill (.311, 20, 75). Danny Tartabull (.250, 31, 107) is an oft-injured designated hitter. Gerald Williams (29 steals at Columbus), Mike Humpherys (.283 at Columbus) and Billy Masse (.316, 19, 91) are reserves."
-Joe Goddard, Chicago Sun-Times (Street & Smith's 1994 Baseball)
STARTING LINEUP
1. Luis Polonia LF
2. Wade Boggs 3B
3. Don Mattingly 1B
4. Danny Tartabull DH
5. Mike Stanley C
6. Paul O'Neill RF
7. Bernie Williams CF
8. Mike Gallego SS
9. Pat Kelly 2B
PITCHERS
Starters
Jimmy Key
Jim Abbott
Scott Kamieniecki
Melido Perez
Sterling Hitchcock
Sam Militello
Bullpen
Xavier Hernandez
Steve Howe
Bob Wickman
Paul Assenmacher
Mark Hutton
Paul Gibson
Bobby Munoz
Donn Pall
Jose Mussett
Mariano Rivera
BENCH
C Matt Nokes, Jim Leyritz (1B-OF)
IF Randy Velarde, Kevin Maas, Dave Silvestri, Russ Davis, Robert Eenhoorn, Andy Fox, Kevin Jordan, Tate Seefried
OF Gerald Williams, Mike Humphreys, Jay Leech, Jason Robertson, Billy Masse
-Street & Smith's 1994 Baseball
1994 YANKEES SPRING TRAINING CHART
C Mike Stanley
1B Don Mattingly
2B Pat Kelly
3B Wade Boggs
SS Mike Gallego (2B)
LF Luis Polonia
CF Bernie Williams
RF Paul O'Neill (LF)
DH Danny Tartabull (RF)
UTILITY
C Matt Nokes
1B Jim Leyritz (C-OF)
SS Randy Velarde (OF-3B-2B)
OF Gerald Williams
DH Kevin Maas (1B)
PITCHERS
Jimmy Key
Jim Abbott
Terry Mulholland
Scott Kamieniecki
Melido Perez
Sterling Hitchcock
RELIEF PITCHERS
Xavier Hernandez
Steve Howe
Bob Wickman
Paul Assenmacher
Donn Pall
