HITTING
"Steve Kemp (.241, 12 homers, 49 RBI) was supposed to give the Yankees the left-handed power threat they have lacked since Reggie Jackson's defection after the 1981 season. Nice idea, but it didn't work. As if Kemp's struggle with the bat wasn't enough, he had his cheekbone fractured by a batting practice liner and his eyesight makes him a question mark for this season.
There's no question about a middle-of-the-lineup combination of Dave Winfield (.283, 32 homers, 116 RBI) and Don Baylor (.303, 21 homers, 85 RBI) but Graig Nettles (20 homers, 75 RBI) is getting along in years and manager Yogi Berra could use another left-handed slugger who can take advantage of that short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. Ken Griffey (.306), Butch Wynegar (.296) and Don Mattingly (.283) are coming off strong seasons. The Yanks might use versatile Roy Smalley (18 homers, 62 RBI) in the specialty role handled so capably by in the past by free agent defector Oscar Gamble. Fortunately Lou Piniella (.291) has put off retirement for one more season."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
PITCHING
"The Yankees are well-stocked in left-handed starters with Ron Guidry (21-9), Dave Righetti (14-8), Shane Rawley (14-14) and Ray Fontenot (8-2). And now they have a righty in ex-Brave Phil Niekro (11-10) to with John Montefusco (14-4 overall), who had a 5-0 September and accounted for the bulk of the nine victories the Yankees got from right-handed starters last season.
Goose Gossage (13-5, 22 saves) blew 12 of his first 25 save opportunities last year, but losing him in the free agent market last winter was a devastating setback for the Yanks, because he was the only proven stopper they had. With the addition of Mike Armstrong (10-7) from Kansas City to go with George Frazier and Dale Murray, they are loaded with middle-inning relievers."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
FIELDING
"The numbers don't lie in this case. The Yankees were 11th in the AL in fielding, committing 139 errors. And it's easy to see why. The only positions at which they can feel comfortable about their defense are left field, where Winfield won a Gold Glove, and third base, where Nettles' abilities haven't been significantly diminished by age.
Andre Robertson shows signs of being a classy shortstop- if he can come back from a fractured vertebra suffered in the August car wreck that ended his season. The center field situation has become such a jumbled mess that Griffey might be moved back there from first base or Winfield might be moved there from left. Even when he had good vision, Kemp wasn't much to watch in right field."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
OUTLOOK
"A team in turmoil, the Yankees overcame constant clubhouse bickering to rebound from a 79-win disaster in 1982 to win 91 games in 1983. But a repetition will not be enough to win the tough AL East this year.
The Yankees need some help in the bullpen, from the left side on offense and at a lot of places on defense if they are going to improve in 1984."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
"With his recent move of Yogi Berra to the manager's role, it's clear George Steinbrenner, the majority owner, wants to call the shots, but his recent shot-calling has not been good.
The Yankees ranked fourth in hitting (.273) and fifth in pitching (3.86) in the league in 1983. They should be in that vicinity again, which means about 85 or 90 wins in the East.
Much of New York's pitching potential depends on the whereabouts of one massive Goose. With Rich Gossage going to San Diego, Dale Murray (2-4/4.48/1 SV) will need help in the bullpen. Phil Niekro, the ex-Brave with 268 career wins, will push into the starting rotation, freeing one of the starters for relief work.
The starters performed as well as could be expected, and with the addition of John Montefusco (5-0 in a late-season stint in the Bronx) will probably keep New York in the race. Ron Guidry, no longer relying on Louisiana Lightning (his overpowering fastball which has backed up a bit), comes off his best year since winning the Cy Young Award in 1978. He was 21-9, 3.42 with 156 strikeouts and an AL high 21 complete games.
'Just a year ago, they said I could not finish a game,' Guidry obseved. 'I don't hear that any longer.'
Ex-Royal Mike Armstrong (10-7/3.86) and Montefusco are important in the Yankees' schemes because they're the only right-handed starting possibilities. Along with Guidry, the southpaws are Dave Righetti (14-8/3.44/169 strikeouts/and the first Yank no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the '56 World Series), second-year man Ray Fontenot (8-2/3.33) and vet Shane Rawley (14-14/3.78). Rawley, a former reliever, could wind up in the bullpen now that the Yanks are Goose-less. Reliever George Frazier (4-4/8 SV) joins right-handers Matt Keough and Jay Howell, and southpaws Bob Shirley and Rudy May in rounding out the staff.
New York hitting was paced by Ken Griffey (.306), Don Baylor (.303) and Dave Winfield (.283). Left fielder Winfield is a sparkling defensive player who uses his 6-6 height to advantage in climbing fences and has a bullet-throwing arm. He led the club with 32 homers, 116 RBI, 99 runs and 21 game-winners. Baylor, the designated hitter, had 21 homers and 85 RBI. Griffey, in his first season as a first baseman (he saw duty in the outfield as well), scored 60 runs.
The Yanks picked up Omar Moreno in the latter part of the '83 campaign, but he doesn't seem to be the answer in center. Winfield could see a lot of duty there and Griffey remains a possibility. The Yankees do have some versatility in the outfield if Steve Kemp (.241/12/49) rediscovers his swing. He saw time in 109 games before suffering an eye injury. Kemp starts as the regular right fielder, though he could find himself in left if Winfield is shifted to the middle. Don Mattingly (.283 in 91 rookie games) also will draw duty in the outfield as well as at first base.
Graig Nettles (.266/20/75) signed for two more seasons after putting together a fine season at age 38 and will man the hot corner with his terrific defense. Willie Randolph (.279/12 SB), the regular second baseman since 1976, still produces. Andre Robertson was the shortstop of record until he was in an auto accident following the infamous pine tar game completion, and his future is cloudy. Robertson is as smooth a fielder as you'll find. Vet Tim Foli comes over from the Angels to add depth. Switch-hitting Roy Smalley, who is not all that smooth, can play either short or third, and even first in an emergency. He hit 18 homers and drove in 62 runs to go with a .275 mark.
Butch Wynegar (.296), another switch-hitter, won the catching job from Rick Cerone. Mike O'Berry and Juan Espino are in reserve.
Sweet Lou Piniella (.291) returns for his last season and adds outfield depth with Otis Nixon and Brian Dayett. Switch-hitting Larry Milbourne will help in the infield.
Yogi led the Yanks (and Mets) to the pennant before. It will be interesting to watch the developments in the Bronx in 1984."
-Barry Wilner, Baseball Preview '84
"PROBLEMS: The Billy Martin soap opera is on hiatus with Yogi Berra handling this summer's re-run. Whether Yogi's calming presence can help restore credibility to what was once the 'best team money could buy' will have to be determined on the playing field. The club's shortstop of the future, Andre Robertson, may never recover his playing ability after last fall's bad traffic accident. The biggest trouble is that a once stout defense and a lot of aggressive baserunning have deserted Yankee Stadium. At press time, Goose Gossage was still a free agent, though owner George Steinbrenner was doing everything possible to re-sign his relief ace.
PITCHING: The staff leaders are excellent, but there's a lack of solid depth and the bullpen may be a mess in '84. Ron Guidry and no-hit Dave Righetti form a solid one-two punch. But Shane Rawley has been a .500 hurler since he was taken out of the Seattle bullpen to become a New York starter. John Montefusco, who performed well after coming over from the NL late last year, will vie with Ray Fontenot, Matt Keough and Rudy May for the other starting roles.
Berra picked up the services of reliever Mike Armstrong in the trade which sent Steve Balboni and Roger Erickson to Kansas City. Armstrong will help holdovers May and George Frazier as relievers, but neither is a Gossage-type stopper. If the Goose is not returned to the fold, look for Berra to move Rawley back into a relief role if the others can not do the job.
HITTING: A lot of power and talent, but the lineup could use some 'role hitters' for more efficiency. DH Don Baylor and outfielder Dave Winfield were highly productive in '83, but the high averages of Roy Smalley, Ken Griffey and Butch Wynegar were deceiving. Martin had trouble finding someone dependable to bat second behind offensive spark Willie Randolph, and the fifth and sixth spots in the order were far below the run production of the past few Yankee years.
Steve Kemp was a disappointment and even if he recovers fully from last September's injury, he may lose his regular job in left to young Don Mattingly. The addition of Tim Foli as shortstop depth will allow Smalley to play more at third until it's learned if Robertson can come back. Omar Moreno in center has speed but an erratic bat. Catcher Rick Cerone and veteran Graig Nettles add hitting depth. Oscar Gamble took a free agency exit and will be missed.
INFIELD: An undecided patchwork to be put together this spring. Roy Smalley's good bat helps in the lineup, but Steinbrenner thinks of him as a reserve. He'll fill in for the slugging Nettles and whoever plays short. Foli and Bobby Meacham will probably play the most shortstop until it's seen if Robertson can play. Cerone is the best defensive catcher, but must beat out Wynegar's bat to be able to regain the starting job. Randolph is still a whiz at second, while Griffey and Mattingly and even Kemp can handle first on a platoon basis. Griffey has the average but the brass wants power from the first baseman's spot in the batting order. There a ton of infield questions.
OUTFIELD: A regular garden crew of Mattingly, Moreno and Winfield will be excellent defensively. Only Winfield, however, is a proven bat. Baylor and Kemp are defensive liabilities, making the depth rather limited and shallow.
If Moreno or Winfield is hurt, there's a chance Berra may try to get Wynegar or Cerone, or even veteran infielder Nettles, to help in outfield relief play. Of course, with Steinbrenner's habit of trading and signing free agents, the club's make-up could change virtually overnight.
PROGNOSIS: Management change, pitching troubles and an inconsistent defense bode poorly for Yankee chances to contend. This a good club, but Baltimore, Detroit and Toronto probably belong in a league by themselves. Odds are long that the Yankees will finish better than fourth. And if dissension and the uncertain bullpen cause a slow start, the New Yorkers could even fall below Cleveland!
Wouldn't THAT make Big George's checkbook tremble?"
-Tommy Kay's Big Book of Baseball, May 1984
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