TSN's 2010 Yankees Season Preview

Stan McNeal of The Sporting News wrote up his season preview of the 2010 Yankees. As you might expect, McNeal says the three main questions coming into this season for are Yanks are who will play left? Who with be the fifth starter? And are the 2010 Yanks better than the '09 version. All things Yankees fans have been discussing all winter. Here are McNeal's grades and predictions for the team:

Offense: A. The Yankees were the only team to score more than 900 runs last season, their .362 on-base percentage led the majors by 10 points and their 244 homers were 20 more than the Phillies. Even if the newcomers can't match the departed, the mainstays are back. And New York will have A-Rod for the entire season.

Pitching: A. They lack the Red Sox's depth, but any club with the best closer and one of the top starters deserves a high mark. Vazquez gives the rotation a third pitcher capable of 200-plus innings after Sabathia and Burnett. Either Hughes or Chamberlain will fit nicely into the eighth-inning role.

Bench: C. This is where the Yankees typically save payroll, and they can because they have six regulars who figure to play at least 150 games. The outfield is deep but, to nitpick, the club could use an upgrade over Ramiro Pena at utility infielder.

Manager: B. Until he started making defensive changes in the middle of an inning during the playoffs, Girardi didn't over-manage as much in 2009. After winning a championship, he should be even more relaxed in his third season as the Yankees' skipper.

Sporting News prediction: Money can't buy a championship, but having the highest-paid players at six positions (third, shortstop, first, catcher, starting pitcher and closer) remains reason No. 1 the Yankees will repeat.

Can't argue there.