New York Yankees

When baseball fans hear certain names, they may not think of the most recent accomplishments.

When you hear Alfonso Soriano, you don't think .240, 24 HR. Anyone who has followed baseball for a few years will think of one of the most exciting power/speed combinations in the past decade. 

These are some players who have a chance this season to relive their past exploits, some in good ways and some in bad. They are going back in time to a specific year, and a stat line we could see them repeat in 2011.  

Although in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s appeal among baseball fans is eons from fading into the sunset.

Over a year ago, the New York Yankees were World Series champions, an honor every team in baseball strives for each year. 

To become the best team in baseball, like the Yankees have been considered many times before, it takes hard work, dedication and composure on the field. All of these characteristics and more were seen by the Yankees in 2009, which resulted in their victory.  

Unfortunately, the Yankees were missing all of those qualities last season, which deprived them of another World Series title.

Has anyone else noticed that the New York Yankees have had an extremely quiet offseason? Well, for them at least.

One of the few remaining decisions for the New York Yankees in this spring training is a final choice of leadoff hitter.

The choice for manager Joe Girardi comes down to Derek Jeter or Brett Gardner.

Jeter is a 16-year veteran who had a down year in 2010.  Jeter has made adjustments to his setup at the plate which have been successful this spring.  He is a career .300 hitter, and there is no real reason to believe he won't be much better this year.

Rotoworld suggested that Brett Gardner, who has been leading off recently in spring training games for the New York Yankees, could start the season off in that slot.

Gardner, who scored 97 runs in 569 plate appearances, could challenge for the league lead in runs scored if he is hitting out of that slot.

Through four starts in spring training, Bartolo Colon has a 2.40 ERA, a .192 BAA, a 0.73 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. 

So, why am I arguing against this obvious Cy Young hopeful and godsend to the Yankees pitching staff earning a spot in the starting rotation come Opening Day?

For the first time in almost a decade and a half, Alex Rodriguez is not being taken in the first round of fantasy drafts.

Think about that for a second. A-Rod has been a star Major League player for almost as long as he hasn't. His breakthrough season came in 1996, when he hit .358 with 36 homers and 123 RBIs ... as a 20-year-old.

As Opening Day anxiety continues to mount, the New York Yankees are still in somewhat of a mini-crisis on the pitching mound, as they are yet to name a formidable five-man rotation.

Manager Joe Girardi has already named ace C.C. Sabathia and recovering ace A.J. Burnett as his one-two punch, but the other three spots remain in limbo.

There was good news all over the place on Sunday afternoon, as the New York Yankees hammered the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1, in Grapefruit League action.

Start with the starter, Yankee ace CC Sabathia, who looked in midseason form. During his time on the bump, Sabathia allowed only one run (on a solo homer to Jimmy Rollins) on six hits and one walk, while striking out five.