By Joe Pietaro

After 12 consecutive playoff appearances, it was almost a foregone conclusion that when October rolled around, the New York Yankees would be invited to the party. In a good number of those years, they were the hosts and not very gracious ones at that. Especially during the late 1990s and the first few years of the new millennium.

Four World Series championships in five years will give you some much-deserved bravado, which perhaps was the death-knell for setting the gold standard that was going to be impossible to follow up. Manager Joe Torre paid the price for too many first round ousters and his former catcher and bench coach Joe Girardi was given the task of stepping in for his Los Angeles-bound former boss.

2008 was a learning experience for everyone involved, from Girardi to the new hierarchy. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner became more than just George’s boys and with time under their belts, things should improve. Hal has become the ‘New Boss,’ if you will, and along with general manager Brian Cashman put together a roster that – on paper – should make a championship run.

With the gala opening of the new Yankee Stadium, it would seem appropriate to make up for last year’s disappointments in missing the playoffs in the original carnation’s swan song.

STARTING PITCHING

CC Sabathia was the big fish landed out on the free agent waters and although the Yankees were criticized for outbidding themselves to ensure that the lefthander was Bronx-bound, he may be the difference between first and third place. A seven-year, $161 million deal is astronomical, but the former Indian and Brewer ace may be able to justify it.

Former Met farmhand A.J. Burnett opted out of his contract with Toronto and became the second big name hurler to take the Steinbrenner’s endless cash flow. Talent has never been an issue with the righty, but staying healthy has over his career.

Once the ace of the staff, Chien-Ming Wang now will be the number three man in the rotation and that spot is probably better suited for him. He is coming off an injury-shortened 2008, but it was his foot and not any arm issues.

After contemplating it for a long time, Andy Pettitte swallowed some of his Texas pride and took the Yankees’ one-year offer that included a pay cut from his previous salary. He wanted to ride off into the sunset in pinstripes after pitching in the new Yankee Stadium and will get his chance. A good fit at the bottom end of the rotation.

Will he be a starter or reliever? That has been the question throughout young Joba Chamberlain’s two-year major league career after being called up from Class A. He has excelled in both roles and probably is better suited to come out of the bullpen, but management wants him to be a part of the rotation.

Last summer was a nightmare for Phillip Hughes and he will start the season in the minors where he can pitch every fourth day. There will be a time during the season – probably more than once – where he will be needed to step in and take a spot in the rotation for a period of time. Has a bright future, but needed to show more. Once he didn’t, Cashman showed no hesitation by going out and signing two veterans.

RELIEF PITCHING

What more is there to say? Mariano Rivera has been the best reliever in baseball for over a decade and should continue to be. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not had effective set-up men, so Mo has had to pitch more innings than he would like to.

Southpaw Damaso Marte came over from Pittsburgh along with Xavier Nady last summer and was reliable at times. Although he only had a 1-3 record with a 5.40 as a Yankee, he did strike out 24 batters in 18.1 innings.

In 32 games, Brian Bruney pitched well enough to get a serious look as the 8^th inning guy. His 3-0, 1.83 mark and sparkling numbers against both sides of the plate (.106 versus righthanded hitters; .183 versus lefthanded) will be hard to repeat over a full campaign.

Out of Jonathan Albaladejo, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez, many innings will be needed to be eaten up to bridge the gap to Rivera. The middle relief roles have not been solidified and Cashman may look to pick up a veteran placed on waivers right before the regular season begins.

INFIELD

Just when it looked like Mark Teixeira was going to sign with Boston, the Yankees came in at the tail end and inked the free agent first baseman away from their division rivals. The switch-hitter will be a marked improvement over Jason Giambi in more ways than one, especially with the leather.

Second base in manned by Robinson Cano, who’s production has decreased each year since 2006. .271/14/72 may get him by, but he is much more talented than that and needs to bounce back.

The Captain, Derek Jeter, will of course be at shortstop and is the last member of that first 1996 championship team to still wear pinstripes. The Yanks go as Jeter goes and another productive year without much controversy and fanfare is expected.

That is not the case with third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who will miss the first four to six weeks of the regular season recovering from hip surgery. After enduring an offseason that was a major distraction to not only him but the entire organization, his injury put him on the shelf and will give Cody Ransom a chance at the big league level. The 33-year-old has hit .251 over 166 career games for three teams, including a cup of coffee in the Bronx last summer. He’ll have to hold down the hot corner fort until A-Rod heals because Cashman didn’t bring anyone else in.

Veteran Angel Berroa will back up the middle infield positions, but has not hit over .240 since 2005 in Kansas City.

OUTFIELD

The starting three will be Johnny Damon in left field, Brett Gardner in center and Xavier Nady over in right. Bobby Abreau was allowed to leave as a free agent and signed with the Angels, opening the door for Nady to be a starter. When given the opportunity in the past for the Padres, Mets and Pirates, he has been productive. In 2008, he hit a total of 25 home runs and drove in 97 runs for two clubs, including the Yankees.

Damon is definitely slowing down as he adds candles to his birthday cake but still stole 29 bases in 37 attempts last year. His hit .303, above his career high, and scored 95 runs. Not too shabby for a guy turning 36 in November and entering his 15^th major league campaign.

Heading into Spring Training, Girardi made it clear that it was an open competition for the centerfield job between Gardner and Melky Cabrera. In the last week of March, the manager announced that the former had won the right to patrol the same patch of land (well, kind of) that Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle had before him. The youngster hit well over .300 in Grapefruit League contests while Cabrera was right on his tail. Gardner showed better power numbers and more production and was the recipient of the 2009 James P. Award (outstanding rookie in Spring Training) but the door shouldn’t be totally closed on the former starter Cabrera.

In reserve, Nick Swisher will be the first off the bench and the versatile southpaw can play all three outfield spots as well as first base. Before signing Teixeira, the son of former catcher Nick Swisher was most likely going to start at first.

CATCHER

A fully-healed Jorge Posada is crucial to the Yankees’ success this season. Losing the switch-hitter for 111 games may have been one if the main reasons why the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since 1993 (counting the strike-shortened 1994). He is so important to the team in so many aspects – on the field, in the batter’s box and in the clubhouse. Posada was used primarily as a Designated Hitter during the spring to not put extra strain on his surgically repaired shoulder but should be set to go when the season opens.

Jose Molina did a nice job last year handling the staff until “Pudge” Rodriguez arrived in a trade. He should see plenty of action, especially in the early going until Posada shakes off the rust.

DESIGNATED HITTER

No longer effective as an everyday outfielder, Hideki Matsui will see the team play defense from the bench and get his four at-bats nearly every game. He has missed a lot of time in two of the last three seasons with various injuries and may be nearing the end of a quality career that spanned two countries.

Posada will get some days off behind the plate by DHing and Damon should see some action here, as well, to give him a rest from playing the field.

MANAGER/COACHING STAFF

Having previously won the National League Manger of the Year Award in Florida, Girardi knows what he is doing and will get acclimated to the pressure of running the show where there are more than 10,000 fans at a home game. His playing days in New York will go a long way in helping him get there.  Other than that, he also has the fact that the front office does not want it to appear that they made a mistake in letting Torre go and will give the “other Joe” ample time to produce a winner on the field.

The coaching staff is not filled with much experience other than Tony Pena, a holdover from Torre’s clan. The former Royals manager will be right next to Girardi as the Bench Coach, and the rest will be Mick Kelleher (First Base Coach); Rob Thomson (Third base Coach); Kevin Long (Hitting Coach); Dave Eiland (Pitching Coach) and Mike Harkey (Bullpen Coach).

OUTLOOK

With so many weapons, it is hard to believe that the Yankees will miss the playoffs again. They are so strong in the starting rotation that the lack of middle relief may not become that much of an issue. Offensively, the return of Posada and Matsui and addition of Teixeira will be huge, and Rodriguez should be fine once he gets back.

The one problem will be keeping the veterans healthy, especially Rivera and Posada. They are integral to the team’s success.

Even in a strong division, the Yankees should be able to at least qualify for the postseason as a wild card entry. The Red Sox improved their team, too, and the pesky young Rays shouldn’t be a one-year wonder. One of these three clubs will be sitting home watching the games that count on television, but don’t expect it to be the Yankees.