Why the Yankees Will Not Win the World Series

Ever since the New York Yankees sent budding slugger Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for the powerhouse starter Michael Pineda, many have made claims that the Yankees are instant favorites to win the World Series in 2012. Yes, the Yankees have a strong rotation, something they lacked last season. Their new rotation features CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, A.J. Burnett, and Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes, or Freddy Garcia occupying the final spot. The Yankees sport a lineup that is enviable in many respects, as well. However, they will not win the 2012 World Series. Here are three major reasons why:

Health and the Cleanup Hitter

Alex Rodriguez, although overpaid in some respects, is still a very potent individual in the core of the Yankees' lineup. Last season, A-Rod was hampered by lingering knee and thumb injuries that kept him out almost half of the season last year (only played in 99 games). His procedures in Germany that have supposedly cured him of his knee ailments leave his 2012 season open to infinite unpredictability. Nick Swisher had trouble playing at 100% last year because of his elbow issues. Russell Martin, although a workhorse behind the dish, battled lower back pain through most of the year. If the Yankees cannot keep the core of their lineup healthy, then they're in major trouble.

Age, Age, and yes, Age

The Yankees have always had a reputation for putting seasoned veterans on the field, and this is evident with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter starting virtually every game in the field. However, although this presents unique opportunities in clutch situations, you can't expect a person in their upper 30s to play 162 games in a season at the height of their game. Games in May, June, July, and August prove whether or not a team will have the stamina to perform at a high level in September and possibly in the postseason. The Yankees have a decent bench in Austin Romine, Francisco Cervelli, Andruw Jones, Ramiro Pena, and Eduardo Nunez, so they may be set in this regard. The summer has unusual effects on a player.

Playoff History

Let's take a look at the playoff history of Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez in the 2010 and 2011 postseasons.

Mark Teixeira: .156 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .559 OPS
Nick Swisher: .189 BA, 3 HR, 3 RBI, .661 OPS
Derek Jeter: .250 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .617 OPS
Alex Rodriguez: .180 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .485 OPS

Compared with their career averages, these statistics are very unusual and showcase that four core Yankees players cannot deliver in the playoffs. The environment is intense, but players of this caliber should be able to deliver in high-pressure situations such as the playoffs. If they cannot do this, the Yankees will surely miss out on another chance at number 28.

As a diehard Yankees fan, I hope the Yankees can overcome these adversities to win number 28. However, if they can't, then the Steinbrenners will once again scold the team for another failed season.

Sources:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5275;_ylt=A0geutDWwzJPWmgAcwhhxrF_
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5406;_ylt=AmhYzAE.pmOpvA8v_mKhW7uFCLcF
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7435;_ylt=AorFTRtSxdJfzKUU9vv7YISFCLcF
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6788;_ylt=Aqyc2bFHPGUyOt63NBWG_JaFCLcF