It’s too early to see how teams are shaping up, but the first Saturday of the MLB season always feels a little special.
We’re answering the big questions ahead of Saturday’s MLB on FOX slate, with the Yankees looking to take on a Giants team that has yet to score a run:
1. Did the Yanks do enough to finish on top of the AL East? What could be the determining factor?
Solidar: The Yankees are running back almost the same roster as they finished last year as they are relying on rising stars to step up, and the rotation has a chance to be the best in baseball this season, especially after Gerrit Cole returns from Tommy John rehab around May. Catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has elite offensive metrics, second baseman Jazz Chisholm is poised to have a super successful walk year, and catcher Austin Wells is due for a breakout at the plate. If things go right, the offense is built to go as far as Aaron Judge takes them, and the Yankees have done enough to win the AL East. Of course, it is not that easy.
Their three determining factors are health, wins against division rivals, and sharpening their fundamentals. The Yankees fared poorly against the Blue Jays and Red Sox in last year’s regular season, with Toronto winning the season series (8–5) and Boston dominating the head-to-head contests (9–4). Those results cost the Yankees the division title last year. This season, they must prove that they can step up against the top AL East teams from start to finish. As much as the Bronx Bombers want to make a deep postseason run and get back to the World Series, they will have to work even harder and maintain their intensity throughout a long 162-game schedule.
June’s familiar unconsciousness and lack of concentration has led to fielding errors and a complete lack of fundamentals in recent years. Too often, simple mistakes lead to frustrating and avoidable losses, to the point where opponents are simply waiting for the Yankees to slip up. This year’s team needs to be dialed in every step of the way.
2. the veteran Tony Vitello has an interesting squad for his managerial position. What’s the upside here?
Solidar: Vitello’s jump from college coach to MLB manager is unprecedented, but the allure and hype surrounding his hiring will quickly wear off if the Giants don’t win consistently. Already, Vitello has made some questionable comments about his outlook on wins and losses that have fans wondering if he’s ready for the big leagues. So he faces tremendous pressure to win games, while remaining true to the core beliefs and coaching strategy that led to a .772 winning percentage as the head baseball coach of the University of Tennessee.
For the veterans, the positive side of Vitello is his ability to think outside the box and bring a new culture and edge to the organization. He is known to bring a fiery and emotional coaching style that can definitely help inject energy into a veteran team that sometimes fails. If Vitello can help establish a clear identity based on grit and aggression, it will really matter over the course of a long season. Vitello is also known as an excellent communicator, helping young players develop and quickly gaining buy-in throughout the clubhouse.
However, in the end, the new Giants captain will have to quickly learn in-game strategies and quickly adapt to the data-heavy processes in MLB without becoming overwhelmed by it all. Needless to say, Vitello has a lot to live up to in his debut managerial season. But if he can avoid burnout and lead a team that outperforms expectations through energy and a fearless style of play, this appointment could be exactly what Buster Posey hoped for.
3. Likewise for the Yankees Orioles The crowd is in the AL East. How legit can the O’s be this season?
Kavner: I think they’re a real threat. I don’t expect them to win the division, but I do expect them to grab one of the final wild-card spots and get back to the playoffs. The Orioles weren’t messing around this winter after last year’s embarrassing last-place finish, ultimately spending to keep established talent around their young core. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward give them more power. Shane Baz has expanded the rotation, and the signing of Chris Bassitt (and the re-signing of Zack Eflin) has raised the floor. Ryan Helsley gave them the closeness they had been missing since Felix Bautista left. Injuries to Jackson Holiday and Jordan Westberg early in the season were tragic, but when healthy, this could be one of the best lineups in baseball and help alleviate any concerns with the pitching staff.
As of Friday afternoon, FanGraphs had them as the clear No. 4 team in the division (12.3% chance to win the AL East), but with about a 50% chance to make the playoffs. I expect the difference between the first and fourth place teams in this division to be only a few games, and although they will all beat each other throughout the year, I think four teams will make the postseason from the AL East. The division is that good.
4. We have a group of guys who showed off their performance during the WBC. Who is ready for an excellent MLB season?
Kavner: It goes without saying that Bobby Witt Jr. will have a phenomenal season, so I’d take a different player from both clubs (who were teammates with WBC champion Venezuela) and go with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Maikel Garcia. I know, I know, take the scorching heat here that Acuna will be good. But another year removed from the latest ACL tear, this could be the year we see Acuña close to his 2023 MVP form.
Now, I’m not predicting another 40-70 season on two surgically repaired knees, but he could still run. Acuña’s sprint speed last year was not far off that of 2023, and although he stole only nine bases last season, he was also caught only once and was clearly being cautious in his first year before the knee injury. This winter, he hit four homers and stole 11 bases in 16 games in the Venezuelan Winter League. He hit two more homers and stole two more bases in the World Baseball Classic. Another 40-40 season in which he can re-establish his place among the game’s elite may be within reach. And behind Shohei Ohtani, Acuña has a good shot at winning another MVP trophy.
Garcia’s breakout All-Star season in Kansas City last year may have flown under the radar to people outside the Midwest, but he put his name on the international map in the WBC. In a tournament that featured many of the game’s superstars, it was the 26-year-old Royals third baseman who took home MVP honors. Bobby Witt Jr. is the team’s star, but with Garcia’s keen eye at the plate, strong bat-to-ball skills and pristine defense at the hot corner, I expect a strong follow-up as the team’s co-star.
