Pettitte Likes Yankees' World Series Credentials
WEST POINT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Andy Pettitte isn't short of confidence ahead of the New York Yankees' season opener against the Boston Red Sox on Monday.
The 40-year-old veteran starting pitcher isn't letting predictions of fans and baseball experts diminish his belief that the Yankees are indeed capable of reaching the World Series. Many are predicting the aging Yankees to fall short of the playoffs in 2013. Pettitte is tuning out the pessimism.
"Apparently, there are a whole lot of people doubting we are going to win any ballgames this year,'' Pettitte told the New York Post. "I don't let my mind go in that direction. I think we are going to win our division and I expect us to be in the World Series. I feel like we have the pitching and the bullpen to do that.''
The Yankees have suffered through an injury-plagued offseason as Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira are set to begin the season on the disabled list. Meanwhile, Derek Jeter has been frustrated by a sore left ankle and Alex Rodriguez's return date is unclear after the slugger underwent hip surgery.
The big question is whether the Yankees can replace the power outage and get by in the early weeks with replacement bats Brennan Boesch, Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay. After the Yankees released Juan Rivera, Overbay is the clear choice to play first base, while Wells will fill Granderson's shoes in the outfield.
It's not just the Yankees lineup that's being hit by the injury bug. Starter Phil Hughes will begin the season on the DL.
Injuries, age and lack of power are all big concerns for the Yankees ahead of the new season. It's clear that none of this is affecting Pettitte's belief in the Bombers being capable of making a World Series run.
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