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Alex Rodriguez immediately made his presence felt upon his return to Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers twice and while beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Monday night’s series opener. 

Against the Tigers, Rodriguez launched a 357-foot home run to left again starter Justin Verlander. It was the 648th of his storybook career, moving him within 12 of Hall of Fame great Willie Mays.

Later in that game, Rodriguez touched up Verlander again with an RBI single to right.

Although the Yankees went on to win that game by a score of 5-4, the big news was that A-Rod had indeed returned and with key hits against one of MLB‘s premier power right-handers.

The Yankees won all three home games when Rodriguez, who is quickly regaining his sea legs, has played.

That bodes well for Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who has been starved for right-handed power bats all season long. The return of A-Rod could not have come at a more crucial time, with just under two months remaining in the regular season.

With 45 games left to play, the Yankees currently trail the final wild-card spot by 6.5 games. A productive A-Rod can play a major role in the Yankees making up that ground.

Enhancing their chances is the return of right-handed power hitting Alfonso Soriano. Ironically, it was Soriano who the Yankees traded to obtain Alex Rodriguez.

Now, the two power hitting superstars get to work in tandem to return the Yankees into the playoffs once again.

Rodriguez and Soriano have combined to hit an astounding 1,040 career home runs.

The previously power-challenged Girardi must be drooling these days as he writes out his lineup card.

Granted, there have been the predictable grumblings about Rodriguez continuing to play while appealing the stiff 211-game suspension by Major League Baseball due to performance enhancing drug allegations.

The response by Rodriguez has been business as usual—100% focus on playing winning baseball.

For the Yankees, there are games to played and a pennant and World Series to be won. A healthy Rodriguez gives them the best chance to achieve them both.

With 45 Yankees games to go: Game on, thanks to the return of Alex Rodriguez. 

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In November, as the Yankees celebrate their 28th World Series championship with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, remember the date February 1, 2013. That is the date the Yankees announced the signing of Travis Hafner—and their 2013 starting lineup officially became stacked.

Although the acquisition of Hafner managed to fly beneath the radar, it was a signature stealth maneuver by savvy GM Brian Cashman that bolsters a 2013 Yankees batting order already bursting with firepower.

Hafner’s career numbers come at righty hurlers like Popeye after eating a can of spinach (2,619 at bats, 152 homers, .534 slugging percentage, .925 OPS). Even during an injury-shortened 2012 campaign, he managed to drill eight homers against them in only 158 at bats (one per 19.75 at bats).

His best season came in 2006. The muscular Hafner launched 42 homers to go with a .308 batting average and 117 RBI. Perhaps even more eye-popping are those totals were produced in only 454 at bats. His .659 slugging average and .1097 OPS led the league.

Along with Hafner’s tremendous power comes a brilliant batting-eye. His career .381 on-base average and uncanny ability to draw walks (twice drawing 100 or more) paints pitchers into a corner while lengthening the lineup.   

For those questioning Hafner’s power entering the season at age 35, one looks no further than the shot he hit on April 15, 2012. Off Kansas City Royals starter Luis Mendoza, Hafner hit a blast estimated at 456 feet. It was the longest home run hit at Kauffman Stadium since 2001.

Cashman‘s slick decision to bring Hafner on board comes with minimal risk, considering the explosive upside. Hafner signed a one-year deal for $2 million.

If healthy, expect Hafner’s market value to shoot through the roof, following a championship season at Yankee Stadium—where even one of his chip-shots could easily find the short porch in right field.   

Adding to the beauty of the Hafner signing is that he enters the 2013 season with something to prove. He’s a man on a mission to reestablish himself as one of MLB‘s most potent power threats.

As a member of a Yankees lineup loaded with talent, Hafner will have more than ample protection to achieve big-time numbers once again. His presence can rocket the numbers of his teammates, as well.

With the addition of a rejuvenated Hafner, it is difficult to imagine opposing pitchers making it through the Yankees lineup without getting marked up consistently.

Added to a lineup that already includes Jeter, Cano, Suzuki, Teixeira, Granderson and Youkilis, Hafner makes it nearly impossible for pitchers to escape unscathed. And then, there is still A-Rod looming come June.

Considering risk and reward, Cashman’s signing of Travis Hafner could be this offseason’s best move towards another New York Yankees championship season in 2013.

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When the 2013 Yankee season begins, Derek Jeter‘s magic number to break Pete Rose’s all-time hit record will be at 953. Following Jeter’s league-leading 216-hit 2012 season, suddenly Pete’s hit record is within vision of the Yankee captain—at triple digits. At 3,304 hits, Derek Jeter is 77.6 percent of the way home to setting a new all-time hit record.

No doubt about it, 953 hits is still a long way to go for Derek Jeter. When the season begins, Derek will be 38 years of age. The sceptics will bring the proverbial clock into play, when scoffing at Jeter’s chances. But, is that clock really moving too fast for Derek, given his tireless work ethic and proven track record?

Pete Rose, at approximately the same age as Jeter is now, played another seven seasons to get his final 884 hits.  To Rose’s advantage, as manager later in his career, he had the option of inserting himself into the lineup as he saw fit. To Derek’s advantage, only in two of Roses final seven seasons did he obtain over 170 hits.  In three of them, Pete had 107 or fewer.  

That bodes well for Jeter, where there has been no indication of the Yankees utilizing him in a platoon role (in the foreseeable future). For his career, Derek averages 193 hits per season. Granted, no one is expecting him to continue at that pace for another five-plus seasons.

However, even if Derek’s hit production dropped considerably, he can still be well within range of the hit record by the age of 44 (if playing is still an option or possibility). 

On the other hand, we are talking about Derek Jeter here. What happens if Derek hammers out close to 400 hits over the next two seasons? Contract negotiations could become especially juicy, with the all-time hit record within the Yankees’ grasp.

Before jumping too far ahead, there are questions to be answered regarding Jeter’s ankle, entering the season. The good news is, Derek’s rehab is going according to plan and he is expected back for Opening Day, as reported by Mark Feinsand on Blogging the Bombers for the Daily News.

From the consistent high level of productivity Derek Jeter has displayed over the course of his career, I believe the all-time hit record is his for the taking—if he wants it. That, is the big question.

If he does, and avoids serious injuries during the coming seasons, Derek Jeter becoming the all-time hit leader may be inevitable.

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With MLB‘s 2013 Hall of Fame voting discussions dominated by whether Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds are deserving candidates, another candidate with little hope of garnering the required 75 percent vote enters his 13th year of eligibility. His name is Don Mattingly, aka “Donnie Baseball”, who played first base for the New York Yankees.

By the tender age of 26, Don Mattingly had won a batting title and an MVP award. During his first four full seasons, Mattingly amassed an astounding 842 hits, blasted 119 homers and had 483 runs batted in. His batting average stood at a sparkling .331. Mattingly was one of the toughest batters in all of baseball to strike out (a rarity for a power hitter). For his career, Don struck out once every 15.7 at-bats.

In the field, Mattingly was equally brilliant. With cat-like reflexes, and sure hands, Don won nine Golden Glove awards. Entering the 1990 season, Don Mattingly was recognized as one of the best players in the game—a near-certain future Hall of Fame member. The sky was the limit for Donnie Baseball.

Unfortunately, from there, Don’s story heads south. A back injury, suffered when his spike got caught in a seam of artificial surface, robbed him of the lightning bat speed that once had balls rocketing off of his bat with regularity. 

The hours Mattingly usually spent in the batting cage were suddenly shared with those spent on the trainer’s table for his injured back. Don Mattingly‘s back would trouble him for the remainder of his career—a career cut short by the injury, playing his final game at the age of only 34.

Despite his career hampered and shortened due to his back, Don Mattingly still produced exceptional numbers.  His lifetime batting average stands at .307, with 2,153 hits, 222 homers and 1,099 runs batted in. Mattingly was also bestowed the honor of being named the captain of the New York Yankees.

Some questions are: Will the voters eventually reward Don Mattingly for the dominant player he was during most of the 1980’s?  If he were to be voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, would there be any complaints by those already enshrined? 

Was Don Mattingly a baseball Superstar, or was he just a nice player who does not belong with the best? Lastly, would it be good for the game of baseball if Don Mattingly gets voted in?

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