Tampa Bay, FL (WFAN)  -- Let’s take a look at the 2008 Yankees and try to figure out how this season turns out. First we go around the horn:

C-Jorge Posada - Coming off the best year of his career and now in the first year of a new 4-year contract. Posada may not hit .338 again (even he admits he was a good bit lucky in 2007), but Posada is still one of the most indispensible parts on this team. His combination of durability and power is unique in this era. Over the last 8 years Posada has started 1,019 games behind the plate, second only to Jason Kendall (1,119). But over that same period Posada has out-homered Kendall 183-40. Every year this guy, and his best friend the shortstop, are the two guys the Yankees can’t afford to lose for any length of time, and it’s true again this year.

1B—Jason Giambi hasn’t played more than 80 games at first base since 2003. That’s the magic number for 2008. If The Big G is out there for half the games, the Yankees will be ecstatic. If he stays healthy, he’ll put up offensive numbers…he always has. There is no clear late-inning defensive replacement right now. Brian Cashman will probably be on the lookout for one later in the year. How’s this scenario—Yanks trade for Doug Mientkiewicz? They let him go only because he was left-handed. But if the Yanks find themselves looking for some 8th inning defensive insurance in August, I wouldn’t rule it out.

2B—Robinson Cano is about to take his place among the best hitters in the game. At age 25, he’s ready to step into his prime. Cano still has a few things to prove. He needs to become more consistent defensively. He needs to bounce back better after night games (.262 average in day games last year). And he needs to prove the Yankees were right for breaking their long-standing tradition of not signing young players to long-term deals. If all goes well, this time next year Cano will be batting third in the lineup.

3B—Alex Rodriguez is the best player in baseball. You can argue that if you want, but it would only prove you don’t like him, not that he’s not a great player. As I wrote earlier this week, distractions have no place in A-Rod’s world as far as his on-field performance goes, however there is this one thing to consider. After his previous two MVP years (2003 and 2005) A-Rod’s home runs declined by 11 in 2004 and by 13 in 2006. His average fell both times as well, just 12 points in 2004 but a staggering 31 points in 2006. Will it happen again this year? Even a slight decline from 2007 will still be a monster year.

SS—Derek Jeter can hit. Sometime in July, a few weeks after his 34th birthday, Jeter will collect his 2,500th hit. Jeter needs 60 hits to pass Mickey Mantle and 163 hits to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time Yankee list. Brace yourself, but what that means is that by the end of the 2008 season (assuming a normal, healthy year—yes, Derek, I knocked on wood) Lou Gehrig will be the only man to collect more hits in a Yankee uniform than Jeter.

Now, about those pesky computers that tell us how bad Jeter is defensively, here’s what one scout told me this week: “The people that are putting together those defensive statistics together—I have to question whether they ever played the game. Derek Jeter knows what he is. He’s not afraid to make the big play when there’s a chance he can make an error. That’s the type of player I want. Other guys quit on those balls. You ask any GM in the big leagues if they’d want Jeter as their shortstop, it’s guaranteed "yes.”

LF—Johnny Damon needs to re-establish himself at the top of the order. He did that in spurts during the second half of last season. Damon’s OBP has declined three years in a row and the Yankees need him to bounce back. His second half last season gave you hope that he can be healthy and committed. Damon is in better shape than he was last year at this time. He will be the leadoff hitter and the Yankees will look for the guy that scored 100 runs nine years in a row (that streak was broken last year with just 93).

CF—Melky Cabrera has proven he can play centerfield. And that’s mostly what the Yankees are looking for. Nowadays there is no such thing as a “defense first, offense is a bonus” type of player, but Cabrera may be the closest you’ll find. Cabrera can cover ground and that helps the range of the guys around him. And teams will soon learn to stop running on Cabrera, who has collected 28 assists in the last two years. Cabrera’s ability to bunt and make contact will help Joe Girardi do some things offensively. Still, it would be nice to improve on that .327 OBP.

RF—Bobby Abreu had a terrible first half in 2007. Like the rest of the team he picked things up in the second half and that’s the player the Yankees wanted back when they picked up his $16 million option for 2008. Abreu’s .369 OBP was the lowest of his career for a full season. But he still managed to hit 40 doubles and drive in 101 runs. Batting third, Abreu is the linchpin in the Yankees batting order. He will set up A-Rod and if things go according to plan, Abreu will be the difference between a pitcher getting out of the first inning unscathed or throwing 25 pitches in the first inning and working his way to an early shower.

DH— Hideki Matsui will see more time here than he ever has. He’ll also play some in left, working in a rotation with Damon. The DH will be more like a resting place for guys like Matsui and Damon, also Giambi. Matsui has been rock solid consistent except for 2006 when he missed most of the season with the broken wrist. But he’s getting older and body parts are starting to creak a little bit more. Matsui is professional enough to get the most out of his body, but how much is left we’re not quite sure.

Bench— Jose Molina is the best offensive backup catcher the Yankees have had since Posada was the backup himself. Molina is also a fine defensive catcher whom the pitchers like to work with. Having him for a full season will be an upgrade.

Shelley Duncan is a big bat off the bench. He will get time at 1B, RF, LF, and DH. Duncan’s energy is apparent. He will hit some home runs and drive in some runs, but he’ll also strike out a lot. He only has 74 big league at-bats, so the jury is still out. But he’s a lot of fun to watch no matter what he’s doing. Wilson Betemit didn’t give the Yankees what they hoped for last year (.226 BA, .278 OBP). His 4 HR and 24 RBI were pretty good but he also struck out 33 times, all in 84 at-bats. Betemit isn’t the ideal backup infielder because you’d like a better shortstop, but as long as he’s not pressed into any long-term duty (one week or more) then he may not hurt the Yankees that much.

I will assume for now that Morgan Ensberg has the last spot. He will see time at 1B, 3B, and DH. A righty power bat in the past, Ensberg says he is a much more confident hitter after working with Hitting Coach Kevin Long for the last six weeks.

Starting rotation—This is where it all starts and ends:

Chien-Ming Wang has won 19 games each of the last two years, so let’s not lose sight of that. I know, I know…he was terrible in the playoffs. But you can’t wipe out two terrific years in two games. His spring numbers are bad too (8.04 ERA), but veteran pitchers are always given the benefit of the doubt in spring. He’s tinkered with his repertoire so he won’t be as predictable to teams that have hit him well (Boston, Toronto, Cleveland), but he’s still the guy with the killer sinker and he’ll be just fine at the front of this rotation.

Andy Pettitte’s questions for the last two weeks have been all about his physical health, not his mental health. Pettitte has always been a picture of concentration and focus, so as long as these back spasms pass, I have to believe he’s going to be strong enough to get past this congressional stuff and lead this staff again. If there are new revelations and events that will require Pettitte’s attention during the season as opposed to after, then all bets are off.

Mike Mussina is not the 18-game winner he was a few years ago. But he’s not as bad as he looked in those three starts last August. Mussina will battle and most nights the team with the awesome lineup will still be in a position to win the game. The key for Mussina will be the innings. Five innings are not enough. With two rookies behind him who are capable of running up their pitch counts quickly, Mussina needs to be effective enough to go 6 or more most nights. Otherwise, you end up with an overworked bullpen, and we know that leads to no good.

Phil Hughes is still only 21. Let’s remember that. He’s still made just 13 major league starts. He has the ability, but he now he needs to go out and do it. Hughes got knocked around a little in his first few starts off the DL last year, but that may just be what makes him a better pitcher. Pitching Coach Dave Eiland told me earlier this spring that the adversity Hughes faced there has motivated him and will make him a better pitcher. Hughes pitched to a 2.73 ERA last September and followed that up with a terrific performance in the playoffs. The Phil Hughes we’ve all been promised may not truly arrive for another year or two, but you’ll see enough this year to make you believe it’s coming.

Ian Kennedy excites some scouts, but not others. He doesn’t light up the radar gun, which turns many off. But his command is excellent and his demeanor is perfect---bulldog on the mound, puppy dog off it. He won’t be swallowed up by the attention he gets starting for the Yankees. Same thing goes for Kennedy as it does for Hughes; you’ll see enough to make you believe better things are.

Not to put too much pressure on Hughes and Kennedy, but the reality is that how quickly these two guys develop could determine more than anything else how far the Yankees go in 2008. They could mean the difference between 93 wins or 87 wins and that could be the difference between in the playoffs…or out.

Bullpen—No surprise that this is also an area of concern in 2008, but not at the top:

Mariano Rivera may be a little more touchable than he was in the Glory Days, but the fact that he’s still this good after 12 years as the Yankee closer is just baffling. But then you watch him work, determined yet effortless. It’s hard to imagine this guy dropping off the cliff. He will blow a few games, he does every year. But at the end of the year you know he’s better than 90% of what’s out there.

Joba Chamberlain will electrify the crowd every time he comes into the game. But don’t get too used to him as a setup man. Unless the other five guys I mentioned above are all healthy and pitching like All-Stars for a team that’s 8 games in front, Joba will join the rotation and leave the setting up to the other guys. But until then, he’s going to give the Yankees an incredible weapon to shorten the games.

Kyle Farnsworth scares you. I understand. He scares me too. But a little confidence from the manager may go a long way. Joe Torre clearly had none. Joe Girardi has shown his faith. The Yankees entertained offers for Farnsworth over the winter, but he’s still here. He will be asked to get important outs. We’re going to have to live with that fact.

LaTroy Hawkins has pitched in a lot of games and has been to the postseason a few times, but this is something different. Let’s see how he handles New York. Hawkins has turned himself into a groundball pitcher. He’s durable and he will get the ball a lot. He had one not-so-great year in the AL East a few years ago, but at least he doesn’t have to face the Yankees anymore. He’ll have his ups and downs just like every relief pitcher. The Yankees just need the downs to be held to a minimum.

The last three spots are bound to be interchangeable during the year, no matter what they look like on Opening Day. Count on seeing varying amounts of Brian Bruney, Ross Ohlendorf, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, etc. Billy Traber gets a chance to be the lefty specialist. Darrell Rasner will be the long man after the groin injury that knocked out Jeff Karstens. At some point this year, we may even say the name Kei Igawa.

Bottom line: Unless the young pitching on this team matures quicker than any of us expected, this team may not have enough to make the playoffs. They will slug their way to a lot of wins, just like they have the last few years. But it’s just not that common to ask so many inexperienced pitchers to make such big contributions for a playoff team. Is it possible? Of course it is. I’m just not sure it’s probable. Feel free to call me a liar six months from now.

Thanks for reading. Send comments and questions to yankees@wfan.com.

Sweeny