And while Damaso Marte has worked only 2 2/3 innings, he has yet to surrender a run, giving the Yankees the possibility at attaining the lefthander they've been struggling to find since Mike Stanton left after the 2002 season
THE DEFENSE
The Yankees are better defensively than perhaps at any time in their history.
The infield needs no explanation. Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano are all Gold glove-caliber defenders (with 9 actual Gold Gloves between them). With Curtis Granderson in center, Gardner in right, and Nick Swisher/Randy Winn in left, the Yankees have an outfield that, at the very least, covers more ground than nearly any unit in baseball. All four outfielders are fast, have great range and instincts, and can throw the baseball well (definitely better than Johnny Damon).
While Jorge Posada behind the plate will likely never be christened with a Gold Glove of his own, the success of his pitchers combined with his collection of World Series rings says something about his abilities behind the dish.
OVERALL
Roughly 15 games into the season, it is hard to draw conclusions about the final fate of any baseball team. If Sabathia or Teixeira suffer an injury, the outlook could change drastically; just ask the Red Sox brass. But with their current structure, depth, approach, and execution, the Yankees are without a doubt the team to beat in the American League. And while this early season perception may not be anything original this season the reality is there for justification.
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