New York Yankees: 3 major storylines, notes as the Yanks head into the Opener

Get going right out of the gates.

There is likely no player on the New York Yankees who needs to get off to a hot start more than Gary Sanchez. Aside from some of the big names brought on this offseason, no failure would hinder the Yankees long-term than if Gary Sanchez ends up being a bust.

While I won’t think it is fair to ask Sanchez to be elite literally from his first at-bat, he needs to get off to a hot start and have it carry over into a great season. Between injuries and doubt about his defense, his 2018 was relatively miserable.

Now, he gets a season to get back to reaching his ceiling. He can prove he is as good as he is supposed to be by coming on strong this season.

Speaking of hot starts, the same can be said for both first basemen. Both Luke Voit and Greg Bird. Both will be on the team to start the season and both of them need to emerge themselves as the first basemen of the future. Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone, who ever the final decisions will go to, will simply play whoever is better. Both are useful, but the Yankees will play the best.

I think Voit has proven he belongs in the Bronx, but the attachment and fascination with Greg Bird will always reign supreme until he becomes less tantalizing. The Yankees have added bodies infield depth, in D.J. LaMahieu and Troy Tulowitzki, the Yankees no longer need to keep waiting on their young talent to maybe breakthrough, they have bodies lined up to go in and do the job.

For Sanchez, and the rest of them, just a little bit less, a hot start in 2019 is super important. It will get their confidence going and help their mentality in what is an otherwise really difficult franchise to play for.

Unleash the Kraken, or there might be some problems for the Yanks. Simply need a hot start. I can’t emphasize it enough.