Scouting report: 2012 Yankees

Scouting report: 2012 Yankees

Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News

In his three seasons in New York CC Sabathia averages 235 innings and 19 wins a year and posts a 3.18 ERA.

Weve heard all spring what Joe Girardi thinks of his players, but what do the Yankees opponents think of the Bombers heading into the 2012 season?

The Daily News got some insight from players and managers around the majors, asking them to lend their thoughts on t he men that will try to bring the World

Series title back to the Bronx this season.

RUSSELL MARTIN, catcher

Chipper Jones: Braves third baseman: Hes the little sparkplug. He grinds out his at-bats, hes a great signal-caller behind the plate. Every team would want to have a guy with his kind of grit and determination running things behind the plate.

DID YOU KNOW? Martin led AL in throwing out baserunners (40).

MARK TEIXEIRA , First base

Braves catcher Brian McCann: You know as a pitcher that hes going to make you work, and if you hang something middle-in, its probably going to get hit a long way. With him, you have to throw strikes and pitch ahead or youre toast.

DID YOU KNOW? He has hit 5 HR off of Felix Hernandez. Only Bruce Chen (6) has surrendered more HR to Teixeira.

ROBINSON CANO , Second base

Ron Gardenhire, Twins manager: Hes an MVP. I havent seen anything he can t do. Defensively, he was pretty good before, but hes gotten rid of some of the sloppy stuff. Hes the most athletic second baseman in the game and one of the best hitters. Of the hitters in the Yankees lineup, hes probably my least favorite to face.

DID YOU KNOW? Cano has led AL second basemen in assists three out of the past four seasons.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ , Third base

Ron Gardenhire, Twins manager: Hes killed us. We havent been able to pitch to him. Hes a Hall of Famer and one of the most professional hiters in the game. He studies pitchers, studies the game, and it always seems like hes having fun playing baseball.

DID YOU KNOW? Rodriguez is 225 hits away from 3,000.

DEREK JETER , Shortstop

Justin Verlander, Tigers pitcher: Hes not necessarily the power threat that a guy like Cano or A-Rod, but hes a guy you dont want to see up there with bases loaded and two outs, because you know hes going to really battle you tough and if you make a mistake to him, hes going to hammer you.

DID YOU KNOW? Last season was the first time in Jeters career not including 1995 when he played only 15 games that he failed to hit 10 or more HR.

NICK SWISHER , Right field

Ron Gardenhire, Twins manager: Big swing. Hes made for New York. Hes perfect there, because he loves that atmosphere and enjoys the hell out of it. Hes put up some great numbers and can always hurt you with one swing.