If you want the doom and gloom prognostication of the 2013 New York Yankees season, you can pretty much go to any newspaper or website, but not here. I have filled the glass with something while appearing clear in color, may not be in content and I have taped the rose-colored glasses to my face as I look forward to Opening Day on Monday.

Anyone who has paid a moment's attention to this off-season knows that the Yanks were dedicated to getting the payroll under the luxury tax limit of $189M for the 2014 campaign which meant pretty much no big deals, no long-term deals, either. There were already the challenges of core players, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia coming back from serious injuries requiring surgery. Many important players - both regular and bench positions - went elsewhere this winter: Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez, Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones and with them a lot of the power. Of course last season everyone complained that the Bronx Bombers were way too dependent on the long-ball. That probably won't be an issue this season.

The Captain, who vowed he'd be recovered from the injury sustained in the playoffs in time for Opening Day, couldn't get his thirty-eight year old body comply with that and will start the season on the disable list. Same for Curtis Granderson who has his forearm broken with a pitch in his first spring at-bat. Mark Teixeira lasted a little longer; he wasn't injured until hitting off a tee in preparation for his participation in the WBC. We already knew we were to be without A-Rod for the foreseeable future. He had already been replaced before the spring got going. For good measure, number four starting pitcher, Phil Hughes, will also start the season with "DL" next to his name on the roster.

So, what's good? Well, the pitching has the potential to be excellent. Big money did go out to Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Hiroki Kuroda to keep them in pinstripes this season. Those starters, anchored by CC Sabathia and rounded out by the emerging Phelps, the potential of Nova and the contract-year of the aforementioned Hughes. Adam Warren and now, Chien Ming Wang are waiting in the AAA-wings should any of the top five falter of get injured.

The bullpen, with Mo back is also solid as can be. Closer heir-apparent, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain set him up very nicely. David Aardsma was just let go, but Boone Logan looks ready to go. Girardi counts on this 'pen a lot and if they deliver, the Yanks can win a lot of close games and they may be in many of them as it's true- they won't score as much this year.

But there's more speed than there has been in some time with an Opening Day line-up that should include Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Eduardo Nunez and that speed, despite Nuney's throwing issues should help shore up the defense.

So, what's the major concern? Well, much like in some seasons past where it seemed like GM Brian Cashman was taking every available arm off the slag heap and giving them a shot that brought the unexpected, happy results of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, this year the aching, huddled masses were players on the decline (Youkilis), released players (Boesch, Overbay), un-tradeable players (Wells). During the spring I had hoped that the Yankees would give some of the bigger payback/no investment kids a shot; Mesa, Mustelier, Neal and others got a good long look. As did castoffs like Juan Rivera and Dan Johnson, but doesn't look like any of them made the last cut.

But here is what could go very right with these guys. There are some of these guys, on 1-year deals, who have a lot to prove and a lot of money on the line should they produce for the Yanks in the early goings. Kevin Youkilis, for whom no real Yankee fan feels inclined to root, is on such a bubble. He doesn't want to be with the Yankees either, but knows his career is on a precipice. Should he fail to produce for the Yanks, the $12M New York is paying him will most likely be the last big dollar pay-out he sees. But, should he be able to resurrect his career filling in for A-Rod, a multi-year deal with similar money could be his this off-season and you have to KNOW that is rather motivating.

The same goes for Vernon Wells, Brennan Boesch, Ben Francisco and most of the other stop-gap guys Cashman has brought on board to tie the Yankees over until Tex, Granderson and A-Rod return. Adding in to the 'pro' column is that the Yanks get to come into this season as something of an underdog; strange territory but also a situation that has the potential to gel this team, to build some early team chemistry that could lead to some wins. Yeah, yeah, my glass is half-full to be certain, but we'll see -- that's why we play the games, right?

Next blog post will be about the goings on around my upcoming book tour. I am currently lining cities and locations up and will share that early in the coming week.

Thanks
Brian