Baseball fans, brace yourselves: pitchers and catchers have officially reported to camp. Spring training is JUST around the corner. It is finally time for us to come out of our long hibernations and witness our favorite teams and players take the field again.

But before that, let's talk about the elephant in the room here: the Evil Empire. Yes, folks, I'm talking about the New York Yankees. It has been nine too-short years since they last won the World Series, and many are saying that this is the year that the Yankees will return to their former glory.

But I'm here to say no!!! The Yankees will not be winning another World Series on my watch!! So here, folks, are my top five reasons why the New York Yankees will not be winning the World Series this year.

1. Starting rotations questions

I'll give it to the Yankees –– they've got a really good offense. You won't see me questioning the efficacy of the Yankees' lineup this season. The starting pitching, however, is another thing entirely.

A lot of the pitchers in the starting rotation had career years last season –– the question is, will that carry over into 2018?

Luis Severino has two years with over 20 games played in the league. His ERA for those years is as follows: 5.83 in 22 games; 2.98 in 31 games. Is it possible that last year was just a fluke? Or is it more likely that he just had a rough first full season? I think it's somewhere between the two, and Severino isn't necessarily the Cy Young ace that Yankees' fans are bragging about.

Masahiro Tanaka is literally always injured, and while he had a great October, he's never really gone a long stretch of time where he's stayed healthy and pitched well. Sonny Gray is a solid number 3, but he's not the ace-pitcher that he was in Oakland. CC Sabathia had a great season last year, but what are the odds that he repeats that this season, during which he'll turn 38 and his knee problems will likely only get worse?

The Yankees also do not have a dependable 5-hole man, because Jordan Montgomery and Luis Cessa have both proven that they can't hold down the position. Look, all I'm saying is there are a lot of questions with this rotation. It's entirely possible that they can hold it together and the offense will pull them through –– but I still think it's worth asking if this rotation is strong enough to fend off the Astros.

2. Bullpen woes

Anyone else remember how terrible Dellin Betances was at the end of last season when Joe Girardi did everything in his power NOT to use them in the playoffs? And also remember that stretch when Aroldis Chapman literally could not close out games? There was definitely a lot of wear and tear on the bullpen guys at the end of last season, which ultimately was one of the biggest things that cost the Yankees in the playoffs. This isn't the three-headed monster that it used to be (complete with Andrew Miller, who's now with Cleveland).

If the Yankees don't find someone to shore up that 5-hole in the starting rotation, new manager Aaron Boone could be leaning on the bullpen hard again this year. While that may be okay in the short term, it's definitely not a way to win your 28th title.

3. 2nd and 3rd Base

After trading Starlin Castro to the Marlins and letting Chase Headley and Todd Fraizer go this offseason, the Yankees are banking on two rookies to hold down the left-side bags for them. Some type of weird, rookie-hybrid concoction of Ronald Torreyes, Gleyber Torres, Tyler Wade, and Miguel Andùjar are expected to see time at 2nd and 3rd base this season, and Torreyes is the only one of the bunch who has seen extended time in the big leagues.

Will they all have big rookie seasons, like Aaron Judge did last season? Or will they all strikeout out big? No one really knows, and that's a big wager to bet on not just one, but two, of your infield positions.

4. The Houston Astros

The Astros were the team that knocked the Yankees out in Game 7 of the ALCS last season en route to their World Series victory. The Astros and the Yankees are the two favorites in the American League, and I'm gonna make the case that the Astros are the better team of the two here. They've got a proven group of guys who have all seen October baseball now, including a lineup full of young players (Correa, Altuve, Springer, etc.) who can go toe-to-toe with the Yankees lineup of Sanchez, Judge, and Stanton. Go Astros!

5. I really just don't want them to

Perhaps the best reason on this list! The Yankees will not win the World Series this year because I do not want them to. It's as simple as that folks!