The Yankees vow to improve on defense this season. Are they actually better off than a year ago?

Every year, around now, Yankee-driven happy talk roils Tampa like the fresh scent of mahi-mahi decomposing in the red tide. 

Just two days into camp, there's no shortage of Pollyanna narratives circulating throughout the Big Guava. 

Here are the Top 10 Yankee Happy Talk Narratives, ranked by their unhinged positivity.

10. An energetic, in-house competition for the 3B slot.

9. Giancarlo Stanton back by summer.

8. A full season of Austin Wells.

7. Anthony Volpe ready to break out.

6. Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger expecting big years.

5. Jasson Dominguez to come of age.

4. Max Fried.

3. Jazz Chisholm on the brink.

2. Olympian bullpen, unmatched, anywhere.

1. Yankees to emphasize defense, defense, defense! 

As bile-spitting Yank fans, we accept numbers 1-9 without reservation. All shall come to pass, though maybe only for 15 minutes. It's No. 1 that bothers us, because a voice in my head - a cross between Wolfman Jack and Selma Diamond - keeps grumbling that we heard the same crapola last February. 

On that note, let's compare defenses, from last year and now. 

Catcher: Last year, we presented Jose Trevino as one of the game's premier pitch framers and a great defensive backstop. By July, he was being torched for slow throws to 2B. Wells came of age, but if you compare the hopes of Feb 24 to Feb 25... Advantage 24.

First base: Last Feb, we took comfort in the notion that Anthony Rizzo would mount a comeback season and, at the least, give us great defense. He's gone. This year, we're talking about Goldschmidt, a 37-year-old reclamation project, who would probably become the fulltime DH, if Giancarlo is done. Advantage: 24.

Second base: Gleyber Torres v Chisholm. Honestly, I donno what happened to Torres last summer, when he became a sleep-walker. Last Feb, we expected him to have a big contract year. Chisholm should be a solid 2B. Advantage: Toss up.

Shortstop: Volpe vs Volpe. I'll go with Volpe. Advantage: Toss up.

Third base: Last year, this was a festering sore until Chisholm came, though he was still learning the position. This year, it just looks like a festering sore. Advantage: Toss up.

Right field: Aaron Judge beats Mister Met. Advantage: 25.

Center field: Bellinger beats Judge, though Trent Grisham 25 probably loses a step to  Grisham 24. Advantage: 25

Left field: Alex Verdugo beats the Martian, who is learning the position. Advantage: 24.

We can debate these comparisons until the cows come home, and - dammit - that's what spring is for. Still, it's a worthwhile question: Will we really field a stronger defense in 2025? Boonie will say so. Cashman will say so. The Gammonites might join in. But take a deep breath, and that scent of rotted fish is out there, bobbing in the morning tide.