New York Yankees

I really feel like I don't need to write that much about the Yankees or the Red Sox because if you follow baseball at all, you know about both of these teams inside and out because people much more qualified than I analyze them every day. They are going for their 8th straight division crown after claiming it again last season by going 101-61.

We all know the Yankees just go out and get whoever they need to in order to contend for the World Series title every year. This season it was obviously Randy Johnson, and on a lesser note, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright.

The Yankees were 6th in the league in pitching last season with a 4.69 ERA and proved in the ALCS they lacked the shut-down pitcher they need in the playoffs. There won't be too many stats thrown at you in this preview because you know all of these players and what they are capible of. The Starting rotation will be Johnson, Mike Mussina, Kevin Brown, Pavano, and Wright. Tanyon Sturtze will be a sixth starter when needed. One thing which is obvious is this team in old, Johnson and Brown are over 40 and Mussina will be 37 this season. The bullpen doesn't get any younger with Paul Quantrill and Tom Gordon setting up, as Kornheiser would say "the hammer of God" Mariano Rivera. They did add Felix Rodriguez and got Mike Stanton back to help bolster the bullpen as well.

Finishing 2nd in batting with a .268 average isn't a bad thing, but the Yankees want to finish first in everything. Derek Jeter will now lead off after the Yankees lost center fielder Kenny Lofton. Losing Lofton also means Bernie Williams will have to play almost everyday in center field. They do have Bubba Crosby and Doug Glanville as backups, but Williams will have to play almost everyday. Jorge Posada will anchor behind the plate as always. The infield defense got better as true Yankee Tino Martinez returns to play first base and Tony Womack has been brought in the play 2nd. Jeter is at short and Alex Rodriguez returns to play third in 2005. The outfield is the same as it was with Hideki Matsui, Bernie Williams, and Gary Sheffield patroling. Ruben Sierra will fill-in when needed in the outfield and be the designated hitter along with Jason Giambi.

The Yankees will win over 95 games again and if the pitching stays healthy, which is obviously a major concern, are a favorite to win the Wordl Series.