AL East: New York Yankees

This Yankee team may not win the World Series. They have serious questions, particularly with their pitching. However, there is no reason to think that this team will not steamroll its way to 95 wins.

Lineup: The Yankees lineup is as potent as any in baseball. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter at the top make for a killer combination, particularly with their .366 and .389 respective OBP. Alex Rodriguez remains a premier power threat and rivals Albert Pujols as the best statistical hitter in baseball, assuming Barry's knee is still bothering him. Gary Sheffield will be 37 years old next year, but he hasn't shown signs of slowing up yet, and while it's unlikely he'll equal his 2003 totals of 43 homers, a .419 OBP, and a .604 SLG, he is still one of the best hitters in baseball, inspiring the fear of god in every pitcher he faces. If Jason Giambi can have the same season he did last year, the Yankees should be fine at first base. The biggest question is at catcher, where Jorge Posada has seen his OPS drop by over 100 points since 2003. He's still an above average catcher, but at age 34, the Yankees definitly need to accept that he's not the long-term answer. Robinson Cano is a solid enough second baseman for most teams, and on a team with this much firepower, he'll settle into the 8 or 9 hole just fine. The biggest question is whether Bernie Williams has anything left. Last season, he was atrocious, (.321/.367). This brings up a bigger question for the Yankees, their lack of depth. Their bench basically consists of Kelly Stinnett behind the plate, Miguel Cairo in the infield, and Bubba Crosby in the outfield. Should Williams completely tail off, which at age 37 is entirely plausible, the Yankees will likely have to trade for a DH.

Starting Pitching: For as much flak as Yankee pitching has been exposed to, the starting rotation is still decent, arguably as good as it was during several of the Yankees recent championship seasons, particularly 1999. Randy Johnson isn't what he once was, but he says he's ready to go this year, and he made strides in the second half. Mike Mussina tailed off last year, but he's still a solid number 2. Here's where it gets murky. Carl Pavano struggled with injuries last year, and it's unclear whether he'll be able to bounce back to his 2004 form and earn his $9 million dollar salary. New York was saved by Chien-Ming Wang, Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon last season. If those guys don't peform as well, or at least comparably, to as they did last year, the back end of the Yankees rotation could come apart. They still have Jaret Wright as well, but should the Yankees get to Game 7 of the World Series, he's unlikely to get the ball again, as he did 8 years ago against Florida.

Bullpen: Mariano Rivera is still the guy I want on the mound with a one run lead in the ninth inning. His presence gives the Yankees a confidence few other teams have. The Yankees used their money this offseason to acquire good setup men, especially Kyle Farnsworth, who could be a closer for many teams. The Octavio Dotel signing was an underrated move, he's not too old, and has had some seasons in which he was unbeatable, especially 2001. (1.85 ERA, .87 WHIP, in 97 Innings) Mike Myers and Ron Villone are not the greatest lefty specialists in the world, but they should get the job done. Aaron Small looks ready to take the Ramiro Mendoza role as long reliever. The bullpen has taken a lot of heat the past few postseasons, but it could turn out to be a pillar of their team.

X Factor: Carl Pavano. If he's healthy, the rotation looks a lot better for both the gruel of a 162 game season, and a short series.

Biggest Strength/Weakness: Power/Lack of a bench

Projection: 1st place in the AL East.

Win Range: 92-97