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GIANTS UPDATE

Jeremy Shockey has finally made an appearance at the Giants' voluntary workouts after a few weeks of pleading by his QB, Eli Manning. Shockey had been in Miami, rigorously working out with former Hurricanes players as well as new teammate Plaxico Burress. The tight end said he didn't mean to cause controversy and was only trying to better himself, and added that he feels he's in the best shape of his career. Time will tell, but hopefully he and Manning can get on the same page this year and Shockey can return to the brilliance shown in his rookie season.

Could QB Doug Flutie suit up for Big Blue? It's a possibility, now that backup Jim Miller is set to undergo hip surgery that could have him out for several months. Flutie, the former Boston College star who was released by the Chargers earlier this offseason, would still like to play another year and is reportedly going to have a physical soon for the Giants. Sure, he's old, but you could do much worse in finding a second- or third-stringer.

Now that the draft is over, most teams are sifting through the remnants of college seniors in search of undrafted free-agent steals. The G-Men may have found one in Syracuse's Diamond Ferri. Ferri was a highly recruited RB coming out of high school but was forced to switch to defensive back for the Orange. His size (5-foot-10) probably kept most teams from drafting him as a safety, but he did show flashes of two-way ability in a stellar game against Boston College last year. Ferri returned an interception 44 yards for a TD and made six tackles, but was also pressed into backfield duty because of injuries and responded by rushing 28 times for 141 yards and two TDs in Syracuse's 43-17 upset win. For his efforts, Ferri became the only Big East player to win Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors. Ferri could prove to be a valuable and versatile player next year, so keep an eye on him.

Another undrafted free-agent pickup is Notre Dame RB Ryan Grant. A Nyack, N.J., native, Grant was the New Jersey Prep Player of the Year before joining the Fighting Irish. He did rush for 1,000 yards as a sophomore, but never really lived up to his potential, losing the starting job to current Cowboy Julius Jones as a junior and freshman Darius Walker because of injuries as a senior. Perhaps Grant will be able to live up to some of that potential in a Giant uniform.
posted by JASON BARTOLONE at 1:26 PM [edit]

GIANTS UPDATE

EAST RUTHERFORD - Despite not making their first pick until the second round (43rd overall) because of last year's trade for Eli Manning, I'd have to say it was a pretty successful NFL Draft for the Giants. I'll break down Big Blue's selections and also offer some other draft thoughts in a moment ... but first, I want to tell you about the Giants' Draft Day Party, which I attended Saturday at the Meadowlands with my brother and his friends.

We were able to get a few autographs, most notably former Giant RB O.J. Anderson, the MVP of Super Bowl XXV. We also got other luminaries such as defensive tackle Fred Robbins, offensive lineman Rich Seubert and new kicker Jay Feely. We missed out on legendary linebacker Harry Carson - who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, by the way - and new offensive lineman Kareem McKenzie, a Penn State grad. But other than that it was pretty cool ... we got to take a walk through the Giants' locker room (it's not as impressive without huge, naked, sweaty dudes) and press box, and also got to go out onto the field. I also got my picture taken with former TE Howard Cross and radio analyst Dave Jennings. For some reason, they didn't believe me when I said I played linebacker in high school. Anyway, I will have plenty of digital photos to share with you in the near future.

Now, onto the Giants' picks ....

Second round, No. 43 overall: Corey Webster, CB, LSU
The Giants front office has really been hyping this young man up, saying they have him rated higher than first-rounders Antrel Rolle of Miami and Adam "Pac-Man" Jones of West Virginia. Webster (5-foot-11, 204 pounds) was considered a sure-fire first-rounder prior to his senior season at LSU, but a series of injuries (most notably a strained right knee, which caused a foot problem) set him back quite a bit. Still, they say he's fully recovered and his pre-draft workouts were phenomenal. He is said to have a nose for the ball and began his college career as a wide receiver, which means he should significantly reduce the Giants' continuing problem of dropped interceptions. Webster also showed character by returning for his senior season to complete his degree rather than going pro, as well as fighting through his various injuries. He should immediately give them depth at the corner position behind Will Peterson and Will Allen, who will be a free agent after this season.

Third round, No. 74 overall: Justin Tuck, TE, Notre Dame
Tuck is another highly regarded player whose stock dropped because of an injury-plagued senior season. Tuck tore his ACL at the end of his junior year in 2003 but was able to return to the Fighting Irish as a senior and start in all 11 games. He had a drop in production (13.5 sacks as a junior, six as a senior) but still set the school's sack record and was voted team MVP. Tuck can play both end positions and should become a part of the rotation with starters Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora.

Fourth round, No. 110 overall: Brandon Jacobs, RB, Southern Illinois
The Giants addressed another definite team need with this selection. Jacobs, who is said to weigh in at over 260 pounds, will step in as a replacement for the departed Ron Dayne and hopefully fair better in short-yardage situations. Both Jacobs and the Giants have stressed, however, that Jacobs is not a fullback, but a feature back. He originally played at Auburn but decided to transfer after being stuck behind Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, who were both top-five selections this year. Jacobs was part of a three-running back rotation at Division I-AA Southern Illinois but still gained over 900 yards, scored 19 touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards a carry during his senior season. Jacobs says he is willing to play any role for the Giants and has vowed to surprise some people who are expecting only a third-and-1 back. He will be very valuable to the team, as Mike Cloud is the only RB behind starter Tiki Barber with much experience.

Sixth round, No. 186 overall: Eric Moore, DE, Florida State
Moore is yet another player who was hampered by injuries as a college senior. He started 12 games in 2003 but only nine this past season because of two high ankle sprains. The Giants think he can become a good pass-rusher if he adds some weight to his 6-foot-4 frame. He provides more depth at the DE position.




GIANTS NOTES

The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that the Giants signed Penn State linebacker Derek Wake to a free-agent contract. Wake is a physical specimen who had impressive pre-draft workouts but did not live up to his potential in his time with the Nittany Lions. He could be at the least a valuable special teams contributor. ... The G-Men will have new road uniforms next year that are exact replicas of their 1956 NFL Championship team ... the Chargers used the 12th overall pick, which they acquired from the Giants in the Manning deal, to select LB Shawne Merriman from Maryland ... TE Jeremy Shockey still has not shown up for the team's involuntary workouts despite pleas from Manning. Shockey is said to be in Miami with some of his former Hurricanes teammates taking part in their well-documented offseason training program.




OTHER DRAFT OBSERVATIONS

Penn State had no draft selections for the first time since 1951 ...

Two of the biggest surprises for me involved former USC WR Mike Williams: The Vikings picked speedy Troy Williamson ahead of him at No. 7, and the Lions took Williams despite having chosen a receiver in the first round the past two years (Charles Rogers and Roy Williams). Curious move by Detroit. I believe Williams will be an exceptional pro, but if all three (or even two) of these receivers play up to their potential, how do they expect to afford all of them without neglecting other areas on the roster?

Heisman Trophy winner Jason White wasn't selected, but a whopping 11 of his Oklahoma teammates were. White is the first Heisman winner since Florida State's Charlie Ward (1994) not to be picked. ...

Two teams that I thought had great picks on Day One were the Ravens (Oklahoma WR Mark Clayton, Oklahoma DE Dan Cody) and the Cardinals (Miami CB Antrel Rolle, California RB JJ Arington) ...

I guess it was surprising to see Cal QB Aaron Rodgers fall all the way to No. 24 after he had been projected by some as the top signal-caller in the draft, but don't feel too sorry for him: In one year he's going to make more money than any of us will see in a lifetime. It will be tough, however, going from the Cali sun to Green Bay winters and also becoming the heir apparent to Brett Favre ...

Two interesting picks by the Patriots, taking OL Logan Mankins of Fresno State in the first round and QB Matt Cassel of USC in the seventh round. Mankins was barely on anybody's radar screen as a first-round projection, and Cassel hardly had any playing time with the Trojans as a backup to both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinert. But watch, both of these picks will become Pro Bowlers ...

Interesting selection by the Jaguars in taking Arkansas QB Matt Jones in the first round. Jones is an outstanding athlete and is expected to play WR or TE in the NFL. He is reportedly the first modern player weighing over 240 pounds to be clocked at a 40-yard dash time of under 4.4 seconds. The Jags are taking a huge risk, but it could pay dividends if Jones' athletic abilities translate into success on the football field at the pro level ...

It was hilarious to see the reactions of J-E-T-S fans at the Javits Center when it was announced that their first selection (second round) was kicker Mike Nugent of Ohio State. They can laugh all they want, but a consistent kicking game can be the difference between winning and losing in today's parity-stricken NFL. For reference, see Adam Vinatieri, or better yet, New York's own Doug Brien against the Chargers in the playoffs last year. Nugent is a special player, and plus, Gang Green was still able to get a player they coveted (CB Justin Miller of Clemson) and fill a need with their next pick. Miller could have been taken much higher if not for an arrest (for disorderly conduct and a noise violation) just last week ...

The Broncos really threw a wrench into an otherwise average first day by taking much-maligned RB Maurice Clarett, formerly of Ohio State, with the final pick of the third round. They add a player with lots of baggage who's coming off a dismal performance at the NFL Scouting Combine (although he did have much better efforts at several other workouts), yet if Clarett has any chance of succeeding as a pro it will come as a member of Denver's running back factory. The Broncos have churned out 1,000-yard rushers with regularity, particularly late-round draft picks who flew under the radar. Clarett will have plenty of attention on him thanks to his various scandals and circumstances, but if Mike Shanahan can succeed in making him (or Ron Dayne, for that matter) into a productive pro we'll all need to bow down ...

The Saints may have gotten a steal by taking former Florida State QB Adrian McPherson in the fifth round. The super-gifted athlete (considered to have Michael Vick-like talent) was booted from the Seminoles for a gambling scandal (you have to be pretty screwed up to actually get kicked off a football team known as the "Criminoles") and spent the last year lighting up the Arena Football League. Don't scoff: you may have heard of a guy named Kurt Warner who did the same thing a few years back before winning league and Super Bowl MVPs ...

Some players who really fell far: Connecticut QB Dan Orlovsky (fifth round, Lions - hyped as a first-rounder prior to his senior season), and Wisconsin DT Anttaj Hawthorne (sixth round, Raiders - originally thought to be better than teammate and first-round DE Erasmus James; Hawthorne was busted for marijuana at the combine) ...

This year's Mr. Irrelevant is TE Andy Stokes of William Penn, taken by the Pats with the final pick of the draft (No. 255 overall). According to the tradition, Stokes will be treated to all these parties/banquets in his honor, but the real good news is that four of the last six Mr. Irrelevants (including Giants FB Jim Finn) are still currently on NFL rosters.
posted by JASON BARTOLONE at 10:43 PM [edit]

GIANTS UPDATE

Like the rest of the NFL, the Giants are preparing for the 2005 NFL Draft .... the only problem is, they won't have a first-round pick because of last year's trade with the Chargers for QB Eli Manning. The Giants don't consider this to be a problem however, because they're still ecstatic over getting their quarterback of the future, plus they've already addressed most of their pressing team needs through free agency.

Barring any trades, Big Blue's first pick will be near the top of the second round, No. 43 overall. It's considered to be a relatively weak draft, and the Giants believe they can get a player who is just as talented as most who will be picked late in the first round. One name that's come up is Florida RB Ciatrick Fason, but other areas that the Giants will be looking to upgrade include the secondary, defensive tackle, and perhaps later in the draft a blocking tight end.

If any Giants fans out there are concerned with their team's first pick coming so late, here are some tidbits that might ease your mind. Two talented running backs were recently chosen with the 43rd pick: Cowboys rookie Julius Jones, and former Bengal-turned-Patriot Corey Dillon. Also, some other outstanding second-round Giants draft picks: Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer and Joe Morris. All hope is not lost.

I'll be attending the Giants' draft day party at the Meadowlands on Saturday, so I'll be sure to bring you all the latest news from Big Blue camp.
posted by JASON BARTOLONE at 11:30 PM [edit]

In response to my 2005 MLB Season Preview, a certain Chris Korman says that I'm "biased" and that "the Phillies rule" .... you may be right that I'm biased, Chris, but that's hardly a convincing argument that the Phils will finish any better than third in the NL East ...




In other news, I won my office NCAA Tournament pool, a cool $80 thanks to North Carolina's victory .... even more importantly than the cash, I beat out some office heavyweights, including the publisher and the metro editor, and hopefully won some office respect ...




So I went to see Sin City the other day. I have to say it was pretty cool ... mad violent, but cool. It's unlike any other film, and it's got some quite unique characters also, definitely worth checking out.




So what's up with all the famous deaths lately, first Johnnie Cochran, then Mitch Hedberg, now the Pope ... sounds like a good scenario for a joke actually, Johnnie Cochran, Mitch Hedberg and the Pope walk into a bar ....

Another notable recent passing was the Greene family dog, Sherlock ... he will be missed.




GIANTS UPDATE
New York restructured S Shaun Williams' contract, allowing the long-tenured Giant to return for a ninth season rather than retire.

Also, an interesting story as reported by Giants.com: Last year, QB Eli Manning wanted to wear No. 10, but that jersey was already taken by P Jeff Feagles, so in exchange for the number, Manning agreed to pay for a Florida vacation for Feagles and his family ... well this year, WR Plaxico Burress wanted Feagles' new No. 17, so in return, Burress is paying for a renovated kitchen at Feagles' home in Arizona. Not a bad deal, huh.

Finally, the Giants organization is going to sue the developers of the future Xanadu entertainment complex that's currently being built at the Meadowlands, claiming that it violates their lease and will create too much traffic on gamedays ... which seems odd, because the Giants are already planning to build a new, state-of-the art stadium, and you'd think the sides would be able to integrate the two projects and really build something worthwhile that accomodates everyone ... so we'll see.




Finally, I'd like to share a quick review of a new album I've been digging lately ...

Corrosion of Conformity (C.O.C.) - In the Arms of God

Even though they've been around for a long time, C.O.C. has kind of been under my radar .... I know a few songs here and there, I knew they were an important hardcore/metal crossover band in the 80s and turned into more a of a hard rock type band ... but apparently I've really been missing out, at least according to what I'm hearing on this album.

Anyway, In the Arms of God is a pretty serious hard rock record. There's a definite Black Sabbath influence/worship; in fact, "Paranoid Opioid" sounds like a lost tune from Masters of Reality, or a sort of speedier "Hand of Doom"/anti-drugs tune that takes plenty of Sabbath-style twists and turns and even features an Ozzy-esque distorted vocal in the chorus. Other heavy influences include blues (intro to "Stone Breakers"), southern rock ("So Much Left Behind") stoner rock ("Is It That Way") and Led Zeppelin-inspired folk (the strumming guitar and pained vocals of "Rise River Rise"), each style getting its full due throughout the record. I'm not surprised, considering the contributions singer/lead guitarist Pepper Keenan made during his time in the Phil Anselmo project Down and that band's penchant for bending those genres under the flag of metal. There's also the slightly punkish "Infinite War" (which features vocals by either bassist Mike Dean or second guitarist Woody Weatherman, I'm not sure) and harkens back to their much different early 80s sound.

Keenan and Weatherman's riffs form the backbone of the record, but there's also great performances by Dean and drummer Stanton Moore, who combine for a thundering low-end sound. Keenan's vocals are also pretty solid, and his intelligent political and religious criticisms add another level of enjoyment. The album's highlight comes at the end with the title track, which, after a creepy intro, explodes into an awesome display of monster drumming and monster riffs. It's a must listen, and could be one of the best metal tracks of the year.

In summary, any music fan who's into the harder-edged material by Down, Alice in Chains, Clutch, Crowbar or Load-era Metallica (don't get scared off), with a good amount of Sabbath, Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd thrown in for good measure, should find themselves right at home. The album combines them all, but offers enough heaviness, originality and skill on its own to stand alone as superb work and one of 2005's top releases.

Jay's Picks: "Paranoid Opioid", "Dirty Hands/Empty Pockets (Already Gone)", "Rise River Rise", "Never Turns to More", "The Backslider", "World on Fire", "In the Arms of God"
posted by JASON BARTOLONE at 4:44 PM [edit]

2005 NEW YORK YANKEES SEASON PREVIEW

My spring training correspondents (a.k.a. my parents) weren't able to come up with much info during their trip to Tampa, Fla. (other than the fact that they got Tommy John's autograph), so it looks like I'll have to take care of this myself. Here we go.

CATCHER
Mainstay Jorge Posada will once again be behind the plate. A team leader, he'll face a new challenge this year in getting accustomed to three new starters. John Flaherty is a proven backup and can step in if needed without any defensive dropoff.

FIRST BASE
Perhaps the only positional question mark. Much-maligned former 'roid head Jason Giambi is feeling healthy and appears to have full support from Yankee fans. However, he's still a huge unknown now that he's off the juice - he could hit 30 HRs, or could be a total disaster. That's why fan favorite Tino Martinez was brought in to give them a sure-handed defensive player that would allow Giambi to spend more time as DH. He may have lost a step offensively, but still offers a solid glove, as well as leadership abilities.

SECOND BASE
Miguel Cairo had a nice season last year, transforming himself from a platoon player to a clutch performer, but it may have been a career year and the front office wasn't willing to shell out a big contract. Tony Womack comes over from the NL-champion Cardinals and offers a much-needed stolen base threat at the bottom of the lineup. Veteran infielder Rey Sanchez was also brought in as a bench player, replacing Enrique Wilson.

SHORTSTOP
Team captain Derek Jeter will of course be in his familiar spot. He's taken a liking to the leadoff spot in the batting order and despite a miserable slump last year (during which he was actually booed by Yankee fans!) he still put up solid numbers.

THIRD BASE
Now entering his second year in Pinstripes, the Yankees are hoping to see the MVP-caliber numbers Alex Rodriguez put up as a Ranger and Mariner. Still, A-Rod had a fine offensive season last year and fared even better defensively playing at the hot corner for the first time in his career. He's had a year to adjust to the bright lights of the Big Apple and blood fued with the Red Sox, and owner George Steinbrenner has personally spoken to him about becoming a team leader, so we'll see if he's up to the challenge.

LEFT FIELD
Hideki Matsui has been a huge player for the Yankees thanks to his all-out hustle and disciplined approach to the game. He's adjusted well to the major leagues despite constant media pressure from his home country (not to metion the N.Y. contingent) and the Yanks hope to lock him up with a long-term extension at some point this season.

CENTER FIELD
Sure, Bernie Williams is getting older and more brittle, and trips to the DL have been more frequent. However, the longest-tenured Bomber will somehow get his at-bats and continue to provide a spark for the team, whether it be in the field or as DH. The Kenny Lofton experiment is thankfully over, with the surly veteran being dealt to the Phillies in the offseason. The hustling Bubba Crosby beat out veteran Doug Glanville and utility man Damian Rolls for the back-up job and could be a short-term fill-in at any of the OF positions. The job in center could someday soon belong to prospect Melky Cabrera, who'll begin the year at Double-A.

RIGHT FIELD
Gary Sheffield had a remarkably consistent season last year (arthritis cream or no arthritis cream) despite playing virtually with one arm because of a lingering shoulder problem. The runner-up for AL MVP had offseason surgery, and it's scary to think what he might accomplish in this lineup at 100 percent. Ageless Ruben Sierra, once considered a clubhouse cancer but now a Joe Torre favorite in his second tour of duty with the Yanks, will give Sheff an occasional day off and will get his share of at-bats as a DH or pinch-hitter.

STARTING ROTATION
The acquisition of Randy Johnson is almost priceless because he gives the Yankees so many things: a legitimate ace, a strikeout pitcher, a lefty arm, an intimidator, an equalizer in a short series and someone to strike fear in the hearts of Red Sox. Forget about the cameraman incident earlier this year - Johnson is a professional and the New York spotlight shouldn't bother him. He knows he was brought here for a specific mission, and barring any significant injury time (a distinct possibility at age 42) he should accomplish it.

Carl Pavano gives the Yanks another power pitcher who's relatively young (29) and can eat up innings. The only question is, was last year's breakout season with the Marlins a fluke, or is he moving into his prime years?

Mike Mussina should be breathing a lot easier now that he's no longer forced to be the staff's de facto ace, a role he was thrust into last year with the sudden departures of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. He should be much more comfortable with quality arms surrounding him, and the Yanks hope he can bounce back from some of last year's occasional struggles.

New York took something of a gamble on Jaret Wright, who experienced a rebirth last year with the Braves. The righty signed a three-year deal that turned out to be almost identical to the one Jon Lieber got from the Phillies. While Lieber proved he could perform well in the postseason (against Boston, no less), his replacement suffered through a number of inconsistent and injury-riddled seasons before finally getting on track under Atlanta pitching guru Leo Mazzone. Will Wright remember what he learned and prove his worth in the playoffs, or did the Yanks make a mistake in replacing a known commodity like Lieber?

Beleagured Kevin Brown rounds out the rotation simply because GM Brian Cashman couldn't unload him and his hefty salary. For all Brown's success in previous years, he showed he couldn't be trusted last season by foolishly busting up his hand at a crucial stretch in the season and then completely laying down in Game 7 against the Sox. Now he's had an up-and-down spring and a recurring stiffness in his troublesome back returned in his final exhibition start Friday. Still, most major league clubs would love to have a pitcher of Brown's caliber at the back of their rotation. If he should land on the DL for a significant period of time or simply can't perform, owner George Steinbrenner will be sure to find someone else who can.

BULLPEN
Closer Mariano Rivera did show a few slight cracks last year, especially against Boston, and is not quite the absolute sure thing he used to be. That being said, he's still a dominator and there's no one else Torre would want on the mound in a big spot. Mo's taken it very slowly in the offseason because of bursitis in his pitching elbow, but he's declared himself ready to go for the regular season.

Set-up man Tom Gordon had a masterful 2004 regular season and even made the All-Star team, a feat almost unheard of for middle relievers. But in the playoffs, he inexplicably morphed into Byung-Hyun Kim, surrendering hit after hit to the Red Sox in the ALCS and even reportedly vomiting in the bullpen between appearances. It's cause for concern, but the Yanks hope it was just a bad case of butterflies and he'll once again serve as the primary bridge to Rivera.

Paul Quantrill was another key part of that bridge last year before he faded badly down the stretch, compiling an ERA of over 8.00 in his final 29 games. He was hampered by lingering knee trouble and also seemed to be overworked despite having the reputation of being a workhorse, logging his most innings since 1996. With a host of veteran arms added to the bullpen and the expectation of more quality innings from the new starters, Quantrill should be fresher in September and October.

Felix Rodriguez, acquired from Philadelphia for Lofton, adds another veteran live arm to the relief corps. He's tailed off a bit since his better days in 2001-03, but Torre would no doubt love to see him revert to the key player he was for the Giants in their 2002 World Series run.

The next new arm is actually an old one, former Yankee lefthander Mike Stanton, acquired from the Mets in exchange for the enigmatic Felix Heredia. Stanton is familiar with the expectations in the Big Apple and has earned Torre's trust from the championship years of the late 90s and early 200s.

Another familiar face is Steve Karsay, who's said to be completely healed from the major shoulder surgery that's sidelined him for huge chunks of the past two seasons. He did appear in seven games last year, but the Yankees hope to get much more out of their major free-agent investment made prior to the 2002 season and would be delighted if he showed some of his pre-injury capabilities.

Rounding out the bullpen is Tanyon Sturtze, a Devil Rays castoff who's somehow become one of the Bombers' most important pitchers. The versatile Sturtze can serve as a long reliever or set-up man in a pinch, fill in as a spot starter or get crucial outs in a playoff game. He's deservedly won the trust of the coaching staff and could be called on early on in the first few weeks of the season if Brown's back is still acting up.

COACHING STAFF
Torre's been the glue that holds everything together and arguably the most important piece of the organization's success of the past decade. He rededicated himself to the job last year, and although he made some questionable moves in the debacle against Boston, there's no one better qualified to lead this team.

Former Yankee catcher Joe Girardi comes aboard as bench coach after speding a year broadcasting and replaced now-Mets manager Willie Randolph. Girardi, a key member of New York's most recent dynasty is trusted and well-liked among the players and coaching staff and also is familiar with Torre's line of thinking.

Mel Stottlemyre returns for a final season as pitching coach and faces a fresh task in helping three new starters adjust to New York. Bullpen coach Neil Allen is considered a possible future replacement.

Hitting coach Don Mattingly had a successful first year in 2004 and will continue to be groomed for a possible managerial job with the club. Former Yankees Roy White and Luis Sojo return as first-base and third-base coaches, respectively.

SEASON OUTLOOK
A postseason appearance is almost a given thanks to a payroll that exceeds $200 million, and anything less than a World Series appearance would be considered a disaster. It will be interesting to see how the fued with the Red Sox plays out now that their championship has put an end to the "curse," surely changing the dynamic between the two superpowers. The Yankees do not appear to have any significant weaknesses other than their age - however, the rest of the league's contenders are built around veterans who are just as vulnerable to injury. Barring unforseen catastrophe, New York will return to the postseason, and that's ultimately where the members of this club will have to prove their worth. A safe bet is that they'll go all the way.
posted by JASON BARTOLONE at 4:50 PM [edit]