i would rather pass a kidney stone than see the evil empire win yet another championship, but i have to give them credit for being a gutty, scrappy team. that said, i believe they are a team better suited to the regular season than the playoffs as their starting pitching is not as strong as the other teams in the american league playoffs.

Yesterday, the Yanks clinched their 14th straight playoff appearance. Baseball is so bogus that way - I'm really surprised that the fans tolerate it. When you are allowed to have payroll three times some of your competition year in and year out, it just ain't fair. What would be surprising if a team with this caliber of hired guns didn't make the playoffs.

That being said, they're stacked, they're playing well, and they have plenty of guys who have been there before. They have as good a shot as anybody.

The Yankees' magic from a decade ago is gone, but they are still a formidable team. Their starting pitching has some question marks with Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano, but it should be solid at the top of the order. Philip Hughes is the wild card. He is only 20 years old but one of the top prospects in baseball. He could be a factor for the Yankees down the stretch. The lineup is still packed with talent and should have no problem scoring. I still see them winning the AL East, but I don't think they are dominant like they have been in the past.

We will win the title! Count on it.

Not for a while longer. My voodoo has a couple more good years in it.

You can never count the pin-striped buggers out, at least for the last decade or so, but this team has lost a step every year since 2000.

They will put up some serious numbers though, and will be in the thick of the race for the AL East, but I don't think they've got the legs to go too far.

I have some serious doubts about the chemistry in the clubhouse this year as well.

I'll go 4 on this team. The lineup is monstrous and they'll put up a lot of runs. However, they're getting older, they don't have a particularly good bench, their starting rotation has some issues, and outside of Rivera their bullpen is shaky.It should be another hard fought battle in the AL East this year. The Yankees are one of several 4 star teams out there, you can never really count them out, and have as good a shot as any of the better teams, though as I said in another review, I wouldn't give any team a 5 this year.

Gee, I hope not but you know they will be somewhere in the mix.