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Ask their resident poet laureate, Wells, to describe the Yankees, and he might offer a variation of his own story: Perfect We're Not. But cranky owner George Steinbrenner, peeved by the team's first-round playoff exit and feeling persecuted by baseball's new labor agreement, spent $53 million on Cuban import Contreras and Japanese import Matsui, insulted star shortstop Jeter, and put Torre on notice that anything short of a return trip to the World Series will be unacceptable. Mariano Rivera is healthy again, the Rocket will win No. 300, and Soriano, despite a sore shoulder this spring, is on his way to legend status.
Potent lineup boasts potential MVP candidates in Garciaparra and Ramirez and deepest bench in years. But Little will be challenged to find enough playing time for interchangeable pieces such as Kevin Millar, Giambi, and Ortiz, and persuading Hillenbrand that the Sox really do want him after shopping him this spring. Martinez appears as healthy as he has been in more than two years, and Wakefield and Lowe are both capable of 15 to 18 wins, but back end of rotation is suspect and innovative bullpen strategy will cause widespread second-guessing if relief crew fails.
The AL East has finished in the same order for five straight seasons, the Blue Jays finishing third, and this year may be no different, though Worcester's J.P. Ricciardi clearly has the Jays moving in the right direction in his second year as GM. Jays were 44-32 after the All-Star break, 58-51 after Tosca replaced Buck Martinez as manager, and while Ricciardi has pruned Jays' payroll to the mid-50s, he rewarded rising stars Hinske and Wells with five-year deals this spring. There are more talented kids coming, too, in Hudson, Huckaby, and Phelps. Pitching is thin after Halladay, but this is becoming a dangerous team again.
Orioles' revamped top brass - Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan replacing Syd Thrift - failed in their attempt to land a big bat for a team that was shut out 15 times last season, the most since 1976. Turned down by Pudge Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, and Cliff Floyd, the Birds settled for bringing back 38-year-old Surhoff, who has gone from a spare part to a needed producer with David Segui hurt yet again. Bullpen is anchored by last year's rookie sensation, Jorge Julio, and another 2002 rookie, Lopez, ranks as staff ace, but season-ending injury to righthander Scott Erickson cancels out acquisition of Daal.
After seeing a ground ball disappear into the jersey of Red Sox third baseman Shea Hillenbrand, Piniella said: ``Never seen that. Of course, I've seen some things this spring I've never seen before.'' As manager of the majors' youngest team, and one destined to finish last for the sixth straight year of its existence, Piniella ain't seen nothin' yet. The D-Rays finally dumped $9 million albatross Greg Vaughn, but Sweet Lou, who built winners in Cincinnati and Seattle, never started from less than zero before. Rhode Island's Baldelli makes his big-league debut at 21, while 23-year-old Kennedy ranks as staff ace.