Season Preview

Back to the Future was a fun movie and all, but the real thing in the Bronx with Hank Steinbrenner popping off like his old man once did promises delightful entertainment all summer. Among Hank's Greatest Hits: Wondering whether Alex Rodriguez wants to go into the Hall of Fame as a Toledo Mud Hen after A-Rod opted out of his contract last fall, and telling the New York Times magazine that Red Sox Nation is just an ESPN creation. Go, Hank, go! Video Outlook

Strengths
Few teams can bang with the Yankees. With A-Rod back in the middle of a lineup that includes Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano, they're going to score five or six runs a game. Conditioning had better be a strength. They certainly worked hard enough under new manager Joe Girardi this spring as a direct result of a spate of hamstring pulls last April (Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina, Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang). Plus, in its final season before the new place opens in 2009, Yankee Stadium will be rocking.

Weaknesses
This is not a young team. Sometimes, it's not even young at heart. Mussina looked like he moved into the twilight of his career in '07. Andy Pettitte has considered retirement and battled a sore elbow this spring. Closer Mariano Rivera is showing early signs of erosion. With Damon and Abreu at the corners, the outfield defense isn't particularly strong. Girardi needs a big year from setup man LaTroy Hawkins because Kyle Farnsworth is undependable.

Difference Maker
Andy Pettitte. He has been through the most difficult offseason of his career, and the emotional drain might not be anywhere near finished if he is called to testify in Roger Clemens' suit against trainer Brian McNamee this summer. The Yankees need pitching in a deep AL, and asking youngsters Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to carry too big a load is a recipe for disaster.