by Michael Faykosh

Created on: January 31, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

There is that lasting image of Derek Jeter holding up four fingers after the New York Yankees dispatched the cross-town rival New York Mets in the 2000 World Series. The Yankees have been back only twice since then, losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Florida Marlins in 2003. To Yankee owner, George Steinbrenner and Yankees fans alike, this current drought seems like an eternity as I'm sure all Cubs fans will sympathize. But, it's not as if The Boss and Yankees GM Brian Cashman haven't tried. The Yankees have been infamous for their nearly $200 million payroll and their All-Star batting line-up. While they've cashed in on the runs produced department, it's the pitching department that looks short changed. And as the old adage goes, "Good pitching will beat good hitting."

In order for the New York Yankees to get back to the World Series and win the American League pennant, they will need healthy starting pitching. Since their last World Series appearance in 2003, they have seen the likes of Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Jaret Wright, Jose Contreras and Jeff Weaver come and go. Since then, the pitching staff has seen it's fair share of disappointments. One bright spot, however, has been the emergence of starting pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang. The 26-year old went 19-6 a year ago and was runner-up to the Twins Johan Santana for the AL Cy Young award. The rest of the starting rotation will be anchored by veterans Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano. The 38-year old Mussina, who will begin his 17th season and seventh with the Yankees, wants to prove he still has a few great years in him and that he still wants that elusive World Series ring. Pettitte, who turns 35 this season, re-joins the Yankees after three years in Houston and who won four World Series rings in his nine years in pin-stripes. The 31-year old Pavano is coming off a number of injuries and surgeries that has sidelined him since June of 2005. And while the number five spot in the rotation may be up in the air at this point, the Yankees have their fair share of likely candidates. Japanese import Kei Igawa and young guns Scott Proctor, T.J. Beam and Chris Britton will all be contenders.

In 2006, the American League saw seven or eight legitimate contenders for the pennant, and it's safe to say that this season won't be any different. The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics are contenders year-in and year-out in the AL West. They look to be joined by the Texas Rangers who have taken

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