Roger Clemens' lawyers are investigating accusations in the Mitchell Report that say the star pitcher used steroids and human growth hormone.

Clemens was the biggest name in this month's report by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell that detailed widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner has repeatedly denied using steroids or HGH.

"On Roger's behalf, we are investigating the allegations about him contained in the Mitchell Report," Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, said Wednesday in a statement. "To our surprise, we have identified several people who logic dictates the Mitchell team should have talked to but did not. That's troubling. We are asking questions and we encourage the news media to do the same."

1. A reliable, right-handed set up guy.

2. A reliable, lefty specialist who can get Big Papi out.

3. A Doobie Brothers reunion.

4. A first baseman not on 'roids, who can play defense and hit 20 HRs.

5. An organization that treats its past stars (who were not on 'roids) with dignity and respect.

6. A radio broadcast team that focuses on the game, doesn't sing, doesn't dance, doesn't gush over steroid users, and gives the score, the inning, how many outs there are more frequently than only in odd numbered innings and if "we happen to be discussing the latest Broadway review of 'Young Frankenstein'" even less frequent than that.

7. A showdown between Hiliary and Rudy in the general election (for its entertainment value).

8. A T.V. broadcast team that is not in the tank for current players and will tell it like it is.

9. A ban on Al Leiter.

10. As several Miss America contestants have been fond of saying: "WORLD PEACE." And of course, good will towards Yankee fans.

I would imagine probably I'll get a call and maybe be invited to spring training again," said Guidry, who has had a role with the Yankees every spring since his pitching career ended in 1988. "So I'll just wait and see. If they don't call, I won't go. I've got to make sure that they want me to go."

This time of year, public posturing on potential trades by baseball executives is as commonplace as mistletoe, but it sure sounds like the Orioles aren't planning to trade ace lefty Erik Bedard. That means the Mets and Yankees probably have to look elsewhere for potential rotation upgrades.

I believe that 2007 will go down as the year that the world realized that Derek Jeter was not a great defensive shortstop, or even not a very good one. The knee problems that hit Jeter late in the season really underlined his lack of range, but in truth he had looked a bit sluggish throughout the season.

While it would be nice to think that this was a transient event, it probably is not. Jeter reaches his 34th birthday in June, and it's only natural that he should have slowed down a bit. However, this presents a problem for the Yankees, a portion of which you pointed out. First, he was never Honus Wagner with the glove. When you combine the step that he's lost with the step that he never had, you have a recipe for a million grounders rolling through the infield. In the past, Jeter has more than balanced his defensive shortcomings with his offensive prowess, but that is less and less likely to be the case in the future. Hence, among my various pie-in-the-sky wishes was for the acquisition of Tulowitzki, a great, young defender with an above-average bat for the position.

Heck, Chien-Ming Wang alone would drop a third of a run off his ERA, and the offense wouldn't suffer at all. But as I said, this is all imaginary stuff. You could offer the Rockies Mickey Mantle's clone and a double-banana banana split and they wouldn't go for it. No one said my wishes had to be realistic. If they were realistic, they wouldn't be wishes.

You're right that the Captain's morale would certainly seem to be tied up in being the shortstop, and even if it isn't, the press would never leave him alone about a possible move. It would be Cal Ripken to third all over again-something, by the way, which happened a couple of seasons later than it should have because of Ripken's ego and the way the press fed off of even the slightest rumor of a change. It was undoubtedly tiresome except for the frothing hacks who live for making non-stories into stories (while making stories non-stories). My question for you is, do you really care how Jeter would feel about the move if it would give the Yankees another five victories a year and a possible championship ring? If he did object, wouldn't he be putting himself above the team? The captain is supposed to go down with the ship, not go down with the ship only when a place of honor has been secured for him. Baseball is about winning, not how one particular player's mood is affected by how the team goes about winning. Jeter has been a great player, a Hall of Famer, a champion, but how he feels about anything really shouldn't matter very much if it stands in the way of getting to the World Series.

Joe DiMaggio understood that, which is why he quit when he did. The Yankees also made it clear to him that he didn't have much choice about it. One of the great misinterpreted stories from Yankees history is that of DiMaggio's retirement. You always hear how desperately the team wanted him back, offering him $100,000 just to pinch-hit. Maybe they did and maybe they didn't, but it's what they didn't offer him that's the key here: they didn't offer him the chance to start. That was Mickey Mantle's job, because at that moment he was capable of doing more for the team than DiMaggio could (nor was that going to change).

In short: Tulo is not coming to New York, but if he somehow did, the first person to cry for Derek Jeter or say that he ought to be consulted before being unceremoniously moved to another position cares nothing about the Yankees as a winning baseball team. They're sentimentalists, not baseball fans. Oh... and even if Tulo isn't coming, as Jeter is aging, the day when we really do have to talk about this seriously is fast approaching.

Quoting Minnesota Twins insiders, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday Johan Santana could be traded within days. The Pioneer Press report refutes information on Boston.com Tuesday that the trade is not likely before Major League Baseball offices close for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

The Pioneer Press reported the Boston Red Sox remain the favorite to acquire Santana from the Twins, insiders say. Boston remains firm, though, as initially reported by the Pioneer Press, in offering just Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson. The Red Sox are adamantly opposed to substituting Jacoby Ellsbury for Crisp, and that's the current holdup.

Boston has a larger pool of players who interest Minnesota and can contribute to the Twins immediately, whereas many of the New York Yankees' top prospects are at least a season or two away from succeeding in the major leagues. The Yankees remain firmly opposed to trading pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy together for Santana, and they certainly won't trade Joba Chamberlain.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Let's do a recap on the Mark Prior Derby, which is getting more confusing each day. Jerry Crasnick has added some good info this afternoon. Prior wants a one-year deal and hopes to be on a big league mound before the end of May.

* Yankees - They'll probably pass, per Hank Steinbrenner.

* Red Sox - Named only by Jayson Stark.

* White Sox - Named only by Stark.

* Mariners - Named by Stark, denied by Jim Street.

* Mets - Named by Stark, Crasnick, Ken Rosenthal, Ed Price

* Cardinals - Named by Stark, Crasnick, Rosenthal, Matthew Leach

* Padres - Named by many, made an offer according to Crasnick. Prior went to USC but would have to take less money to play in San Diego

* Astros - Named by many, made an offer according to Alyson Footer

* Giants - Named only by Stark

* Reds - Named by Stark, Crasnick. Prior previously played under Dusty Baker

* Nationals - Named by Stark, Crasnick, Bill Ladson

* Rangers - Named by Crasnick but not Stark, aggressively pursuing according to Rosenthal

* Marlins - Named only by Crasnick

* Indians - Named only by Crasnick

One more and we're at half of all baseball teams linked at some point. The Phillies and Pirates are not interested, and it's probably safe to count the Cubs out.

December 20, 2007 -- Alex Rodriguez will try to duplicate his scintillating 2007 season without a key member of a very small inner circle.

Mike Borzello, a bullpen catcher for the past 12 seasons and Joe Torre's godson, has left the Yankees and taken a job with the Dodgers as a catching instructor.

Normally, a support-staff member splitting doesn't create a huge void. However, Rodriguez leaned on Borzello as a workout partner, and he was one of the few people whose criticism Rodriguez listened to.

Whether it was a 7:30 a.m. spring-training workout fielding ground balls or the daily 3:30 p.m. long-toss session, Borzello was on hand. And when Borzello saw Rodriguez drifting mentally, he wasn't afraid to say.

"He was good for Alex because he told Alex the truth," a Yankee employee said of Borzello. "Not everybody does that."

Without the 37-year-old Borzello, a former minor-league catcher who also is close to Mike Mussina and interacts with the pitcher the same way he does with Rodriguez, it will be interesting to see how Rodriguez reacts.

Nobody in baseball puts more emphasis on routine than Rodriguez, who now needs a workout partner and somebody not afraid to tell the best player in baseball that he isn't perfect.

Borzello's departure follows third-base coach Larry Bowa leaving to join Torre's staff. Like Borzello, Bowa doesn't shy away from pushing players.

It will be interesting to see if there is a member of Joe Girardi's coaching staff who will pick up that role.

As for Borzello's primary job, the Yankees are leaning toward having one bullpen catcher and using the catcher who isn't playing as the second bullpen receiver.

There's only one way for Roger Clemens to clear his name, one exit strategy that will get him the "benefit of the doubt" for which he yearns.

Clemens needs to go in front of Congress next month and repeat, under oath, the exact words his agent Randy Hendricks released yesterday under the seven-time Cy Young Award winner's name. Otherwise, he's toast.

Is this fair? Nope, but we're not here today to rail against the many hypocrisies to have surfaced from the Mitchell Report. Well, maybe we'll do that a little bit, further down in the column. Right now, this is about reality. About Clemens throwing a Hail Mary pass to salvage his rapidly deteriorating reputation in the court of public opinion. .....................

I've always supported Pete Rose. He was a fantastic baseball player: a 17 time All-Star at 5 different positions, Rookie of the Year, NL Most Valuable Player, World Series Most Valuable Player, Roberto Clemente Award winner, 3 time league leader in Batting Average, 7-time league leader in hits, and all-time Major League leader in games played and hits. Charlie Hustle was no slouch, but he bet on baseball and that's a big no no.

I don't condone the negative actions of Pete Rose, but I do support his entrance into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is about the history of baseball and sometimes there is a bad that goes along with the good. Keeping out one of the best players of all time is akin to stripping baseball of part of its history. Pete Rose committed the ultimate sin of betting on baseball, but his achievements are too good to overlook. He should be allowed into the Hall with a hearty explanation of his sins as a manager. In fact, this wouldn't be that dissimilar from the perception surrounding the acceptance of Barry Bonds' record breaking home run ball with Mr. E*ko's logo imprinted on it -an asterisk-, which the Hall seems nothing short of eager to do.

On Wednesday night, Pete Rose will appear on Sports Unfiltered with Dennis Miller and say some really stupid things.

"The Mitchell Report's come out and I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy."

"I've been suspended 18 years for betting on my own team to win … I was wrong … but these guys today, if the allegations are true, they're making a mockery of the game."

Actually Mr. Rose, the players named in the Mitchell Report are quite the distance behind you in terms of making a mockery of baseball. In fact, they probably register below the 1919 Chicago White Sox, Commissioner's Landis and Selig, and pre-1947 baseball among other things. In terms of making a mockery, your lapse in judgement far outweighs the use of performance enhancing drugs because of its implications.

If Rose is telling the truth, that he only wagered on his team to win -he did have a .525 winning percentage as a coach-, then he should be awarded for his brazenness. If he is telling the truth, no manager can honestly say that they put more on the line each and every night than Pete Rose. If he is telling the truth, then his statement of looking like an altar boy would surely ring true.

Yet in this situation, the truth escapes us. We do not know what Pete Rose did or didn't do. The implication of his actions, that he could have been betting against his team and thereby purposely swayed the result of games in an unacceptable manner - winning is always acceptable -, is the reason he has been banned from baseball. The implication of his actions is an unforgivable offense.

I'm willing to overlook Rose's negative undertakings but I will not overlook his idea that gambling on baseball as a manager of the ball club is less of a sin than a score of players using performance enhancing drugs. I especially am unwilling to do this when medical science, hitting coaches, and weight trainers have all played down the effectiveness of performance enhancing drugs for baseball players. The mental edge is undeniable - while also achievable thru so many other means - but the physical edge's shape and size has evaded our detection. We do not know what the result of these drugs on baseball has been and until we do we shouldn't be so quick to demonize them. They are currently illegal and should be treated as so, but ranking them as a bigger sin than gambling on the sport you participate in is truly questionable. Taking some time to understand the issue at hand could be quite preventative when it comes to saying stupid things.

When asked how he would have fared if steroids had been prevalent in his day - which is a weird question because they were - Rose responded:

"I would have got 5,000 hits."

Pete Rose, you once said that you would go through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball, and that kind of love for the game is honorable if not somewhat shocking, but today, you are an idiot*.

BY MARK FEINSAND

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, December 19th 2007, 4:00 AM

Mariano Rivera eventually may accept the three-year, $45 million deal the Yankees have offered him, but the closer isn't quite ready to do so just yet.

It appears as though Rivera has given up on the idea of getting a fourth guaranteed year from the Yankees, but according to a source with knowledge of the situation, Rivera still is trying to negotiate some type of option for 2011, one that could kick in based on the number of games the righthander finishes during the first three years of the deal.

The Yankees increased their original offer to Rivera of three years and $39 million by $2 million per season, which would give him an annual average salary of $15 million, making him the highest-paid closer by more than $4 million per year.

But after hearing Hank Steinbrenner speak publicly about his age (the closer turns 38 at the end of the month), Rivera seems determined to get something else put into the contract. If Rivera can't get the Yankees to budge, according to a source, he is expected to accept the three-year deal, which he hasn't yet, despite an Internet report to the contrary.

"He is really mad," the source said. "But he'll still sign eventually."

No other team has publicly expressed interest in Rivera, as most industry insiders have believed all along that he would return to the Yankees. The Yankees, on the other hand, have reached out to the agent for free-agent closer Francisco Cordero, working on a contingency plan in the event that Rivera opts not to sign what Steinbrenner has said will be the team's final offer.

Neither Fernando Cuza, who represents Rivera, nor general manager Brian Cashman returned calls seeking comment.

Assuming Rivera signs, the Yankees will have filled their glaring needs before the winter meetings even begin. Bringing back Rivera, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez - deals that should be officially announced this week - completes the team's starting lineup and closer position, leaving a couple of spots in the bullpen open for Cashman to work on between now and spring training.

Cordero is likely to sign someplace as a closer, as he, Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel are the only closers on the free-agent market. Among the available setup men are Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins, David Riske, Rudy Seanez and Scott Linebrink, though it is unclear whether the Yankees have specifically targeted any of them.

Following the success of Joba Chamberlain last year, the Yankees might give some of their youngsters a try in the bullpen next season, including Ross Ohlendorf and Humberto Sanchez, though Sanchez isn't expected back from elbow surgery until May or June.

The Yankees also are waiting for word from Andy Pettitte on whether he plans to play in 2008 or retire, but they would likely go into spring training with Chien-Ming Wang, Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy in the rotation rather than pay big money for a free-agent starter should Pettitte retire.

That is, of course, unless Johan Santana is placed on the trade market, in which case the Yankees surely will make a big push for the two-time Cy Young winner. The Twins would figure to want either Chamberlain or Hughes, as well as Robinson Cano or Melky Cabrera.

Baseball officials have billed former Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroids as an honest reckoning with the game's drug past.

But given Mitchell's position as director for the Boston Red Sox, some have questioned whether commissioner Bud Selig made the right choice to restore public confidence in the sport.

Mitchell's connection to the Red Sox isn't the only aspect of his resume under scrutiny. Until January, he was also chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Co., which owns ESPN, one of the game's chief broadcast partners. Some writers and observers have questioned how a person with such strong ties to baseball can be objective. At the World Series this year, Selig praised Mitchell's "impeccable credentials" and noted that he has removed himself from any involvement with the Red Sox while working on the investigation.

"There's not a scintilla of evidence that he's done anything unethical," the commissioner said.

A spokesman for the investigation did not respond to telephone and e-mail requests for comment. Mitchell's report is being reviewed by Major League Baseball, a baseball official told the Associated Press, and it could be released as soon as tomorrow.

Though Mitchell's connection to the Red Sox has elicited few public grumbles from anyone in baseball, some, such as Hall of Famer and Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, have criticized Selig's choice. These skeptics don't question Mitchell's honor. They simply wonder why Selig would leave any room for doubt about an investigation that's largely a public relations exercise.

The question has been a popular topic on fan blogs around the country. ESPN.com published an article yesterday featuring several anonymous quotes from general managers who worried about Mitchell's objectivity.

Law and public policy professors who deal with ethics issues say Mitchell's business connections at least raise potential questions for the public about his objectivity.

"There is no question that there could be findings that he has uncovered in his steroid investigation that would, if publicly revealed, be damaging to the interests of either or both the Red Sox and/or Disney," Gary R. Roberts, dean of the Indiana University School of Law, wrote in an e-mail. "I do not know whether in fact there is a conflict of interest, because I don't know what he has discovered in his investigation. But I do know that he is in a position where there could be such a conflict, and certainly, skeptics could claim that his report may lack some credibility because if in fact there is a conflict of interest, the report may be 'massaged' to hide it."

Stanford ethics professor Deborah Rhode said she doubts Mitchell would jeopardize his reputation by behaving unethically but said the reality of his actions might not eliminate public skepticism.

"If you're trying to restore public confidence, you want to avoid both the reality and the appearance of a conflict," she said. "I think that, given his experience, Sen. Mitchell would bend over backwards to make sure there's no real conflict. But there may be no way for him to allay all public doubts."

Such questions are common in public life, she said, where the experts appointed to investigate issues often have ties to the people involved in those issues.

"On the positive side of it, you get someone who is very interested and knowledgeable about the matter," she said.

Washington attorney John Dowd, who investigated Pete Rose's gambling for Major League Baseball, expressed misgivings about Mitchell when Selig announced his choice last year. But Dowd said after meeting with Mitchell and receiving updates on his efforts, he's convinced the former senator has done a good job.

"I don't think it's an issue at all," Dowd said. "He's been given a terrifically difficult job and he's doing the best he can. ... It's ultimately about the integrity of what you do. That's all that matters, whether you do an honest, fair and complete job."

Some confusion has lingered over Mitchell's role with the Red Sox. When John Henry and Tom Werner purchased the club with a group of investors in 2001, published reports listed the former senator as one of those investors. In a 2004 interview with CNN, Mitchell said he had a small stake in the team.

But at the World Series this year, Selig said Mitchell has never owned a share of the team. Red Sox spokesman John Blake confirmed that this week, saying Mitchell played a minor advisory role (he did receive compensation before the steroid investigation began).

"Day to day, he never played more than a minimal role," Blake said. "And since he's been doing the report, he's divorced himself entirely from his role with the team."

Blake added that the club hopes Mitchell will return to his advisory role when the investigation concludes.

Mitchell answered questions about a potential conflict when the probe was announced.

"I do not intend to resign from the Red Sox," he said. "I don't believe there is any reason for me to do so. If, in any way, anyone associated with the Red Sox is implicated, they will be treated like anyone else."

Henry and Werner defended Mitchell's ability to do a fair job.

"I think people who took a shot at George because he might have a conflict of interest, that's really unfair," Werner told the AP. "If he could figure out a way to bring the Protestants and Catholics together after hundreds of years of bloodshed in Northern Ireland and his idea for the Mideast peace plan was accepted by the Palestinians and the Israelis, there's no finer person, and he's a former prosecutor. Plus, he loves baseball, so he's got the interests of the game at heart, so you couldn't pick a better choice than George."

he Yankees may have left the Winter Meetings without pulling off a major trade, but they also departed discussing a potential deal that would involve Hideki Matsui.

Sankei Sports reported on Thursday that the Giants have inquired about Matsui's availability, interested in upgrading their offense by adding the 33-year-old outfielder.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that a Giants official has characterized the talks as preliminary, but substansive enough that discussions would continue in the near future.

But interest alone would not create a match. Matsui has a full no-trade clause and would need to approve any deal. It was not immediately clear if the Yankees have interest in moving Matsui, who has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday that the club's priority remains with improving its pitching staff, and he said that the Yankees are willing to add to their bullpen via trade or free agency.

Coming on the heels of New York's aborted pursuit of Twins ace Johan Santana, the Giants could offer starting pitching in a potential swap -- Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum would not figure to be moved in a Matsui deal, but it is believed the Giants would consider trading others.

Noah Lowry could be one potential target for New York. The 27-year-old Lowry is coming off a 14-8 season for San Francisco in which he posted a 3.92 ERA, but his walks and strikeouts were even, 87, and he allowed 155 hits in 156 innings.

Still, Lowry would provide a veteran presence to help soak up innings. That is a concern for the Yankees, who are still sticking to unknown innings totals for youngsters Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

Of the three pitchers, Hughes has compiled the highest professional innings total -- 146, in 2006 -- and Cashman said this week that none of the three will be permitted to go well over 200 innings. Andy Pettitte's return helps that cause, but Mike Mussina wore down midseason, and another healthy arm would only help.

New York could also have interest in left-handed reliever Jonathan Sanchez, who went 1-5 with a 5.88 ERA in 33 appearances for San Francisco this past season. The Yankees have some internal candidates to serve as a left-hander out of the bullpen -- including Sean Henn, Kei Igawa and Chase Wright -- but they have found the free-agent market prohibitive in contacting southpaws like Ron Mahay. New York did not carry a left-hander when it opened its American League Division Series against Cleveland in October, a telling sign of its needs.

he Florida Marlins have had four winning seasons in their 15 years of existence. They've never finished in first place in their division

But they've won two World Series titles.

In those same 15 seasons, the Houston Astros have finished first or second 12 times. They've made the playoffs seven times in the past 11 seasons.

But they've never won a World Series.

Which team would you rather be a fan of? With the Marlins trading young veterans Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for even younger prospects, it's likely catcher Miguel Olivo will be the only player making more than $1 million in 2008. The entire team payroll could be less than $10 million. But the strategy could pay off with a good team in 2010 or 2011.

Is it worth it? Vote in our poll.

How about the Yankees, in jeopardy of missing the playoffs altogether?

Now, in order to ward off some of the angry e-mails, I don't think the Yankees have done anything horribly wrong this winter. They had to retain their big four free agents ( Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez). Parting with Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy (or even Austin Jackson) for Johan Santana would've been painful, and perhaps not smart.

But the Tigers, having added Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, probably possess the best lineup in baseball now. And if the Red Sox do indeed acquire Santana, as looked quite possible last night, they will field, far and away, the game's best pitching staff.

Throw in the Indians, who will return essentially the same crew to defend their AL Central title, and you have four teams competing for three playoff spots. And if the Twins unload Santana and closer Joe Nathan, then the AL East - with the Blue Jays still tough, and with the Devil Rays improving significantly - becomes the harder division, top to bottom.

It's not accurate to say the Yankees haven't made a splash this winter, not when they've brought back their quartet featuring two slam-dunk Hall of Famers (Rivera and A-Rod) and two more (Pettitte and Posada) whose uniform numbers could hang in Monument Park someday. But that $388 million got them merely the status quo.

So if they're seriously out of the Santana sweepstakes -- and that's not something we can fully buy until the Twins trade their ace elsewhere -- then the Yankees should do precisely what Hank Steinbrenner told Newsday's Kat O'Brien last night that they would do.

They should forget about Dan Haren (Baltimore won't trade them Erik Bedard) and stay the course.

"Our plan is to create a powerhouse," Steinbrenner said. "We plan to do that through the draft, through Latin America, through our scouting. That's the only way to do it to be consistent."

They've tried to execute that vision the last two years, to the point at which they have three exciting, young starting pitchers in Hughes and Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain. Maybe one guy gets hurt, and maybe another one regresses. That's what happens with youth.

But they, and the rest of us, should look to the Red Sox for guidance. In 2006, Boston failed to make the playoffs, becoming the most expensive bust in the game's history. But those growing pains helped produce a 2007 championship.

Would you make that trade, Yankees fans? Sacrifice 2008 to allow the young pitchers to get strong physically and mentally, with the idea that the roster should be deeper and more experienced for 2009?

Steinbrenner might not be that patient, and he could respond by dismissing general manager Brian Cashman, who will work the final year of his contract in '08.

But what are the alternatives? Haren? A's general manager Billy Beane wants a great deal of talent for him - as well he should, given Haren's affordable contract. Yet how would Haren do facing the Red Sox's lineup five or six times a year?

The Tigers will have to experience major injuries not to be fiercely competitive, and the Indians have so much depth and talent that they should be right back in the mix. The Red Sox are rare defending World Series champs who are, indisputably, the best team in the game.

The Yankees might have less room for error than ever before in '08. Yet they might field a pitching staff that needs more room for growth. Can they walk that tightrope? Francona, were he to contemplate the Yankees' situation, would probably flash a more subtle smile.