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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2008-01-23-organizational-report_N.htm




By Paul White, USA TODAY
Two years ago, when New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman signed a three-year contract, he said, "We have three years to try to deliver a championship and try to rebuild the system."

With a year left, Cashman can claim to have succeeded on one count, but it's not the one that seemed more likely back then.

The Yankees still haven't won a World Series since 2000, but the farm system has been restocked to the point that a group of young pitchers are the focal point of Yankees hopes as the franchise goes through the most extensive retooling in recent history.

The pitchers Cashman has refused to part with are the key to winning, the Yankees have a new manager for the first time since 1996 and control of the franchise has changed for the first time in 35 years. And on top of that, they're entering the final season at storied Yankee Stadium.

Joe Girardi has replaced Joe Torre as manager, and Hank Steinbrenner has taken over day-to-day control from his father, George, but this is hardly a franchise in turmoil.

They're still the Yankees - as Cashman says, "still the Steinbrenner Yankees" - with the offense that scored 76 more runs than any other team in the major leagues in 2007. They have the game's best player in third baseman Alex Rodriguez and arguably its best leader in team captain and shortstop Derek Jeter.

http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view.bg?articleid=1069258


Spring training is now just a few weeks away, so much of the offseason maneuvering already has taken place. And in the American League, the strongest teams once again will come from Boston, New York, Cleveland, Detroit and Los Angeles.

But if you're looking for a dark horse in the true sense of the word, here's a team to keep an eye on:

The Toronto Blue Jays.

Of course, Toronto has been a popular choice in recent years, too, even though the Jays have the misfortune of residing in the American League East with the Red Sox [team stats] and Yankees. But amid all of the injuries Toronto suffered last season, the Jays learned a great deal about young pitchers like Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, not to mention Jeremy Accardo.

"We like our club," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said recently. "There have been only nine teams in baseball to finish with winning records each of the last two years, and we're one of those nine."

So why are the Jays regarded as a disappointment? Good question. Toronto was hit with a rash of injuries last season, the most notable to closer B.J. Ryan. But Ryan's absence led to the ascension of right-handed closer Accardo, who finished the year with 30 saves and a 2.14 ERA to go along with a 4-4 record. If and when the Jays get Ryan back, Toronto could have quite a tandem at the end of games backing up a starting rotation that has some of the most intriguing talent in the division.

Remember: Toronto has ace Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett ahead of McGowan and Marcum, who combined to go 24-16 with a 4.11 ERA last season. In 2007, Toronto's starters finished eighth in baseball in ERA and Toronto starters finished third - even without Ryan.

What hurt the Jays, oddly enough, was Toronto's offense, which was among the best in the game in 2006. Ricciardi has since acquired shortstop David Eckstein and catcher Rod Barajas while pulling the trigger on the Troy Glaus-for-Scott Rolen deal. Toronto hopes the addition of the fiery Rolen will infuse the Jays with intensity that was sometimes lacking.

As for the potential impact on the offense, know this: Toronto ranked dead last in the majors in on-base percentage from its shortstop last season, something that Eckstein should help tremendously. Jays catchers also ranked 25th in the majors in slugging, which why Ricciardi tried to acquire Barajas (21 homers in 2006) last offseason.

Rolen admittedly comes with questions after batting a mere .265 with eight home runs last season. However, Ricciardi believes that Rolen is fully healthy entering camp and that he has a chance to be the player he was in 2006 (a solid .296, 22 homers, 95 RBI), though there are a number of reasons Toronto made the deal.

Unlikely? Maybe.

But then, that's what a real dark horse is.

Ahead of their time