2001 Record: 95-65, 1st in AL East, lost World Series to Diamondbacks 2001 Results | 2002 Schedule | 2002 Roster | 2001 Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (AL rank) Defense (AL rank) 804 runs (5th) Home: 423 runs (tied for 4th) Road: 381 (tied for 7th) 713 runs allowed (3rd) Home: 3.68 ERA (3rd) Road: 4.37 ERA (6th) 2001 Stats Leaders   Average: Derek Jeter, .311 Runs: Jeter, 110 On-base pct: Bernie Williams, .395 Stolen bases: Alfonso Soriano, 43 Wins: Roger Clemens, 20 Saves: Mariano Rivera, 50 Home runs: Tino Martinez, 34 RBI: Martinez, 113 Slugging pct.: Williams, .522 OPS: Williams, 917 ERA: Mike Mussina, 3.15 Strikeouts: Mussina, 214

ESPN's Take Q: How much will the offseason turnover affect the Yankees' championship chemistry? While the Yankees improved their talent immensely in the offseason, the retirements of Paul O'Neill and Scott Brosius along with the departure of Tino Martinez might lead one to believe that some new players might not conform to the Yankee way. Jason Giambi is the visible personality to arrive. He will undoubtedly keep the team loose. He wants to win, he is very outgoing, and he could be the ultimate teammate at getting the other newcomers to relax. Let's not forget the intangibles of manager Joe Torre. He is the best at getting the most out of his players. Look for the Yankees to win the AL East crown as they are primed for another World Series appearance. -- Tom Candiotti  ESPN.com's Crystal Ball Jason Giambi hits .329 with 44 home runs and 153 RBI and wins the AL MVP Award. Rondell White has played in less than 100 games in four of seven major-league seasons, thanks to eight stints on the DL. This spring White has battled a sprained rib cage. He may possess the tools of a Swiss Army knife -- but of the cheap, knock-off variety. Save yourself the headache and look elsewhere. Alfonso Soriano hit .276 with 12 HRs in the second half, a 14-point, 6-HR increase over his first-half numbers. He followed that up with a strong postseason and torrid spring. A legit threat to hit 25 HRs and steal 50 bases, Soriano deserves to be one of the top two 2B off the draft board. -- Brandon Funston Batting order Derek Jeter, SS Bernie Williams, CF Jason Giambi, 1B Jorge Posada, C Rondell White, LF Robin Ventura, 3B Nick Johnson, DH John Vander Wal, RF Alfonso Soriano, 2B Bench Shane Spencer, Gerald Williams, Enrique Wilson, Bobby Estalella, Ron Coomer Rotation Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Sterling Hitchcock Bullpen Mariano Rivera, Orlando Hernandez, Mike Stanton, Steve Karsay, Ramiro Mendoza, Ted Lilly, Randy Choate Brandon Claussen, LHP Claussen led the minors with 204 K's last year as he went 14-4 between Class A and Double-A. He'll start in Triple-A as the Yankees prime him for a 2003 rotation slot.

Catcher: Jorge Posada The Yankees made Posada the second-highest paid catcher when he signed a five-year, $51 million deal in February. He's an underrated player, but signing 30-year-old catchers to five-year deals isn't the best of ideas. Will knock in 100 runs if he hits fourth or fifth. AL Position Ranking: 2nd First Base: Jason Giambi The best hitter in the AL, led league in on-base and slugging percentage. Could drive in 150 runs if he hits behind Jeter and Williams. Some speculate he'll hit more home runs due to the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium, but he's not a dead pull hitter. Batting averages since his rookie year: .256, .291, .293, .295, .315, .333., .342 ... wow. AL Position Ranking: 1st Second Base: Alfonso Soriano First-half OPS: 693. Second-half OPS: 788. Electrying talent who wasn't as valuable as he looked due to .304 on-base percentage, but second-half growth shows he's learning the game and getting better. Has looked more comfortable on defense this spring as well. AL Position Ranking: 3rd Third Base: Robin Ventura Didn't have his best year (.237, 21 HR, 66 RBI) but he does get on base (88 walks and .359 OBP). A poor second half (.203, 4 HR) is cause for concern, however. One-year stopgap until heralded (but overhyped) prospect Drew Henson arrives. AL Position Ranking: 5th Shortstop: Derek Jeter His game-saving shovel pass in the ALDS grew his legend even bigger, but his defense is not what analysts make it out to be and his true value is as a great-hitting shortstop and valuable top-of-the-order hitter. OBP has declined from .438 to .416 to .377 since '99. That trend should reverse this year. AL Position Ranking: 2nd Left Field: Rondell White An interesting signing, considering prospect Juan Rivera was probably ready for a job. Productive when healthy, but he's already been sidelined by a rib cage injury. AL Position Ranking: 7th Center Field: Bernie Williams Quietly marching to Hall of Fame consideration, Williams remains a terrific all-around hitter and solid center fielder. May move into two-hole to maximize baserunners in front of Giambi. If Soriano develops enough patience, Williams probably slides back to three- or four-hole. AL Position Ranking: 1st Right Field: John Vander Wal Should platoon with right-hander Shane Spencer to form effective combo. His 806 OPS last year was better than the departed Paul O'Neill's (789). Too bad he didn't get more of a chance to play earlier in his career. AL Position Ranking: 9th Designated hitter: Nick Johnson Heralded prospect had somewhat disappointing year in Triple-A (.256, 18 HR), but excellent plate discipline (.407 OBP) means he could end up better than ranking below. Will be interesting to see where he hits in the lineup. His on-base ability means he could be a nice No. 2 hitter behind Jeter. AL Position Ranking: 11th No. 1 Starter: Roger Clemens Won sixth Cy Young Award and now just 20 wins away from 300. OK, so nearly half his wins and starts came against AL East weaklings Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto (9 wins in 15 starts), but he's still among the best at age 39. Had second-best run support, so unlikely to win 20 again. AL Ranking among starters: 6th No. 2 Starter: Mike Mussina Had more innings pitched and lower ERA than Clemens, but averaged just 4.4 runs per start as opposed to 6.6 for the Rocket. Considering Pedro Martinez's health issues, Moose rates as the best starter in the league. AL Ranking among starters: 1st No. 3 Starter: Andy Pettitte Career winning percentage now .639, fifth among active pitchers (at least 100 decisions) behind only Martinez, Randy Johnson, Clemens and Mussina. AL Ranking among starters: 10th No. 4 Starter: David Wells He's given up drinking, has slimmed down and wants to prove he's not washed up. But he turns 39 in May. Stay tuned. AL Ranking among starters: 31st Bullpen: Steve Karsay, Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Stanton, Randy Choate, Orlando Hernandez The Yankee bullpen had been thin in recent years in middle relief, but that shouldn't be a problem this year with the addition of Karsay. Choate adds a second effective lefty behind Stanton and Hernandez or Sterling Hitchcock could be out here as well. AL Position Ranking: 2nd Closer: Mariano Rivera Hey, he was due to blow a postseason save after recording 23 in a row (including 19 of more than one inning). Struck out more than a batter per inning for first time since '96. AL Position Ranking: 1st

Overall Power Index Rankings (AL rank):
Position: 4.55 (1st) | Pitching: 1.83 (1st)

-- David Schoenfield