Afternoon Baseball

(Yeah, I'm back for another try.)

In baseball, there's but a few guarantees:

1. Albert Pujols will be a machine.
2. Manny Ramirez will be underappreciated for his hitting.
3. Mariano Rivera will be your best bet as a closer no matter who is designated "Next" in that year.
4. Joe Nathan is the No. 2 to Mo that no one appreciates.
5. The San Francisco Giants will find ways to employ every 40-year-old that the Yanks don't sign first.
6. Fewer fans will remember that Stan Musial is the last great WWII-era hitter, and with apologies to Bonds, Aaron, Gwynn, etc., the greatest all-around National Leaguer still living.
7. The Yankees will win the AL East.

OK, so some of those are up for debate.

But what's tricky is how many wins they will have. My brother said 93 or so, WasWatching has compiled a few predictions, and 102 wins is what the computer says.

The one thing that won't help is the spring training record, although the roster formed by it is intriguing.

I'm going with about 93, just because of the uncertainties surrounding every starting pitcher (Mussina and Pettitte -- age; Pavano, Igawa -- everything; the others -- inexperience, injury) now that Wang is hurt. The offense is not a huge worry, except if you think Melky will regress.
Of course, Clemens is back. Or is he?

Here's my take. Last year, nothing went right save Jeter, and they still won a division title. I'm going to have some fun and just watch the team for a bit. See what shakes out in April, and then hit the panic button.