Will the Yankees Win the World Series in 2007?

For us Yankee fans, it has been over 6 years since we have won a world series. Reaching the World Series every year is not enough. After Luis Gonzalez hit that game winning single off of Mariano Rivera back in 2001, the Yankees have not be able to win the World Series.

Is this the year they finally win it all? Let's hope so, because Steinbrenner is getting impatient. This off-season the Yankees have signed free agent Andy Pettitte, who was apart of the Yankee Magic that won 4 out of 5 world Series in the late 1990's. They are trying to become young again, something that has not happened over the past few years. In the past 5 years, Yankees have signed many veterans, including Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown to name a few, who simply do not have the desire to win anymore as the younger players do.

What did the Yankees do differently this off-season? They did not go out and spend big bucks on big name players. They are trying to build with what they already have, and instead bring up younger players from their farm system. With the AROD stories all over the news, I'm sure Cashman and Steinbrenner regret ever trading Alfonso Soriano, who was also apart of the Yankee magic that no longer seems to exist.

Expect the Yankees to be one of the best teams this year, make the playoffs and win the American League east again, as they have done in the past decade. What will determine whether or not they win the World Series this year is based on their pitching, and their ability to put some runs up on the board. Over the past few years, other than Derek Jeter, the bats are simply not getting it done. It's evident that these big name players such as Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi are expected to perform to the money they are earning, but come playoff time, they choke. In order to do well this year, the younger players need to look to their Captain Derek Jeter, and try to get the big hits as he has done.

The real thing to watch as the season progresses is what Roger Clemens ends up doing. If he ends up signing with the Yankees, he may bring back the magic that he once was in pinstripes, and lead the Yankees to their 27^th World Series Championship. However, if he signs with the Boston Red Sox, Clemens may be enough to stop the Yankees bats in the playoffs (assuming Boston makes the playoffs) and lead them to another disappointing season.