"Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is." - Bob Feller
The New York Yankees aren't supposed to lose to the Boston Red Sox, and especially aren't supposed to blow a three games-to-none lead in postseason play in doing so.
Don't worry, Bombers fans, it won't happen again.
Arguably the worst defeat in Yankees' history -- Bill Mazerowski's WS-winning homer in 1960, or the D'Back's Luis Gonzalez's dunker in 2001 hurt, but not like this -- spurred the revamping of New York's rotation, and signals the Pinstripers' return to dominance for 2005.
The acquisition of left-hander Randy Johnson and right-hander Carl Pavano moves Mike Mussina to the No. 3 slot, and gives the Yankees the American League's best 1-2-3. Add in Kevin Brown (if his back ever heals) and newcomer Jaret Wright, and New York's rotation is as deep as any in the league.
Plus, the Yankees won't hesitate to pull the trigger on any deal they see fit during the regular season if it can improves their chances of winning their first World Series since beating the Mets in 2000.
As if losing the ALCS to the BoSox wasn't bad enough, the Yankee organization endured further embarrassment when first baseman Jason Giambi's admission to using steroids before a federal grand jury investigation was leaked, forcing the team to look into voiding the former MVP's contract.
Having failed to do so -- which probably cost the Yankees a shot at Carlos Beltran -- means the Yankees lineup, with the exception of a few new faces, will remain the same.
Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui helped the Bombers combine for 242 home runs in 2004, tying the major-league lead and its 897 runs scored trailed only the Red Sox for the most in baseball.
The offense could be even more devastating this season, providing Giambi is able to rebound from his injury-riddled campaign of a year ago and Rodriguez goes back to being A-Rod instead of just a regular old All-Star.
Rodriguez's 36 homers were his lowest since 1997 and his .286 batting average was 20 points lower than his career mark, clearly trying to impress in his first season in New York. Rodriguez — who had hit at least 40 homers and drove in 111 runs or more in each of the previous six years — needs to reach those numbers again if he wants to quite the whispers that he can't handle the pressure of a winning team.
Tony Womack's solid year in 2004 with the NL champion Cardinals — a .307 average and 26 steals — earned the veteran second baseman a two-year contract to bat ninth, while fan favorite Tino Martinez is back to allow Giambi to settle into the designated hitter's role, as well as for his calming clubhouse influence.
The bullpen, even with a revamped starting rotation will be key, as that group faltered in the postseason because of a heavy regular season workload.
Mariano Rivera returns for his ninth season as the Yankees' closer, coming off his best statistical season with a 1.95 ERA and a career-high 53 saves. Though he battled a brief case of bursitis in his elbow this spring, he's fine to start the year after a solid spring.
The additions of Mike Stanton and Felix Rodriguez to a group that includes Flash Gordon, Paul Quantrill Tanyon Sturtze and Steve Karsay a solid bullpen into an elite one.
All that adds up to a World Series crown for NY.
IN: SP - Randy Johnson, 1B - Tino Martinez, SP - Carl Pavano, RP - Felix Rodriguez, RP - Mike Stanton, 2B - Tony Womack, SP - Jaret Wright.
OUT: 2B - Miguel Cairo, RP - Felix Heredia, SP - Orlando Hernandez, SP - Jon Lieber, SP - Esteban Loaiza, OF - Kenny Lofton, 1B - John Olerud, SP - Javier Vazquez
Mark Healey is the Executive Editor of Gotham Baseball. 
