Look folks, get over the throwing errors. Yes, Knoblauch made 26 errors last season. That's not a major problem when you get things rolling at the top of the order with a .393 on-base percentage and 120 runs scored. However, Knoblauch's shaky defense becomes an issue if his offense falls off.

One of the most impressive aspect of Jeter's game is his durability -- he has missed just 25 games in his four major-league seasons. Last season, Jeter increased his batting average (.324 to .349); his power (52 extra-base hits to 70) and his walks (57 to 91). And he doesn't turn 26 until June.

For the first time since joining the Yankees in 1993, O'Neill hit less than .300 as he tailed off to .285 last season. His .459 slugging percentage is mediocre for a right fielder and it's probably time to consider finding him a platoon partner as he hit a lowly .190 vs. left-handers.

The best part of Williams' 1999 season? He played 158 games after missing 86 games over the previous three seasons. As a result, he set career-highs in RBI (115) and runs scored (116). Will he stay healthy in 2000 or revert back to missing 25-30 games again?

Maybe the Yankees aren't as smart as we thought after picking up the option on Martinez's contract for 2001. Martinez has dropped from a .577 slugging mark in 1997 to .458 last year; his on-base percentage dropped from .371 to .341. Those are subpar numbers for a first baseman, especially since Nick "The Stick" Johnson is waiting in the wings.

Will Ledee ever be given a chance to play on a regular basis? Some think he has the potential to be a star, but keep in mind that he's older than Jeter. Also keep in mind that he fanned 73 times in just 250 at-bats last season. The Yankees would like to see more discipline at the plate.

The Yankees will fare just fine with Joe Girardi. While all the pitchers raved about working with Girardi, the staff ERA with Posada behind the plate in 1999 was 4.16; with Girardi, 4.12. Posada also threw out a higher percentage of basestealers (22 percent to 21). And Posada is the one Yankee who can expect to improve his offense from a year ago.

Were the Bombers really counting on Darryl Strawberry to be their DH? Heck, maybe they need to bring Chili Davis back out of retirement. Right now, the DH slot is some combination of Spencer, Jim Leyritz and Roberto Kelly. Rumor has it the Yankees are interested in Bobby Higginson to fill this hole.

Who is the real Brosius? Well, he hit .247 in 1999 after hitting .300 in 1998. Considering his career average is .257, it's more likely he'll hit .247 again as opposed to .300. Still, he remains a solid defensive third baseman and is a pretty good for the end of the lineup.

Is it realistic to expect Clemens -- at age 37 -- to pitch better than last season? Consider this: Clemens and David Cone are both 37 this season. Only one other team ('84 Phillies with Steve Carlton and Jerry Koosman) has ever had two non-knuckleball starters that old both make 30 starts in the same season.

Of course, for all we know El Duque might be 37 years old as well. His big leg kick and multitude of deliveries and arm angles continue to baffle hitters. More importantly, he has been at his best in the postseason where he has become the Yankee ace.

One of the game's great warriors, Cone doesn't need a great fastball to succeed anymore. While he finished second in the AL in ERA in 1999, there are some concerns about his second half, when he posted a 4.28 ERA and won just three games in 14 starts. His month-by-month ERAs: 1.04, 2.93, 3.41, 3.55, 3.82, 6.00.

Pettitte's win totals keep dropping from the 21 games he won in 1996: 21, 18, 16, 14. His ERA has risen from 2.88 in 1997 to 4.24 to 4.70. A strong spring and renewed aggressiveness on the mound have the Yankees believing Pettitte can pitch better than he did last season.

Yarnall was slated to be the team's fifth starter, but an awful spring has him headed back to Triple-A Columbus, where he went 13-4, 3.47 a year ago. Are the Yankees vulnerable in the rotation? Maybe they could use Hideki Irabu right about now.

Joe Torre does a terrific job of keeping Rivera fresh for October, where he has been just about unhittable. Rivera's cut fastball allows him to dominate left-handed hitters: they hit a feeble .143 off him last season with just two extra-base hits in 140 at-bats. He's 30 years old, but obviously at the top of his game.

Some call Mendoza the Yankees' secret weapon: he can start, pitch long relief and pitch out of pressure situations as he demonstrated last October when he was the key to the ALCS win over Boston. His great sinkerball means he needs good defense behind him to win.