The New York Yankees - 2008

In their final season at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees are trying to do what few teams have been able to accomplish: change the culture of the organization while continuing an aggressive pursuit of a championship. The Yankees have a new manager this year in Joe Girardi and new leadership in Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, who have taken over for their father, George.

The new bosses have made clear that their goal is the same one the old Boss had: a World Series championship, or bust. Their method of pursuing it, however, is different. The Yankees made no major additions over the winter. They re-signed core players like Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, and General Manager Brian Cashman successfully fought to keep the young pitching prospects on which the team's future rests.

Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy form a tantalizing trio for fans to support, with Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina lending stability to the rotation. A lineup that scored 968 runs, the most for the Yankees since 1937, returns intact, and Girardi hopes for a smooth transition from the YES broadcast booth to Joe Torre's old seat in the dugout. -- Tyler Kepner, March 25, 2008 The New York Times