Welcome to the first post of 2008. Many things have changed since the Yankees bowed out of the 2007 Playoffs...and many things have stayed the same.

It is still too early to determine what the '08 Yankees will look like. Johan Santana is still on the block, but the Red Sox seem to have the inside track. As a Yankee fan, I hope the Yankees don't trade the farm (pun!) for Santana. I would hate to see a package of Hughes, Kennedy, and Cabrera go for Santana.

I also wonder how the Yankees will react to their new manager, Joe Girardi. A former Yankee (bonus points), but one that may not be as patient as former Yankee manager Joe Torre. It will also be interesting to see how Girardi handles the New York media; something that Joe Torre mastered.

If the season started today, the Yankees have Matsui, Damon, Cabrera and Abreu in the outfield. The infield has Rodriguez, Jeter, Cano, and Giambi. Jorge Posada is still the backstop. A starting rotation of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Pettitte, and Mussina doesn't seem all that bad. Mo Rivera returns as the Yankees (and All-Time Master) closer. The lineup is solid but is becoming old in some places quickly.

The "new" ownership (the Steinbrenner boys) are trying to prove that they are in control. The Santana trade talks has proved Hank an amateur at best. Fortunately, the Yankees do have Brian Cashman with enough authority to keep Hankie ad the boys from doing anything stupid; the Joe Torre contract withstanding.