AL East

In 1927 the New York Yankees won the World Series.

Their lineup was called Murderers' Row, and featured the likes of Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, and Bob Meusel.

Of course, in 1927 Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a record that would last for 34 years.

Babe also hit 29 doubles, eight triples (believe it or not), and drove in 164 runs that year.

But this story is not about the '27 Yankees.

This story is not about Babe Ruth either.

This story is about Lou Gehrig.

The Yankees are starting the 2010 season with only two locks in their outfield ,and a long list of outfielders—many of which will not make the Bronx roster, and instead will be in Scranton.

So says Beckett:

"Speaking on CSNNE’s SportsNet Central Thursday night, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said he would most likely not negotiate a new contract with the Red Sox during the 2010 season, saying 'Probably not,' when asked if he would participate in any in-season talks.

No surprise here given the economics of the situation:

Brett Wallace was dealt from the Cardinals to the A’s to the Blue Jays last year. After three solid seasons at Arizona State (.406 AVG, 193 R, 45 HR, 193 RBI, 31 SB in 643 AB), he was selected with the 13th pick in the 2008 draft.

The Yankees start playing spring training games Wednesday, March 3, and Bronx Baseball Daily will be hosting a live chat that day. The game starts at 1:05 p.m., so remember to come back then and join us all game long as the Yankees take on the Pirates.

It’ll be a great way to enjoy the game and chat about your favorite players and up-and- coming prospects.

During the 2009 postseason, the New York Yankees rode their top three starting pitchers to a ring. The defending champions added depth to their rotation during their offseason while the arch rival Boston Red Sox added another ace to their starting five. The AL East is well known for its high-power offenses, but the teams chasing the Yankees and Red Sox will need pitching if they hope to have any shot of getting by the two.

Do the AL East also rans have the rotations to do it? Who has the better rotation, the Yankees or Red Sox? Look inside to find out.

There have been a few rumors about international free agents lately and the Yankees are involved in three of them: Dominican righty Rafael DePaula and a pair of Cuban first basemen Leslie Anderson , who can also play all three outfield positions, and Jose Julio Ruiz .

Here are scouting reports and the most recent rumors on the trio:

Spring training isn’t even a week old, and already questions are piling up for the Red Sox.

Will David Ortiz return to form? Will the Sox extend Josh Beckett’s contract? What will become of Mike Lowell? Can Jon Papelbon bounce back from his ALDS meltdown? What can we expect from the offense?

Yet out of all these questions, there remains one that I simply cannot wrap my head around: Will Tim Wakefield get a spot in the rotation? 

"28 in 2010" is the newfound battle cry of the resurgent Yankee dynasty.

However, "27 since 2007" might be a more meaningful one this week.

Just 28 months ago, on a Wednesday evening at the team's Legends Field training complex in Tampa, George Steinbrenner gathered his two sons, team president Randy Levine, Brian Cashman, and several others around him for a salary discussion requested by a leading member of the Yankee team that had won 10 AL East titles and four World Series in 12 years.