Are we ever going to get another championship?

The first year I started watching baseball was 1996; after that I guess you can say I became spoiled. Bottom line, the Yankees are supposed to win the World Series, and anything less is unacceptable. After six seasons of disappointment, I think I speak for all Yankees fans when I say something needs to be done, and quickly. So what new improvements are the Yankees looking forward to for the 2007 season?

The first is the acquisition, or reacquisition, of Andy Pettitte. What Yankees fan isn’t excited about his return? Andy brings back memories of championships, and that 27th title is what is on everybody’s minds, including his. And of course with the return of Pettitte comes the possible return of Roger Clemens. Knowing that Pettitte and Clemens are good friends, the idea of Clemens following Pettitte back to New York is a dream come true.

‘Would that be great,’ Pettitte said when asked of the possibility. ‘Does he know that I would love that? Of course.’

Though Clemens has not officially decided whether he will pitch again, he has made official statements that if he were to pitch again, it would only be in Boston, New York or Houston. If he decides on New York, we must hope that both Pettitte and Clemens could handle the transition of coming back to the American League from the lighter-hitting National League.

Secondly, the Yankees seem to have reverted back to their old ways, ridding themselves of older players and instead choosing to usher in new, younger talent ‘ especially on the mound. Kei Igawa is coming in as the fourth starter after turning a lot of heads over in Japan, and he comes at only 27 years of age at a relatively inexpensive price. The return of Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina is a given, and even more important, the loss of Randy Johnson is, well, no tragedy. The Yankee clubhouse does not need any more pitchers whose age is catching up to them, minus one last thrill from Roger Clemens.

All Yankees fans can agree that having a strong lineup has not been a problem recently, but the unsteady bullpen over the past few years has caused many disappointments. This season’s bullpen boasts several younger arms, including Brian Bruney and Sean Henn, and several newcomers like Chris Britton and Luis Vizcaino, not to mention highly-touted prospect Philip Hughes, who may be with the Yankees by mid-summer; none of these pitchers, except for Vizcaino, is over 25.

Last but not least, there is Alex Rodriguez.

No one got hit harder by the press and by the fans last season than A-Rod. Given, he did not deliver the kind of performances that he gets paid for, especially in the Yankees’ first-round playoff exit against Detroit. But according to Rodriguez, the experience was a helpful one.

‘It was probably the most difficult year of my career, but it was also the greatest time of my career,’ Rodriguez said. ‘I had an opportunity to learn and to grow, both as a player and a human being.’

With Derek Jeter taking up most of the All Star spotlight last season and robbed, according to many, of last year’s MVP award, A-rod is, as many would say, ‘due.’ But due for what? Pretty much for anything, I guess.

Now it’s time to cross your fingers and hope that his 2006 slump was as life-changing as he says.