Summary
The American League East rivals continued their brinksmanship all winter and combined to collect most of the jewels in the trade and free agent markets. The Red Sox did well, adding ace Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke to complement a stacked lineup and starters Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. But the Yankees signed Gary Sheffield, spent a fortune on a new bullpen, acquired starters Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez - and then added that Alex Rodriguez guy. It's plausible Boston could win 100 games and still finish 15 games behind New York. It's more likely the two franchises spend much of the summer (and early fall) going back and forth.
BARRY CHASES 700See the full content of this document
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The Top Stories to Watch
Controversy or no, San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds probably will move into third place on the all-time home run list (past godfather Willie Mays) in the first week of the season. Passing Babe Ruth to get second place by the end of the season might not happen - Bonds would need 57 homers to pass the Bambino. However, Bonds has hit at least 42 each of the last four seasons, and doing it again would get him to the 700 plateau.
PHIL UP THE WIN COLUMNPhiladelphi...See the full content of this document
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