Yawn. Filip Bondy in the Daily News:

Yankee stove hottest -- Surge ahead of Bosox by landing Randy

"... An inferior Yankee rotation was just a stolen base and a line drive away from sweeping Boston in four games. The Yanks might have pulled it off, forever disguising that motley rotation and weary bullpen.

But we are talking about probabilities here, and the AL East odds have changed dramatically over the past couple months. The Yankees are drubbing the Red Sox this winter, 19-6, maybe worse. They are now an intimidating, mercenary team capable of putting together a 1998-type season, minus only the good feelings.

... Apparently, Theo Epstein wasn't watching very closely last winter when the Yankees frittered away their slim advantage over his team. Epstein has virtually replicated Cashman's errors, step by step. ..."

Yes, the Yankees were unable to sweep the Red Sox, thanks (in part) to "a stolen base and a line drive." But, as Bondy neglects to mention:

The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 5 games.

The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 6 games.

The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 7 games.

The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox at all.

Also, in 2005, New York has a question mark at first base, a gaping hole at second, and an aging center fielder. The closest Bondy comes to addressing these issues is when he says having Bernie rather than Beltran in center will be better for the team's clubhouse chemistry. Oy.