The Index always likes to go out on a limb, this year projecting four OF (including Bob Abreu) ahead of Barry Bonds, but nothing is too outlandish. The four Yanks you would expect to be ranked at the top of the AL at their positions -- Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Jorge Posada and Mo Rivera -- are there. Derek Jeter ahead of Miguel Tejada seems unlikely, somebody on the staff has a roto crush on Raul Mondesi and like everyone, Index has Jeff Weaver behind Jose Contreras and David Wells. They also have Andy Pettitte behind Contreras, which is just silly. The Minor League Report's 105 "Top Prospects" mentions zero Yanks. With Sickels on board ... uh oh.

Camp Notes ...
Nick Johnson, whose status as a Yankee was covered here extensively last week, saw game action Friday and claims to be sufficiently recovered from the sore left wrist that will almost certainly flare up again this season ... Alfonso Soriano and Jason Giambi have both been out due to injury, but the downtime for the All-Star right side of the infield is primarily precautionary ... Steve Karsay's recovery from offseason back surgery hasn't progressed as quickly as the team would like, and he is on the shelf indefinitely but also is expected to be 100% for Opening Day. Mo Rivera owners should talk up the injury and grab Karsay cheap as a hedge.

Hideki Matsui is looking like a butcher in LF, and privately the Yankees would love to move Bernie Williams there and hand the CF job to Juan Rivera. That won't happen, but if Matsui continues to struggle, he will lose some playing time ... Brian Cashman announced that the team had no plans to trade Wells, who has now written one more book than he's ever read. Speaking of Cashman and Yankee pitchers who have thrown perfect games, the worst thing that could happen to the GM is a big year from David Cone for the Mets; Coney is a Steinbrenner favorite and the Boss might not forgive Cashman if the veteran righty bounces back in Shea ... and on the back pages of the leering press.

Probable Starters Fantasy Baseball Index Says ... Mussina (#9) ... Clemens (#24) ... Wells (#41) ... Contreras (#48) ... Pettitte (#52) ... Weaver (#53) ... (##) indicates rank among all MLB SP

In ESPN's Yankees Clubhouse, we learn that "[Sterling]Hitchcock is one of three pitchers competing for the fifth spot in the rotation." Um ... no. Hitch may be throwing well so far, but unless there are multiple injuries in the rotation, he will be the long lefty in the bullpen. The two legitimate candidates for the rotation's fifth spot have had wildly varying springs so far; Contreras, who will start the season in the pen, has been rocked every time out, while Weaver, who will be a fantasy steal in many drafts and auctions, has been sharp early.

The team released pitcher Ben Rivera and sent pitchers Christian Parker and Charlie Manning to minor-league camp; none of the three will matter to fantasy GMs in 2003 -- or, well, ever ... Former 20-game winner Jon Leiber, who will matter to fantasy GMs in 2004, threw off a mound for the first time in seven months and may start throwing to hitters soon. He's slated for extended spring and a full season on the DL ... Another veteran pitcher who could play a key role in pinstripes in 2004 is Jimmy Key. No, the crafty southpaw isn't planning a comeback, but he is the leading candidate to replace Mel Stottlemyre as pitching coach if Mel really retires time.