American League: the division champions will be the Red Sox in the East, Twins in the Central and Angels in the West with the Yankees capturing the wild card.(2005 Division Previews)(baseball)

ON THE EAST COAST TWO POWERHOUSES REBUILT THEIR STARTING ROTATIONS in preparation for the latest version of their expensive and riveting game of chicken. On the West Coast a team with the best home grown rotation in the land shockingly tore it apart because it couldn't afford to keep it.

Those two storylines dominated the off-season in the American League and will go a long way in determining who will meet the National League this year in the World Series.

Imagine Randy Johnson facing Curt Schilling on April 3 when the Yankees and Red Sox open the season against each other. If Schilling's right ankle is healed after the trauma he put it through last year when Boston overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Yankees in the ALCS and sweep St. Louis to win its first World Series in 86 years, it could happen.

The Big Unit, as you may have heard, is wearing pinstripes. All it cost George Steinbrenner to redo the Yankees rotation was $118 million. He traded for Johnson, signed Carl Pavano to a four-year $40 million deal and Jaret Wright for three years and $21 million. Steinbrenner sent $9 million to Arizona as part of the package for Johnson and gave him a two-year extension worth $32 million on top of the $16 million he'll make this year.

Oh, to be rich and own the Yankees.

The Red Sox, not to be outdone, spent $35 million on free-agent starters Matt Clement. David Wells and Wade Miller to determine if there is life after Pedro. Boston lost Pedro Martinez, who defined the franchise for seven years, and post-season hero Derek Lowe to free agency.

New York and Boston have played each other 52 times in the last two years. Boston leads, 27-25, and that includes the last two ALCS that have gone the distance. No one should be surprised if the same thing happens again this year.