After a season that ended in shock, frustration and tragedy, the New York Yankees are back in Florida getting ready for what could be another tumultuous year.
"It's a great time of the year for me because you don't have the pressure to win," manager Joe Torre said.
That laid-back attitude will end on April 2 when the Yankees open their season against the Tampa Bay Devils Rays and Torre once again finds himself in the spotlight at the helm of one of the world's most recognisable teams.
The Bronx Bombers won a major league high 97 games in 2006 but then were blown out of the post-season playoffs by Detroit, three games to one in a best-of-five series.
Owner George Steinbrenner called the playoff loss "not acceptable" and said he expected much more from Torre and his highly paid players in 2007.
Four days later, on October 11, pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor were killed when their small plane crashed into an apartment building in New York.
The Yankees will wear black armbands on their uniforms this season in Lidle's memory.
Torre, 66, is starting his 12th season as Yankee manager and the last year under his current contract. The Yankees have won four World Series and six American League championships under Torre, but none since 2003.
He said spring training had changed greatly in recent years from a time when the only type of conditioning was running.
"The training is so much more sophisticated," Torre told reporters before a recent spring training game against the Devil Rays. "It's so much more organised.
"I told the players you are here to get ready to start the season. They're judged on how hard they work."
Torre said pitching would be the key to the Yankees' season. They have three proven starters in Chien-Ming Wang (19-6 last season), Mike Mussina (15-7) and Andy Pettitte (14-13 with Houston last year).
They expect their other two starters to be Kei Igawa, who had a 14-9 record in Japan, and Carl Pavano, who has not pitched since 2005 because of injuries.
Igawa's first spring training start was on Monday against Detroit and the 27-year-old southpaw gave up two runs in one inning with three strikeouts and three walks. Pavano's season debut was on Sunday and he gave up one run on two hits in two innings.
The training camp opened in February amid controversy when the Yankees' top two names, shortstop Derek Jeter and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, acknowledged they were not as friendly off the field as they had been.
Both players insisted it would not affect their play and Torre said things had gone well so far.
The good atmosphere may end quickly if New York fails to get out of the gate quickly, giving the mercurial Steinbrenner a reason to send Torre or his high-priced talent packing.
For now, though, everyone is having fun in the Florida sunshine.
"Everybody is working hard," said Torre. "They seem to be having a good time."
