BENCH

Frank Franklin II / AP Ruben Sierra

The Yankees spend so much money on their key players that little is left for the bench. And it shows. John Flaherty, who probably will manage some day, is a capable backup if not overexposed. Ruben Sierra can be a dangerous pinch-hitter/designated hitter, but you don’t want him bringing his outfielder’s glove to the park any longer. Bubba Crosby may keep his 25^th-man designation. The rest of the cast will be new — veterans Rey Sanchez, Doug Glanville and Damian Rolls. They don’t offer much, however.

The Red Sox do a better job in this area, with a good backup catcher in Doug Mirabelli, young corner infielder Kevin Youkilis, and two expected key performers obtained for Dave Roberts in infielder Ramon Vazquez and outfielder Jay Payton.

MANAGERS
TERRY FRANCONA VS. JOE TORRE

Charles Krupa / AP Terry Francona

Joe Torre hasn’t been able to crack Cooperstown’s doors for his accomplishments as a player, but there’s no doubt he’ll go in when you add his brilliant run as the Yankees’ leader. On or off the field, there is no situation he can’t handle, and that’s saying something in the pressure-cooker New York atmosphere.

No doubt about it — fate smiled on Terry Francona last year. But give Francona credit for being smart enough not to will too much of his own persona on a clubhouse full of characters and disparate personalities, instead allowing them the freedom to succeed in their own inimitable manner. How he handles the inevitable letdown following the breaking of the curse will be an important facet of the Red Sox’s season.

INTANGIBLES
You can make the argument that with the Curse broken, the Sox should expect to compete with the Yankees as equals, and no longer be the perennial loser in his century-old rivalry. But you can make a better one that it took the Red Sox 86 years to stick it to the Yankees and win it all, so the odds of it happening in back-to-back years aren’t good. Add into the equation that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2000, and you have things set up for a Yankee rebound and a Sox letdown.

PREDICTION
New York 101-61, first place; Boston 93-69, wildcard.