[andyfox]

Lots of teams spent a lot of money in past year with little effect: the Orioles and Dodgers come to mind.

But look at what Steinbrenner did this year: They lost Clemens, Pettitte, and Wells who won 52 game last year. How many teams losing 3/4 of their starting rotation have won 101 games the following year? They got El Duque back, rehabilitated Leiber, and got 24 wins out of Brown/Vasquez.
Tom Gordon was a lifesaver. They had a weakness in right field and they got a great year out of Sheffield. Miguel Cairo hit .290 and played well. And the new third baseman wasn't bad.

They recognized their needs and got quality players to fill them.