By John Delcos
(Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

NEW YORK - The New York Yankees are about to become whole again. They are about to get back one of the players manager Joe Torre said "we can least afford to lose," the five-time All-Star that was a catalyst to four World Series titles.

Derek Jeter, who dislocated his left shoulder Opening Day in a collision with Ken Huckaby at Toronto, will be in the lineup tonight against the Anaheim Angels.

"We missed him in more ways than just playing shortstop and his ability to hit," Torre said. "He adds a lot to our team. We've been able to weather the storm."

The Yankees, without Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera, did so because of a starting rotation that not only won its first 16 decisions, but also made 37 straight starts to open the season without a change.

"If we didn't pitch the way we pitched, there would have been more blame placed on the fact that we didn't have him if we hadn't done as well," Torre said. "Pitching cures a lot of ailments."

Torre is fond of saying the Yankees aren't reliant on one player, an attitude the club adopted in 1996 when David Cone was lost with an aneurysm.

Championship teams overcome; others look to make excuses.

"Baseball is a long season, there are ways you can get by when a player gets hurt," Robin Ventura said. "Enough guys go on the DL that you can't think that way. You can't feel sorry for yourselves."

Nonetheless, at 26-11, with the best record in the major leagues, even the Yankees are a little surprised they've been so strong without Jeter and Rivera, and for good measure, throw in Jason Giambi's season-long hitting funk.

"If you were to tell us in spring training that we wouldn't have Jeter and Mo for the first month and still be where we are, I wouldn't have been too keen on the idea," said Mike Mussina, tonight's starter, whose 7-0 record has also played a significant factor in the Yankees' position in the standings.

Torre said Jeter is an instinctive player, and anticipates he'll still be aggressive, diving into bases and for ground balls.

Jeter's return will be noticed most in the clubhouse, the players said, meaning he's a source of familiarity and comfort.

"He's a big leader and everybody follows him," catcher Jorge Posada, Jeter's best friend on the team, said. "He brings a lot of joy to the clubhouse. He keeps everything fun."