MLB

Believe it! Yankees can be better this year

BOSTON ­— In honor of the season opening tonight, let’s have a scavenger hunt. Let’s see if we can find a 104th win for the team that seemingly has everything.

The Yanks won 103 last year, the most by any team in the regular season since the 2004 Cardinals won 105 and the most of any Yankees team since the 2002 version also won 103.

Essentially, we are hunting to see if there is way for the 2010 Yankees to be better than the 2009 version, at least in the regular season. Yes, we know this is no perfect exercise. The 2010 Yankees actually could be better and still not total 104 wins, which would be the most by an AL team since the 2001 Mariners reached 116 victories and the most by a Yankees club since the sainted ’98 champs won 114 times.

There are obvious landmines out there. Just look at the opening nine games against the Red Sox, Rays and Angels — arguably the three best teams in the AL, excluding the Yankees. Just consider 36 games against the Red Sox and Rays, who just might join the Yanks as the majors’ best teams.

But the Yanks got off slow last year (15-17), plus they had those 36 games against the Red Sox and Rays — actually opening 0-8 against Boston — yet still managed to get to 103 wins. So how do the Yanks get to 104? Here is how:

A DEEPER STAFF: The Yanks did not solve their set-up situation last year until Phil Hughes went to the bullpen two months into the season. They never had a five-man rotation they trusted, with Chien-Ming Wang an instant disaster.

They enter this season feeling they have depth in the 12-man staff — and beyond. Javier Vazquez joins CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte to give the Yanks four of the 30 pitchers who bettered 190 innings, 30 starts and 12 or more wins last year. This quartet could provide 60 wins and 800 innings, especially if Burnett really incorporates a changeup and Vazquez is comfortable in his second tour as a Yankee.

The wild card is Hughes. The Yanks privately see him as a No. 3 starter cloaked as a No. 5 in this rotation. The organization legitimately is excited about his changeup.

In addition, Sergio Mitre’s strong spring has convinced the Yanks they have a sixth starter for when the inevitable injuries occur. The Yanks also like Ivan Nova and Zach McAlister, both of whom will be at Triple-A.

Rather than Brian Bruney, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras, the Yanks open this year with Joba Chamberlain, Chan Ho Park and David Robertson in front of Mariano Rivera. The Yanks were elated with Park’s stuff/composure in spring, and believe that when the bell rings and the adrenaline shoots up, Chamberlain’s fastball will climb back to a 95-mph force.

The Yanks hope a powerhouse postseason translates to a full year of success for Damaso Marte, but they also liked what they saw out of lefty journeymen Boone Logan and Royce Ring in spring. Plus, they think they have righty minor league depth with Mark Melancon, Romulo Sanchez and Dustin Moseley.

A BETTER ROBINSON CANO: The losses of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are significant. Matsui was a clutch force hitting fifth behind Alex Rodriguez. The job now falls to Cano. He came in stronger through his upper body, which seemed to make him a hair slower defensively on his backhand. But it is hard to remember a time when he did not square up the ball in spring.

One scout who followed the Yankees all spring said, “Cano is a monster.” Does he hit in the clutch this year? If he does, 30 homers and 100-plus RBIs are within his reach, and so is 104 wins for the Yanks, especially with A-Rod healthy all year behind Mark Teixeira.

BETTER OUTFIELD DEFENSE: The Yanks will have an above-average center fielder in left field in Brett Gardner. They will have a leaner, more mobile Nick Swisher in right. And Curtis Granderson did much in spring training to dispel concerns from late last season that he has trouble reading balls. Granderson chased down balls well, especially to the gaps.

How do you find extra wins during the season? One way is to create extra outs on balls in the air, plus turn a few triples into doubles and doubles into singles.

joel.sherman@nypost.com