Opening Day Pain

Yesterday, the day started out well enough with some nice opening day ceremonies, and the first at bat, and Jeter had the Babe's bat at home plate. As a joke he picked it up and pretended to get in the batter's box.
The bat was then sent to the dugout, and so many Yankees swung it like little awestruck kids. The bat then was packed up and sent back to Cooperstown.

The game, what can be said when my team gets spanked 10-2?

CC pitched well, but the pitch count got high and he left in the 6th. He held the Indians to 1 run, and the 'pen, for the second time in the last week, fell apart.

Posada hit the first HR in the new Stadium, and damon got the first hit (a single in the first)

Joba is on the mound today.

One nice thing before the game today, on YES, they did a tribute to Bob Shepherd, long time Yankee announcer. His first game was April 17th, 1951, and they had him recreate the lineup announcement.

And, what a lineup!

Loaded with HoF teammates Rizzuto, Mantle, DiMaggio, and Berra. That's something that isn't seen today.



Go Yankees

Weekend Update

Yankees lost the final game against the Royals, but there was some good news.

The starting pitching continues to be excellent. CC pitched great on Saturday, mixing a 93-95 MPH fastball with some very effective off speed pitches.
I can't imagine trying to adjust to pitches that varied by as much as 15 or 20 MPH. Talk about killing a batter's timing.
And yesterday, Joba was bringing it at about that same speed range. He is pacing himself. When he relieved, he would hit close to 100 MPH, but as a starter, he has toned it down so he could last a bit longer. Yesterday he went 6 innings, and struck out 5. He held the Royals to 4 hits and only 1 earned run.

With the Master's on this weekend, I missed most of the games, and only caught a few innings of each, but with that over, I'll be back in my seat tonight.

Wang is starting tonight at the Trop against the Rays. Gametime is 7 on YES.

Go Yankees

Pettitte Pitches Yankees to win over Royals

Andy Pettitte was strong and looked like the Andy of old as he held the Royals to one run in seven innings while striking out 6.

The offense was led by Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada as the Yanks scored 4 runs. The Yankee 'pen continued to dominate as they turned in another 2 shutout innings with 4 whiffs. Rivera finally got into a game and notched his first save of the year. Bruney picked up a hold.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Jorge's 2 rin single and never looked back. For anyone who likes to count, Andy threw 99 pitches.

CC Sabathia will start Saturday at 7:00 as the road trip continues. I'm sure the fairly weak Royals will put CC on track for his first win as a Yankee.

Go Yankees

Yankees pound Orioles

AJ Burnett looked good and picked up the win and the Yankee offense was on fire as they beat the Birds 11-2.

Teixeira, Cano, and Swisher homered to finally break through with the first win of the young season.

Pettitte takes the hill on Friday against a rebuilt Royals team. This year's edition in KC is looking pretty strong.

Game time is 4:00 on YES.

Go Yankees

Yankees lose home opener

So, it looks like they aren't going to win the 162 games I had hoped for, nor will CC win every start.

Oh well. It's a long season.

CC was shaky, and had trouble getting his fastball over for strikes. The Yankee offense was good, putting up 5 runs, which should be enough when the ace is on the mound.

Wang is scheduled to start Wednesday at 7:05 against the O's on YES.

Go Yankees

Yankees sweep Cubs

In the final tune up for the season, and what many fans hope and believe is a foreshadowing of the 2009 World Series, the Yankees played 2 at the new Yankee Stadium against the Chicago Cubs.
Friday was a good game, but Saturday was my favorite as the Yankees blew the Cubs out. Jeter, Duncan and Teixeira (twice) all homered as they routed the Lou Piniella's squad 10-1.

Yankee pitching was looking good, as Pettitte was in and out of trouble all day, but only allowed one run in 4 plus innings. AJ Burnett also tossed 4 shutout innings for good measure.

Next game is the season opener against the O's on Monday. CC will be on the hill.

Go Yankees

Yankees come north after successful spring

The Yankees finished spring training with the best record (22-10-1) in the Grapefruit League.

The biggest surprise of the spring may have been Brett Gardner's emergence as the newest star in the Yankees Galaxy. His strong spring showing earned him the honor of being the 2009 recipient of the James P. Dawson Award.
He also will be the starting CF on Opening Day, edging out Melky Cabrera.

The speedy 25-year-old Gardner batted .390 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 7RBIs and 5 stolen bases in 24 games.

The power numbers were surprising, as he had a reputation of being a singles hitter.

So, will he be the next great Yankee CF, following in the footsteps of Mantle, Murcer, DiMaggio, and Williams, or just a guy who had a great spring?

Only time will tell.

Go Yankees