Yankees Diaries

Today's live blog is dedicated to Charlie Hayes, former Phillies and Yankees third baseman with two great claims to fame.

Hayes caught the last out in the 1996 World Series, a foul pop by Mark Lemke, ending the Yankees' 18-year championship drought. Four years earlier, he was immortalized in a Seinfeld episode. It was Hayes' first season in the Bronx since being traded from the Phillies. Kramer, attending a Yanks-Orioles games with Elaine and George, let him know about expectations from the get-go:

"You better catch here it here, Charlie, 'cause this ain't Philadelphia!!!"

"Hey, .230 ain't gonna cut it in this town, babe!!!"

You're going to mute Joe Morgan on the TV anyway, so stick with us.

I wonder how many times the broadcasters will say "and there's the first -blank- at the New Yankee Stadium" or, more interestingly, I wonder how far they'll go with stadium firsts. First base hit, ok that's fine, but first batter hit by a pitch? I think that's where I'd draw the line.

I would comment on the game but the game just cut out completely on STUPID AWFUL TIME WARNER CABLE. I will say that Nick Swisha-Man looked fearsome at the plate before the feed went out. He's really embracing that clean up spot. Jeter picking up Babe's bat from the 1923 opening was a nice gesture but I would've liked to have seen him take a couple swings with it. Stupid Hall of Fame and their rules.

To be honest I can't complain about our 5-4 start. All things considered it's a decent outcome when we're very clearly not playing up to our potential. Can't really say much else when I can't watch the game. Plus I'm hungover.

Ok now the feed is back and they just showed a shot of the concessions with archive pictures from New York newspapers hanging above but all I could focus on was "Garlic Fries" in big block letters. Now I'm hungry. CC looks like he has his stuff today. I'm gonna go to the bar, I don't trust Time Warner. Anyway Happy Home Opener, everyone! Beautiful day for baseball, wish Murcer was around to see it...

Come in from the ledge, Yankees fans.

While comparing the 2009 Yankees with the 1998 Yankees may be sacrilege, remember this: the '98 team started the season 1-4. Thereafter, they won 113 regular-season games and 11 post-season games. Two disappointing games to begin the season, to be sure. But let's not write off October just yet.--- Iceman Scoreth.

A closer look how the 1998 season got underway. (New York Post)

Don't start to panic. (New York Daily News)

Even on an off day, Joba Chamberlain manages to find himself in the headlines:

Joba disses NYers, Yogi in arrest video

Supposedly Joba told the Nebraska cops that Yogi "might not be as tall as the front of your car."

Supposedly Yogi laughed it off when informed of the comment.

You wonder if guys like Sabathia and Teixeira didn't mind seeing Joba inadvertently take the glare off them after their struggles on Opening Day.

But just to follow up on yesterday's bullpen discussion, did you see what happened in the Royals-White Sox game? Specifically Jim Thome's three-run shot to win it for Chicago. As blog contributor Iceman Scoreth put it: "Some things never change: 8th inning, 1-run lead, Kyle Farnsworth on the mound ... home run." --- Costanza's Protege.

Chien-Ming Wang gets the call for the Yankees on Wednesday, which would be interesting enough given this will be his first real start since that foot fiasco on the Houston basepaths last June. There is no mystery about why Wang has been successful. He wears you out with his sinker.

But even if Wang does have his old stuff that induces a high percentage of ground balls, will the defense hold up its end? There was constant chirping this spring about Derek Jeter’s continuing loss of range at shortstop, especially during the WBC when it was easy to contrast him to U.S. teammate Jimmy Rollins. The Yankees shouldn’t count on A-Rod being available for the first month, despite encouraging medical updates.

That leaves the left side of the infield somewhat suspect. Not the greatest situation for a sinkerballer, but Wang still has to play to his strengths. Very intriguing, no? --- Costanza's Protege.

Wang's return (Yankees.com)

Hoping to regain form (Newsday)

The Yankees' biggest problem in 2009 is not A-Rod's hip (or head), or Gardner's lack of power in CF, or AJ Burnett's health or CC's waist line.

The biggest issue facing the Yanks is who pitches the eighth inning.

Sorry ... I have ZERO faith in Brian Bruney. Why not send Joba back to the pen (where he was LIGHTS OUT in 2007), and let Hughes and Aceves battle it out for the No. 5 spot? --- Iceman Scoreth

Newsday expounds on this Joba-to-the-pen talk.

Our crew has the skinny on CC Sabathia and the rest of the zillionaire Yankees, as they start the real games today against the Orioles. Click the live blog below to monitor how the Yankees will justify their salaries. Or not.

So the day has finally come, the road to redemption begins in Baltimore. Teixeira just got a predictably loud and hostile reception from the boo-birds (see what I did there?). Then some unidentified male sang the national anthem from, curiously enough, behind the center field fence. Love the small moments of opening day.

Anyway, lot's of things to look forward to this season besides the obvious 3 megadeals of the off-season. But hey let's talk about it for a sec, shall we? Other than that twinge of annoyance every time I have to spell his name, Teixeira is a dreamboat at first. Some people say not since Mattingly have we had a stud like this at first. I think that's a bit unfair to Tino Martinez but I understand the rationale. He smiles a bit too much for my liking, though, I wish he had a bit more edge.

First impressions of the batting order: not in love with Jeter leading off but I like Gardner in the 9 behind him. An obvious lack of power but Posada has batted 5th before so Matsui cleaning up is the only real stretch. What's lacking in power, though, is made up for in speed so maybe we'll see a welcome return to the small ball that characterized Girardi's glory years as a player. Have I mentioned how much I like Brett Gardner getting the nod in center? Well, I really like it.

Gotta go to class but I'll be blogging unabated. Happy Opening Day everyone! --- vspot