Monday, March 31, 2008

The Daily Yankeeland

Andy Pettitte and Ian Kennedy through a minor league intrasquad game against each other back in Tampa yesterday. Pettitte felt good and reached his goal of 77 pitches. He threw six scoreless innings of 1 hit ball, walking 1, and struck out 6. Kennedy threw 75 pitches in throwing 5 shutout innings. He allowed 4 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 5.

Robinson Cano, Chien-Ming Wang, and Jason Giambi are on our roto baseball team.

Bobby Murcer is still recuperating from a procedure earlier this month and won't be in attendance today. He's expected back soon though.

This is the first opening day with a new Yankees manager since Joe Torre came on the scene in 1996.

The NY Times' Tyler Kepner has a piece on the Yankees, "the more things change, the more they stay the same" attitude. "Win now or else" is still the motto.

The NY Post's Filip Bondy (still a weird looking dude) talks to the Bleacher Creatures about the Stadium. They want to stay right where they are.

The Yankees have won their last 10 home openers. They haven't opened against the Blue Jays during that stretch.

Today's anthem will be sung by the West Point Glee Club and the West Point Cadet Color Guard will present the American flag. Two F-18 fighter jets will also do a fly over. No eagle and no Ronan Tynan (though he could have God Bless America in the 7th) ? Pre-game ceremonies start at 12:40 p.m.

This will be Derek Jeter's 12 opening day start, surpassing Phil Rizzuto for the team record at shortstop.

The Yankees haven't had a lot of success against Roy Halladay (10-4, 2.99 in 26 games, 24 starts). Robinson Cano (5-13, .385, 2 HR), Johnny Damon (22-67, .328, 1 HR), Jason Giambi (17-54, .315, 3 HR), and Jorge Posada (12-37, .324, 1 HR) would be the exceptions. This is Halladay's 6th straight opening day start. He's 2-2, 4.09 in the previous 5.

Chien-Ming Wang is 3-2, 4.20 against the Blue Jays in 7 career starts. His ERA is higher from the 2.2 inning, 8 run fiasco he had last August. Aaron Hill (9-14, .643), Matt Stairs (4-10, .400), and Vernon Wells (6-16, .375) have done well against him.

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