AJ, The Stopper?

Another game and another poor performance by a Yankee starter. Chien Ming Wang didn't fare much better than Sabathia did on Opening Day. The Yankees found themselves chasing the entire game as Wang could not get through 4 innings before allowing 7 runs. The Yankees will look to salvage a game from this series tomorrow afternoon . It will be up to AJ Burnett to make that happen.

Can AJ be the stopper? Well, we will soon find out. Burnett gets the ball tomorrow with the task of getting the Yankees their first win of the year and avoid an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Orioles. The Yankees have gotten no length from game one and two starters, Sabathia and Wang. The offense found themselves in chase mode in both games, and you just cannot win many games that way. 

So, it's up to AJ, who can really make a great first impression if he can put forth a solid effort and deliver the Yankees their elusive first win of the season. The Orioles will counter with little known Alfredo Simon. I'm sure if Burnett can shut the O's down for at least the first few innings, the Yankees lineup should get some runs off of Simon. Either way this is a golden opportunity for Burnett and one that he should not let go to waste.

Oh My God! The Sky is Falling!

CC Sabathia choked! He’s washed up! He can’t throw strikes! The Yankees just flushed $161 million down the drain! The Yankees should have signed Derek Lowe instead!

Mark Teixeira choked! He can’t take the pressure of playing in New York. He can’t even take the pressure of some boos in Baltimore! He can’t get a big hit!

Joe Girardi can't manage! The Yankees can't win with this guy! He doesn't know how to handle a pitching staff! If the Yankees get off to a slow start, he should be fired!

This pretty much sums up what I have read/heard after the Yankees dropped their season opener against Baltimore. To all of you ridiculous sports writers and radio hosts, please, SHUT THE HELL UP!

It was one game.

Exclusive Photos of the New Yankee Stadium

I know these are a few days late. But maybe, these pictures will divert you from thinking about today's loss to the O's. 

Photos Courtesy of Chris Siswo

Special  Jersey Hardball Correspondent

Mets take a full game lead over the Phillies in the NL East

The 2009 season has officially begun and the Mets are 1-0 with this afternoons 2-1 over Cincinnati. The disappointments of ‘07 and ‘08 are forgotten for now as the Mets are on pace for a perfect 162-0 season. Of course by next week said disappointments could be fresh in everyone’s minds if the Mets find themselves struggling. However if today is any indication the ‘09 Mets will be a very formidable squad as displayed by their new and improved bullpen. Newly acquired Sean Green, JJ Putz, and Francisco Rodriguez combined to pitch the final 3 1/3 innings of the game only allowing one base runner, a walk by Putz. There still is 161 games left to play but with a new and improved bullpen the Mets should avoid their ‘07 and ‘08 fates and finally reach the postseason in 2009.

Check out the Boxscore from the game at ESPN.com

Opening Day

Opening Day has finally arrived. It began last night with the Braves defeating the Phillies 4-1. Free agent signee Derek Lowe was brilliant for Atlanta. The Yankees hope to get the same kind of performances from their newly acquired aces, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett in their opening series against Baltimore. The action starts today at 4:05pm at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Sabathia gets the call for the Yanks. Baltimore will counter with their ace Jeremy Guthrie. A solid start for Sabathia will be needed to set the right tone for the Yankees, who have been notoriously slow starters the past couple of seasons going 14-15 in April of 2008 and 9-14 in April of 2007. But enough talk already, It's time to play ball!

Sheffield back in the Big Apple

The New York Mets have reached a contract agreement with the recently released slugger Gary Sheffield today. Sheffield is expected to be in New York on Saturday and his contract will be official upon his passing of a physical.

This seems like a very odd move for the New York Mets. Their corner outfield positions are held down by Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy, with Marlon Anderson, Jeremy Reed, and Fernando Tatis serving as backups. Anderson would appear to be the odd man out even though he is a versatile player capable of playing every outfield position and first base. I just don’t see the benefit of having Gary Sheffield in a Mets uniform. Even if an injury were to occur he is still seemingly behind Tatis in the depth chart and is really no longer capable of playing the outfield everyday anyway.

The only positive I see coming out of this signing by Omar Minaya is that Sheffield is almost guaranteed to hit his 500th career home run in a Mets uniform in the first season in new stadium Citi Field. Possibly Omar Minaya heard of the Phillies interest in Sheffield and wanted to grab him from their arch rivals and defending World Series Champs. Whatever the reason for the signing, Sheffield wont cost the Mets anything more than a roster spot so anything they get from him should be a positive but it’s hard to see him helping the Mets in any way.

Welcome to the New Yankee Stadium

YESnetwork.com has some great pictures of the Yankees getting their first taste of the new Yankee Stadium. Follow the link for the pictures.

LINK

Yankees win Grapefruit League, Head North to Christen Stadium

The Yankees finished up their Grapefruit League schedule with a 9-5 win over the Phillies on Wednesday. CC Sabathia started the game in his final tune up before the regular season opener in Baltimore on Monday. Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui both homered in the game. The Yanks finished with a 22-10-1 spring record, tops in the Grapefruit League. To honor their achievement Commissioner Selig presented the Yankees with a basket of grapefruit after the game.

The Yankees will hold a special workout at the stadium today and have two exhibition games with the Cubs on Friday and Saturday. Chien Ming Wang will throw the first ever pitch at the new stadium at 7:05 Friday night. I for one cannot wait. We will have a special correspondent at the game who will take some exclusive photographs of the new stadium’s first game, which we will share with you. The season is upon us. I can almost taste it!

-Favad Ali

It's Official: Jeter to Leadoff

Joe Girardi announced on Wednesday that as of right now, Jeter will bat leadoff in Monday's season opener in Baltimore. The move should payoff as Jeter as it should cut down on Jeter's propensity to hit into the ground ball double play. Other than that, the move won't have any major significance in my opinion.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Jonathan Albaladejo will begin the season in the bullpen for the Yankees. This means that the Yankees will not have a "long man" in the pen to start off the year. The inclusion of Albaladejo is a curious one in my opinion as you wouldn't imagine Girardi using him in a big spot. Which in case, you should have a mop up guy such as Brett Tomko, Alfredo Aceves, or Dan Geise. In Joe Girardi, we trust.

The only remaining roster spot to be determined is the uitility infielder role off the bench. The two finalists seem to Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena. Whoever wins this spot will only hold on to it until that A-Rod guy returns. In that case, why not Pena. Lets see what this kid can do. He is an excellent defensive shortstop with speed. He is also a good situational hitter who is able to lay down a bunt if needed. Lets see what the kid can do.

-Favad Ali