Ready To Begin

Well it's opening day, and in a few short hours, Chien-Ming Wang will take the mound and the season will begin for the Yankees.

What can we expect from the Yankees, and what kind of season is in store for us?

Well, if you've been reading around, you'll see that the majority of the paid sports writers and broadcasters out there are picking at least 2 American League teams that are better than the Yankees. Namely, the Tigers and the Red Sox.. Some also have the Angels, Indians and Mariners as stronger teams this year, but injures and a poor spring for all three teams has some of them second guessing. Still, it's clear that the American League is a beast this year, with some very improved teams.

Whats interesting is a lot of the columnists out there point to an unproven starting rotation as the Yankees main weakness.. But if you look at the Sox, they are in the same basic position with John Lester and Clay Buchholz. The Tigers will mash, but can their starting pitching keep up? And what about their bullpen which was hit hard with injures during the off season..

So it's hard to say. I'm clearly bias, no matter how hard I try not to be. There are a few people out there picking the Yankees to finish third in the division. I don't see that happening. The East will be a brutal division, as both the Blue Jays and the Rays are improved, but The Yankees and Sox are still the most complete teams there.

Overall I think a solid lineup, a good bench, a re-tooled bullpen, and a balanced rotation of veterans and youngsters is going to keep the Yankees in the hunt all season long. They will have their ups and Downs just like any team, but the Yankees are built to win, and I think they have a good shot to.

Traber on the 40 Man Roster

Pete Abe is reporting that Traber was added to the 40 man roster. I'm excited about that, I've been rooting for him since they signed him.

Wow

So I go on vacation for a few days and all hell breaks lost in Yankee land.

Fights, injures and the signing of Billy Crystal. Wow, things were calm when I left!

About Shelley, I don't know what to think. It sure does look like he did it on purpose, but I do like how the Yankees are showing early that they'll defend their players this year.

I also wanted to mention that I hate Jim Rome.

He torched Shelley and the Yankees today, and even stated that his teammates don't have his back.

Really Jim? How about explaining these quotes then:

Brian Cashman: “I’ll take 25 Shelley Duncans. How about that?”

Derek Jeter: “If I were Shelley I wouldn’t change the way I play the game. There’s no reason to change the way he plays the game.”

Report: Bobby Murcer's Biopsy Negative

A report from NJ.com and from Michael Kay from the YES network states that Bobby Murcer's cancer biopsy came back negative.

I know we're all glad to hear that.

Why It's Fun to Be a Yankees Fan in Boston

I joke a lot about how it can be tough to be a Yankees fan in these parts, but these types of stories are getting more and more frequent, and frankly it's pathetic.

I'm as passionate about baseball as anybody, but at the end of the day, it's a game.

"Then the mob of Red Sox fans allegely threw the victim to the ground and repeatedly kicked him."

What's really sad about the whole thing isn't the story itself, which can probably be explained away by to much alcohal. What's sad, is that there will be Red Sox fans who are happy about this. People who think this kind of stuff shows some sort of Red Sox pride. People who think that their fans are better because they start fights over baseball. You stay classy Red Sox fans.

More Billy Traber Talk

The good folks over at River Ave. Blues added a nice little Organizational Depth Chart with some educated guesses as to who is ahead of who.

Of course what caught my eye, was who they think has the inside track for the LHRP position.

The more I follow this guy the more I find myself rooting for him. Right now I have no faith in Sean Henn or Igawa so if Girardi does take a LHRP, I hope it's Traber.

Billy Traber Throws Well

Traber faced three lefties today, and looked good getting all three out.

He pitched in the intra-squad game, and got knocked around a bit, but that was against right handed hitters.

Although Girardi has said he won't necessarily take a lefty when they go north, you have to think him and the Yankees are hoping somebody steps up..

Igawa will be given every chance to earn the job, mostly because the organization is still embarrassed about the contract.

But Traber could steal that job away if keeps getting the opportunity to pitch against left handed hitters. I know I'd much rather see him rather than Igawa or Henn at this point.

ESPN's comments on Hank

Here's a link to an ESPN article and video clip of some ESPN folks talking about Hank's statement..

If you can't pick out the Red Sox bias in the article and in the video, then chances are you're a Red Sox fan yourself.

I especially like how Steve Phillips completely side steps the last question when he's asked if he's a Red Sox fan.

I like Hank

Saw this over at River Ave. Blues and I had to copy it here because it made my night.

“Red Sox Nation?” What a bunch of [expletive] that is,” he [Hank Steinbrenner] said in an interview with The New York Times’ Play magazine. “That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans.

“Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”

This man is passionate about this team.