3 Days Before Opening Day: Exhibition game against the Cubs Part 2

The Yankees got off to a slow start tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Just in the first inning the cubs had 2 hits with a sacrifice fly to score first. Then in the second Wang got into some more trouble with runners on first and second. Aaron Miles doubled to score 2 in the second for a 3-0 lead.

But later in the second, Posada singles and then Cano hit a home run to bring it to a one run game. Then in the third Jeter singles to get on base for the second time and Matsui makes it count by hitting a home run to give the Yankees the first lead of the game at 3-4.

But in the top of the forth a triple by Reed Johnson later turns into a run for a 4-4 tie.

After a single by Cano and a lost pop fly by Nady, Ransom hits a 3-run homer off the left field pole to give the Yankees some breathing room in the bottom of the forth.

In the sixth inning the Yankees had 2 on second and third, in the seventh they had bases loaded, and in the eighth, they had bases loaded again, but they could not get the runners in. The Yankees are hitting, but there could be some struggling in scoring those runs again like last year.

The Yankees finish just as it was at the end of the fourth, 4-7. Congrats Yankees, with 13 hits, 3 of them multiple RBI home runs, you brought a W to Yankee Stadium in the first game.

During the game Joe Girardi was talking with the announcers and gave the comment that the Yankees were getting used to winning again. It doesn't matter that it is spring training, he wants the mentality.

Side Note, after the game MLBTV announced Gary Sheffield is a New York Met. Wow, good for him. I hope we have another Subway Series for the World Series at the end of it all.

3 Days Before Opening Day: Exhibition game against the Cubs

The first game in New Yankee Stadium. The day has arrived. Many of us have been waiting for this day since they announced the decision to build a new one and broke ground in 2007. This is a very historic day, the beginning of a New Era, right across the street from The House that Ruth built. No more visions of the legends who played on the 76 year old field, the men who built the stadium to having the reputation is has today. That era, unfortunately, has passed, and is now across the street from the new Yankees home.

The legend lives on, however, through the stars of today, Jeter, the superstar captain, Rivera, the Closer that ended 4 world series with wins for the Yankees, Cano, the young rising star, Sabathia, Burnett, Wang, Pettitte, and Chamberlian, the starters who all the fans place their faith in to end games before they start with wins for the Yankees. Today is the beginning of the first year in New Yankee Stadium, much presure on all the starters and the bullpen pushing for the first win in the new stadium.

The Yankees have released the projected starting lineup, starting pitchers rotation, and bullpen;

Projected starting lineup

1. SS Derek Jeter

2. LF Johnny Damon

3. 1B Mark Teixeira

4. DH Hideki Matsui

5. C Jorge Posada

6. RF Xavier Nady

7. 2B Robinson Cano

8. 3B Cody Ransom

9. CF Brett Gardner

Projected rotation

1. LHP CC Sabathia

2. RHP Chien-Ming Wang

3. RHP A.J. Burnett

4. LHP Andy Pettitte

5. RHP Joba Chamberlain

Projected bullpen

Closer: RHP Mariano Rivera

Setup: RHP Brian Bruney

Setup: LHP Damaso Marte

Middle: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo

Middle: LHP Phil Coke

Middle: RHP Jose Veras

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that even with all the success in spring training, there are still hurtles for the Yankees before things really get started;

"Girardi harbored major concerns coming into the spring, and with good reason. Catcher Jorge Posada is coming off a serious right shoulder surgery, closer Mariano Rivera had a procedure on his pitching arm, Wang missed half of last season with a right foot injury and Hideki Matsui needed surgery on his left knee. All four made it through the spring healthy, but with A-Rod already missing about six weeks, another injury to a major veteran could be a crippling blow."