It’s raining, but there ain’t a cloud in the sky for the Yankees after beating the Jays
Good thing the game lasted 2:31 because it’s raining in the Bronx.
Here’s a weird stat for you: That was only the second Opening Day save for Mariano Rivera in his career.
What do Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Billy Martin, Joe Torre and Joe Girardi have in common? They each won their first game as manager of the Yankees.
“That’s pretty good company,” Girardi told me as he walked back to the clubhouse after his press conference.
Any way you look it, great start of the season for the Yankees.
Back in a bit with some Girardi audio.





I guess Joe is a good name to have if you’re gonna manage the Yankees.
Bobby Abreu still has never gone hitless on opening day!
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/ukMv
““That’s pretty good company,†Girardi told me as he walked back to the clubhouse after his press conference.”
Better than Bucky Dent and Stump Merrill.
Weren’t the last three opening day wins blowouts? Then we followed them with really poor Aprils? There’s something encouraging about a vintage, close, Starter to Setup Man to Closer win on opening day/night.
Feels good to beat an excellent pitcher like Halladay. Hope the pattern continues…
Cust just talk Dice K deep for a 1-0 lead. Channel 727 on DirecTV. I gotta say, I’m loving this free preview of MLB extra innings. As a fantasy leaguer, I never get to see my west coast players. I think I’m hooked.
My second guess for the night:
Torre should have brought in Proctor.
Heres to many more, Joe!
Mets lost. Pedro is hurt. That’s a shame. Guess the Met bandwagon (as heard on WFAN) can start to panic.
Joe Girardi–Great company, great omen indeed.
Jeff thanks for reminding me!!
And I think Pete should get rid of people who post “first”
very childish!
Anyone care to handicap All Star nods this year? My guesses:
Posada 3:2
Giambi 6:1
Cano 1:2
Rodriguez 1:8
Jeter 1:1
Damon 7:1
Cabrera 2:1
Abreu 3:1
Matsui 6:1
Wang 1:1
Pettitte 5:1
Mussina 15:1
Hughes 3:1
Kennedy 4:1
Chamberlain 3:1
Rivera 1:1
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp
Get used to the first line, kids.
Robert Andino walkoff shot off of Matt Wise in the bottom of the 10th
worst news is Pedro heard a pop could be 4 – 6 weeks or 6 – 8 weeks …. whozat remember the convo we had …freaky
i remember Pedro saying something last year that if he sustained another bad injury he might retire. Do you think he only meant if it was his arm? either way i’m not sure a hamstring is enough to qualify as a bad enough injury to force him out.
Uh oh, Tampa Bay is neck and neck with us for first. But we’ve opened a full game lead on Det and LAA for any Wild Card consideration.
“worst news is Pedro heard a pop could be 4 – 6 weeks or 6 – 8 weeks …. whozat remember the convo we had …freaky ”
It’s not freaky.
I am from the future.
I hope not Brian I don’t like seeing career ending events in players. Damn the Mets have some bad luck in Florida.
“It’s not freaky.
I am from the future.”
lottery numbers tomorrow
Yazman: LMAO! Oh, how I love the Standings on April 1st!
That was a good game and Pete you’re doing a great job with this blog. Thanks! Looking forward to hanging around here this season.
Heading to the game tomorrow night, I’m so psyched!
Awesome game tonight, tons of fun to watch. Finally the long and boring offseason is over!!
Only problem with the win tonight is it gives Francesa more ammunition tomorrow to argue that Joba should stay in the bullpen.
this is totally irrelevant to anything, but my cat just bit my chin really hard…
The Yankees couldn’t have asked for a better opening night. It was worth the wait.
The scary thing is that Wang was not even sharp but gutted through seven solid innings. Guess those naysayers predicting a hangover from his putrid October were wrong..
I can’t believe it’s not yet 11 p.m. and the Yankee game’s been over for a half hour or so! DId anyone hear Michael Kay give the game time? Did he say “an efficient 2 and a half hours?” Wouldn’t it be nice to have more of these quick games (as long as it’s Yankees’ pitchers being quick)?
As long as Mussina is even half-way decent, meaning 5.00 ERA but eating innings, I’d be very interested in seeing a full season of Joba in the pen. He can still get 140 innings or so in the pen counting postseason. Then next year let him start after Mussina and possible Pettitte are gone.
Just got back from the Stadium. WHAT A SHOWING FROM THE NYY!!!
Joba, Mo, wow. Overall, all around incredible team effort. Offense, OF defense, pitching.
Wow.
Brian, that’s why I always say, it just isn’t a good idea to make out with a house cat.
Pete mentioned a correlation between Yankee opening day wins during presidential election years and the winning party…
Looks like the GOP will win it all in November!
Pete – I heard you asking a question in the postgame conference on YES.
i just got back to the city from the stadium. OMG what a game!!! you couldn’t ask for a better opener or game. the reception joba got was overwhelming…mo too… and truly the melkman delivered today. all those loud chants of MELKY, MELKY!!
just the best…
Brian, please tell me your cat has had his shots?
not that gameday is very reliable when it comes to pitch counts but from what i can tell Daisuke is kind of laboring like he did in his first start. around 50 pitches through 3, strike to ball ratio near 1:1.
Doreen – I don’t think that Michael talks about “efficient” games – only the “unmanagable ones”. Actually though this game finished just in time – it started pouring right after.
Doreen
i’m pleased to report that he did not break skin and even so he has had his shots. he’s a young cat i don’t know what his deal is. he just walks up on me all happy, purring and rubbing on me then CHOMP. then i’m all like “ow dude wtf” and he just looks at me like “it’s all good”
Great opening day win. I’m psyched for this season. They’re looking hungry- and that’s the right mindset. This is going to be fun.
On the other hand, Oakland’s 1st baseman just completely missed a routine foul pop up. Fortunately batter struck out and covered the dumb error.
Brian:
You need to go see a doctor first thing in the morning if your cat broke any skin. Cat bites are very serious – it’s not just the rabies issue. Even if your cat has had rabies shots you still need to go see a doctor immediately.
Brian –
I’m glad you’re going to be okay, but it was Rebecca who inquired.
now i’ve seen everything: a Giambi making a nice baserunning play w/how he avoided the DP. between watching Jason, and Jeremy not sliding in 2001, i thought the Giambis had a genetic baserunning disorder
Hey Pete, even I know your headline is a Springsteen Special! Good start for Joe G. and Dah Yanks. Now, we got to get the Moose Moving tomorrow.
Brian from PA,
Gameday is actually fairly reliable when it comes to pitch counts once the regular season is underway. During spring training they don’t really keep track but with the new game day its very accurate.
Growing up as a small kid, my cat used to come after me with his claws at least once per day. I’m still fine.
“…I’d be very interested in seeing a full season of Joba in the pen. He can still get 140 innings or so in the pen counting postseason. Then next year let him start after Mussina and possible Pettitte are gone.”
There is no way Joba can safely throw 140 innings from the pen, especially if he’s the set up guy.
The only way 140 innings would even be reasonably possible/ safe would be if you had him throw 2 innings or so every 3-4 days on a regular basis.
People bring up Mariano in 1996 all the time to talk about work load and Joba. Mariano that year was used fairly recklessly by Torre – they didn’t think he was much of a prospect so they didn’t try to take save his arm. And even then Mariano threw 107 innings – not 140.
They aren’t going to use joba every 3-4 days. If he stays in the pen for the entire year then his innings cap will be even worse next year than it was this year.
That’s the recipe for getting him stuck in the pen for years.
Joba is simply the most talented pitcher on the team. He’s going to excel in any role you put him in.
When you have that kind of talent you have to put him in the most valuable role possible. That’s as a starter.
It’s very tempting to look at how he dominates in the 8th and to think about how he and Mo shorten the game.
But Joba will look even better starting Game 1 of a playoff season and throwing 8 innings.
That’s what they need him to do if they are going to maximize their chance of winning the world series.
Doreen and Rebecca
my apologies for the mixup, i saw Rebecca’s post about my cat when i was just about to reply to a Doreen post, and it was all down hill from there.
Another opening day win, a great script, Wanger for seven, joba in the 8th polished off by MO
well, great game tonight, i’m gonna head to bed. Yankees game everyday for another 3 weeks! and i’m going Saturday vs the Rays. night all.
wanna hear something ironic
Mark Malusis is a Yankee fan but he’s the only one on SNY telling Mets fans not to worry about Pedro’s injury, while everyone else from Burkhardt to Darling to Keith Hernandez sound like somebody died. Wagner and Jose Reyes were nearly in tears.
Just got back from the Scranton-Trenton Exhibitin Game in Trenton….Trenton 3 Scranton 2 in 7 1/2 innings.
Got Kei Igawas’ autograph after the game……agh not very legibile!
How good does it feel to see this
Wang 7IP
Chamberlin 1IP
Rivera 1IP
with only 2 runs.
wait a minute. Giambi bit your chin ?
guy long season. if they stay relatively healthy they are going to be good..
long long season, Moose manana…….
Dangit, Boston in the lead now. Dice K looked very good tonight…
Dice-K dominating the A’s tonight…
bet we see a lot of the jomo show this year!
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG15 17 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 1 .261 .000 .000
G..AB.R.H.2B.3B.HR.RBI.TB.BB.SO.SB.CS.OBP.SLG.AVG15.17.0.0.0..0..0..1...0..4..4..0..1..261.000.000