The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Late Show With David Letterman has a contest on their web site to enter items on a Top Ten list. The topic this week is Top Ten Features Of The New Yankee Stadium.

I entered and my choice was: “Concession stands include Dominican pharmacy run by A-Rod’s cousin.”

Our man Chad Jennings has a blog post up about the plans at Scranton.

Brett Tomko, who worked as a long reliever in camp, is the closer. Um, OK.

Austin Jackson will start out hitting sixth as he breaks into AAA.

Angel Berroa is with Scranton. He was left off those rosters the Yankees sent out earlier today for some reason.

Dan Giese has not yet cleared waivers. But the Yankees do expect him back, it seems.

Vice President Joe Biden tossed out the first pitch yesterday and then spent some time with John and Suzyn in the radio booth.

Meanwhile, some of the Yankees used their day off today to visit The White House.

A group of 22 players, coaches and others on the travel party were given a private 90-minute tour that included the West Wing, Rose Garden and Oval Office. Players in attendance included Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, Joba Chamberlain, Cody Ransom, Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, Phil Coke, Jonathan Albaladejo and Ramiro Pena.

Kevin Long, Dave Eiland, Mike Harkey, Mick Kelleher and Rob Thomson were there as well.

Swisher was named Secretary of Loud Music later in the day.

It’s safe to say that journalists from Japan and Taiwan will outnumber those from the United States at Camden Yards tomorrow evening.

The Yankees play the Orioles and it will be Chien-Ming Wang of Taiwan against Koji Uehara of Japan. The two right-handers last faced each other in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. On Aug. 21, Japan beat Taiwan 4-3 in 10 innings.

Wang, then a Yankees prospect, allowed three runs over 6.2 innings. Uehara, the ace of the Yomiuri Giants, gave up three runs over seven innings. It was a strong performance for Wang, who was facing a lineup that included future major leaguers Kosuke Fukudome, Kenji Jojima and Norihiro Nakamura.

“It would have been a big win for Taiwan,” Wang said yesterday. “We played a good game. I remember a lot about that game.”

Tomorrow’s game also will feature Uehara facing his old Giants teammate and friend Hideki Matsui. As Tyler Kepner explains over on Bats, Matsui was the MVP of the Central League in 2002 and Uehara was the winner of the Sawamura Award as the top pitcher.

Uehara is the first Japanese player for the Orioles. His performance has slipped in recent seasons in Japan, but his big-league debut will be huge news in Japan. That he is facing Wang and Matsui makes it only more interesting to the fans in Asia.

In Taiwan, the return of Wang from last season’s foot injury will captivate the nation. He will be pitching for the first time since last June 15.

We have a lot of readers in Taiwan and are very passionate about baseball and the Yankees. They will be happy to see their man back on the mound.

The Yankees today sent out this release with their minor-league rosters. Scranton gets started on Thursday, Trenton on Wednesday, Tampa on Thursday and Charleston on Thursday.

Minor League Baseball.com has stories, stats, rosters and schedules for ever team.

If you get a chance, go see one of the teams. For fans in the metropolitan area, Scranton and Trenton are easy to get to, the prices are reasonable and you’ll get a first-hand view of players who could help the Yankees this season.

Here are the updated rosters:

LOW CLASS A CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS
Manager: Torre Tyson
Coaches: Jeff Ware (P), Greg Colbrunn (H), Sherman Obando.
Pitchers: Cory Arbiso, Manuel Banuelos, Brandon Braboy, Andrew Brackman, Casey Erickson, Dan Kapala, Brett Marshall, D.J. Mitchell, Hector Noesi, Dan Phelps, Brad Rulon, Pat Venditte.
Catchers: Mitch Abeita, Neall French, Chase Weems.
Infielders: David Adams, Carmen Angelini, Brian Baisley, Walter Ibarra, Garrison Lassiter, Mike Lyon.
Outfielders: Abraham Almonte, Dan Brewer, Ray Kruml, Melky Mesa, Taylor Grote.

HIGH ClASS A TAMPA YANKEES
Manager: Luis Sojo
Coaches: Greg Pavlik (P), Julius Matos (H), Tim McIntosh.
Pitchers: Dellin Betances, Jeremy Bleich, Noel Castillo, Grant Duff, Craig Heyer, Jon Hovis, Chuck Nolte, Jon Ortiz, Lance Pendleton, Amauri Sanit, Jason Stephens, Ryan Zink.
Catchers: Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, Steve Strausbaugh.
Infielders:Matt Cusick, Mitch Hilligoss, Brandon Laird, Addison Maruszak, Luis Nunez, Wady Rufino, Damon Sublett.
Outfielders: Tommy Baldridge, Eric Fryer, Austin Krum, Jack Rye.

CLASS AA TRENTON THUNDER
Manager: Tony Franklin
Coaches: Tommy Phelps (P), Frank Menechino (H), Victor Valencia.
Pitchers: Wilkin Arias, Mike Dunn, Eric Hacker, George Kontos, Zach McAllister, Ivan Nova, Ryan Pope, Josh Schmidt, Kanekoa Texeira, Jose Valdez, Kevin Whelan, Eric Wordekemper.
Catchers: Kyle Anson, Francisco Cervelli, Jose Gil.
Infielders: Reegie Corona, Chris Malec, Carlos Mendoza, Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Smith, Justin Snyder, Marcos Vechionacci.
Outfielders: James Cooper, Colin Curtis, Seth Fortenberry, Edwar Gonzalez.

CLASS AAA SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE YANKEES
Manager: Dave Miley
Coaches: Scott Aldred (P), Butch Wynegar (H), Aaron Ledesma
Pitchers: Alfredo Aceves, Anthony Claggett, J.B. Cox, Dan Geise, Phil Hughes, Kei Igawa, Steven Jackson, Jason Johnson, Ian Kennedy, Zach Kroenke, Mark Melancon, Dave Robertson, Brett Tomko, Brett
Catchers: Kevin Cash, P.J. Pilittere, Chris Stewart.
Infielders: Doug Bernier, Eric Duncan, Justin Leone, Juan Miranda, Kevin Russo.
Outfielders: Shelley Duncan, Austin Jackson, Todd Linden, John Rodriguez.

Notes: Based on this, it appears Dan Giese cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton. … If you don’t see a particular player, it likely means he is on the disabled list or was left in extended spring training in Tampa. The Yankees have short-season minor league teams in Staten Island and in the Gulf Coast League that start up in June along with teams in the Dominican Summer League

This from The YES Network:

Yesterday’s Yankees-Orioles Season Opener on YES (4:15-8:00 pm) generated a 5.84 average TV Household Rating (541,000 Total Viewers), making it the highest-rated weekday daytime sports event ever on a New York regional sports network.

The telecast peaked at a 7.6 average TV Household Rating (679,000 Total Viewers) from 7:00 to 7:15 pm. The previous highest-rated weekday daytime sports event ever on a New York regional sports network was the July 4, 2008 Red Sox-Yankees game on YES which generated a 5.20 average TV Household Rating.

These are a long way from official, but Minor League Baseball.com has some tentative rosters for the top Yankee franchises.

So check out:

Triple-A Scranton

Double-A Trenton

and Single-A Tampa

Darren Rovell of CNBC.com has an interesting post on what companies the Yankees have signed up as “official sponsors.”

Just so you know, Boar’s Head is the official deli meat of the Yankees. You can also have Utz potato chips and Turkey Hill ice cream for your official lunch today. Wash it down with a Pepsi (or a Budweiser) and then drive home in your Audi (or Ford or Toyota hybrid).

The Yankees were beaten by the Orioles as CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira had rough days.

Sam Borden writes that CC will never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Mark Teixeira heard the boos at Camden Yards.

Alex Rodriguez will report to Tampa on Monday. This notebook also has updates on Brett Gardner, a disputed home run and other tidbits from Opening Day.

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The Yankees are off today. A few of the guys are going on a tour of The White House arranged by former press secretary (and Yankees fan) Ari Fleischer. There will be a few blog updates, however.

Just a suggestion:

One game does not provide remotely enough evidence to write a “Here is what is wrong with the Yankees” comment on the blog.

They played a nice crisp game on Opening Day a year ago, beating the Blue Jays 3-2. How did that work out for them? Calm down, it’s one game.

Cesar Izturis came to the plate in the eighth inning having hit one home run in his previous 1,221 at-bats. So because he hit one out he’s going to be an All-Star this season?

Game 2 isn’t until Wednesday. Try not to jump off a bridge before then.