Pregame notes: Not a perfect day, but good enough
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Mar 31, 2011 
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It’s cold and the tarp is still on the field, but right now, the consensus seems to be that the Yankees will be able to play this afternoon. The rain has stopped, and this window should stay open long enough to get started. Given tomorrow’s forecast, Joe Girardi said “you have to do everything you can do to play today.”
Not a perfect day for baseball, but it’s probably good enough.
Welcome to Opening Day. Curtis Granderson arrived last night, the Yankees have A-lineup taking the field and they have their ace on the mound.
“It’s just a new beginning,” Derek Jeter said. “It’s like that every season. All of us as players get butterflies and get a little nervous going into Opening Day. It’s something we all look forward to. Then again, it’s something we want to get behind us and get into the swing of the season. A lot of excitement. You think back to when you were a kid in Little League, you look forward to Opening Day. I’ve said it time and time again, Opening Day here seems like it’s a little more special.”
For the Yankees, there is comfort in handing the ball to CC Sabathia. He has yet to win on Opening Day in pinstripes, but there are few better to matchup against Justin Verlander.
“He understands what he was brought here to do,” Girardi said. “And he relishes in his role of being the ace, the No. 1 guy.”
• Granderson said he got six or seven at-bats yesterday. He also played the field for about six innings and ran the bases after he was done. “Everything’s feeling good,” he said. The outfield might be a little wet today, but Granderson said the only way he won’t play will be if the Yankees don’t play.
• A.J. Burnett is still a little sick, but the Yankees still expect him to start on Saturday. “He’s still sick, but we’ll let nature take its course,” Girardi said.
• The decision to carry Luis Ayala over Steve Garrison had to do with experience. Garrison is a lefty with a spot on the 40-man, but he’s rarely pitched out of the bullpen and he has five games of experience above Double-A. Ayala look good this spring, and he has 377 games of big league experience.
• Jorge Posada will begin trying to find his designated hitter routine — which will surely be much different now that he has all that a major league stadium can provide — but Girardi said Posada was “relaxed” this spring and seems ready for the new role.
• Speaking of Posada, once again, Girardi was asked about the possibility of using Posada as a third catcher: “I guess if it was an emergency situation you’d probably put him in there ahead of Nunez,” Girardi said. Basically, don’t hold your breath waiting for Posada to catch this season.
• Sabathia could go 110-115 pitches if necessary.
• How good is Verlander? “I’d rate his stuff as good as anyone’s,” Girardi said. “You have to make this guy work.”
• It’s legitimately cold at Yankee Stadium, and Jeter did his part to keep expectations low. “The pitchers have a huge advantage,” he said, before immediately laughing.
TIGERS
Austin Jackson CF
Will Rhymes 2B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Ryan Raburn LF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B
Alex Avila C
Associated Press photos of Jeter during yesterday’s workout and Sabathia from his appearance on Letterman
Behold, the start of a new baseball season. When someone says they’ve had e- neuf baseball…I, Pir-One, say NEIN! I mean, NO!
who broke the lohud?
seriously im thinking the rab/yes people are behind it. opening day is the perfect day to knock lohud down and try to scoop up all those eyeballs.
you guys better figure it out soon!
Let’s Go Yankees!
beaArThur! how ya doin!
Guys sorry. I didn’t look at last night’s posts. That’s probably why I missed Asd also.
Will get the ones from right now and then so search last night’s. Promise I will get them all.
trisha – true pinstriped blue 104 PLEASE
Is it cold enough for Ninja Robbie???
Ledger_Yankees Curtis is here. Seeing doctors about his right shoulder today. Trying for rehab instead of surgery.
Hey Y’s!
Watch 2009 WS Championship DVD night before Opening Day: CHECK
Purchase MLB Extra Innings package: CHECK
Use floater to take day off before it disappears after fiscal year end, March 31st: CHECK
Pick up pack of Guinness: CHECK
Put on sweatpants and new Yankees hoodie: CHECK
Preheat oven for wings: CHECK
Half hour of prayer for no rain-out: CHECK
Pour a Guinness despite start of 11am MDT: CHECK
Boot up laptop, login to LoHud: CHECK
…
Ok, I think I’m good.
Play ball.
bd-
i’m down in miami and two days ago i get put in with a foursome that has a die hard red sox fan in it from new hampshire. when the guy hears i’m from cape cod he starts talking red sox smack because he assumes i’m a red sox fan. i politely tell him i’m a yankee fan, and tell him he’s pretty confident for a fan of non playoff team. we’re polite because it’s golf and we’re stuck with each other for the round.
he starts talking gonzalez and crawford and while thinking of retort, i top my tee shot and hit a grounder for about 50 yards that would make jeter proud. he’s smiling and tells me to hit another one. i said why, i’m going to par it anyway( it was a par 5).
i hit two two irons and i’m on the front of the large green in three . the flag is way in the back( maybe a 45 foot putt, maybe more). the red sox guy is holding the flag and i just want to lag close and get my par because i know it will piss him off.
i let it go and it rolls and rolls and is looking good and then hits dead center and disappears in the bottom of the cup at the guys feet. birdie.
he and i both knew : yankees one, red sox nothing .
the season started for me with that guy trash talking on the first tee . game on.
( just want to add that “smug ” seems to be the most descriptive word for where the average red sox fan is at. it’s going to great fun seeing the yankees take that look of their faces )
Jeff in Canada-
Nice list. Written by a true baseball fans that has their priorities in order
Can I add something that made my list:
Set the DVR to record the game today?
**unfortunately i did not ask for the day off today because i had a brain cramp, so i will have to pretend to work while following the game online**
LoHudYankees Tarp just came off the field. #yankees
PhilHughes65 Not a fan of this weather. Clean it up!
CR9, yesterday when you were here as BeArThur, you were pumping up cr9. then you got mad when i suggested you might also be ER/ruby.
now you admit you are both CR9 and BeArThur, why not just come all the way clean and give us the other sn’s?
Happy Opening Day to all!
Tin Cup ( The Original Randy I ) Great story and a precursor of things to come !!!!!
way to go randy!
bring on those unbeatable Socks!
Let’s Go Yankees!
Not exactly the best weather, but still, nothing beats Opening Day.
Let’s Go Yankees!
randy-great story
Okay, I have updated the chart and gotten the posters’ predictions from last night also!
One year mel asked me if I could put the chart together with predictions in descending order. If anyone really wants me to do it that way, I will. Just let me know.
http://members.cox.net/lsdorga.....0CHART.pdf
Is Nova the birdie for the Yankees this season? Martin? Granderson’s new swing?
randy – when I read your posts trashing the Sux I could actually see us as best friends. Other times, not quite best friends…
Ah, Opening Day is finally upon us…when hope springs eternal…
The time for baseless and overwrought predictions by stupid pundits is over. Now, the only thing that counts is what happens on the field.
Here’s to the quest for 28!
pat m-
nothing like a smug red sox fan to light a fire in a yankee fan.
my game is really coming around. most of it is getting my body’s flexibility back. having to do a lot of yoga.
i’m feeing good about the yankees. i think cashman has done a good job of damage control after being between a rock and a hard place with starters. of course , he might have started thinking about the 2011 rotation a few years ago, but better late than never.
i like the depth the team has. as jeter says. they play the game on the field. i think this yankee team is going to surprise people.
Repost:
Trisha;
97 Wins – Comet
DIRECTTV!!!!! WHAT????????????????????????
The stands are empty because of the weather.
Comet – got it.
jerkface Phil will be the birdie. he will match bucholz and the pitching staffs will be dead even. the yanks lineup will do the rest…
gonna go right down to the wire, though.
Thanks Trisha
Opening day!! I’m excited go Yankees
It is asinine to not have east coast teams opening up in domes or the west coast especially when the season is starting earlier and earlier
Trisha –
Put me down for 98 wins and a division, LCS and WS Championship.
Thank you.
Doreen, I’m looking forward to GTLU when Joe lets us play.
Watching ESPN pre-game
Kruk predicts Gonzalez to lead the AL in RBIs and HRs
Larkin predicts the Sox to win the WS
In other news, same ol same ol.
i know some people’s nerves couldnt handle it, but a socks-yanks ALCS would be awesome!
I am on with a direct tv supervisor right now. please call!!! 1800-directv
It is asinine to not have east coast teams opening up in domes or the west coast especially when the season is starting earlier and earlier
–
Whats even more asinine is that the MLB scheduler-bot put the Yankees at home for 75% of april, when the weather is crappy. Computers ARE ruining baseball!
Please put me down for 95 wins, Trisha.
I want to win both showcases, so I can’t go over.
“i know some people’s nerves couldnt handle it, but a socks-yanks ALCS would be awesome!”
Yeah, it would be.
WCYF-
What is going on w/Direct TV???
Tin Cup…….The Wang disaster is still being felt by the club……I need to decide by next week, yoga or Pilate’s ????
I just called and chewed Direct TV out!!!! YES is the only reason I keep Direct!
Hooray for Opening Day!
Warning Track – I know the ‘pretend-working-while-following-the-game’ well.
((puts headset on))
“Sorry guys, teleconference…I’ll be awhile.”
((sets online status to ‘In Conference’))
I even pretend to be communicating on the call, during the breaks between innings.
“Yes…ahem, I agree. Um…that’s the approach we should take. Let’s a…let’s take some time to um, you know…map out the process..”
The timing was perfect for me this year, otherwise I’d be DVR’ing too.
The good thing about being a Yankees fan living in Western Canada is that you don’t have to worry much about people telling you the score before you’ve gotten home to watch it recorded.
@ Trisha please put me down for 91 wins. Thanks
“i know some people’s nerves couldnt handle it, but a socks-yanks ALCS would be awesome!”
We need one of those again. Been too damn long since the last.
Jerkface March 31st, 2011 at 12:19 pm
It is asinine to not have east coast teams opening up in domes or the west coast especially when the season is starting earlier and earlier
–
Whats even more asinine is that the MLB scheduler-bot put the Yankees at home for 75% of april, when the weather is crappy. Computers ARE ruining baseball!
***********************************************************
Common sense is not something that is practiced in MLB Offices.
Remember this: Those people with the power only care about the bottom line=$$$
The people with the power to write/change the game schedule could care less about
the bad weather or having as many west coast & dome teams open the season at home.
Sad but true!!
every year the run katy feeny out there as the person who does the scheduling. is she still the person? i know its complicated but i think they could do much better.
so what is the problem with direcTV?
Nick in SF……If there’s an angle to be found, you will find it !!!!!!
re: DIRECTTV. I think I stopped breathing when I saw that.
I am going to assume they will get it worked out…
lol@Jeff…i’m at work too (its not my fault that they schedule so many day games) Luckily my boss doesn’t really mind as long as I do my work
Looks like the Rays got another young guy to sign a ridiculously team friendly extension…..(wade davis, 7/35). Wake up and small the dinero guys.
every year the run katy feeny out there as the person who does the scheduling. is she still the person? i know its complicated but i think they could do much better.
–
Used to be an old couple that did it, but then a computer company came along and showed they could do it with a program (which was thought not to be possible due to the amount of unique scheduling issues that are present) and now they do it.
re: Predictions
I only take predictions for regular seasons wins. I will take the postseason predictions once the postseason comes.
I have the pre-game, game and post-game all set on the DVR.
Lucky for me, the boss is a Yankee fan. We have the conference room TV on YES so I can go back from time to time to watch.
Enjoy! and Lets Go Yankees!!!
Well, the crack Joe Girardi nickname committee (CJGNC) has completed it ground breaking work on altering Lohud poster names to the code Joe Girardi uses to nickname his players. Show your support today by using these names whenever possible.
TRISHA ==> Trishy
FRAN ==> Frannie
SAS ==> Sassy
STUCKEY ==> The Stucker
RAY VT ==> VTie
YS GUY ==> Yessy
ERIN ==> Eriny
ERICA ==> Ericky
BOJO ==> Bojy
IRREVERENT DISCOURSE ==> Iddy
WEST COAST Yankee Fan ==> Fannie
TYANKSFAN ==> Yannie
YANKEE21 ==> 21y
UPSTATE KATE ==> Katie
NYY626 ==> 26y
YANKSGAL07 ==> 7ie
CENTRAL SCRUTINIZER ==> Scrutty
MUNSON15 ==> Munnie
SHAME SPENCER ==> Shamey
BIG AL ==> Alie
BBFAN ==> Beeby
PATRICK ==> Patty
DOREEN ==> Dorreny
DAVID IN CAL ==> Davey
JCPD ==> Pedey
BLAKE ==> Blakey
NJPETE ==> Petey
LGY ==> Loogy
PATM ==> Patman
Greenberet7 ==> Greenie
SJ44 ==> 44y
Jerkface ==> Jerky
Rich in NJ ==> Jersey
M ==> Emmy
Betsy ==> Bets
If your name is not on the list, it is because the crack committe is on crack and overlooked the obvious…so feel free to add your name to the list!
Trish:
95 wins for me please.
Trisha,
I’m thinking 95.
actually, WTP, they are much more worried about postseasn weather than opening day weather. thats why they moved it up.
i dont know if i like the mid week opening though. i know that they are trying to pump up attendance for games 2 & 3 (usually the lowest attended games of the year) but i think they will just end up with the same low #’s when the twins are here on the weekdays.
Trisha,
101 wins will win division nicely!
Let’s go Yankees !!!
Every time Girardi says Hughesy or something like that I want to punch him in the damn face
Colin Cowherd = Biggest Fraud Ever
Two Weeks ago the Yankees were old and not going to make the playoffs. Now he is doing a show at Mickey Mantles and the Yankees are not going to be as bad as people think. They will win the WC.
FRAUD
I wish someone in that restaurant would punch him right in the face!
Trisha Yanks 94 wins
Trish :
Mark me down for 94 wins which should be good enough considering all the failures of the Buston Sux starting pitching and bullpen breakdowns.
randy,
that is AWESOME.
I went on a date last night andone of the first things I ask a girl now, very carefully, is “so are you a big sports fan?” and then “well, are you a Sox fan?”
if they answer “no” or “not really”, I stick around. Of course, one of the better looking girls was a die-hard “I fly to Tampa for Spring Training” Sox fan. Oh well.
fortunately the girl last night only likes football and the Pats. I can live with that.
Mark me down for 98 wins Trisha.
“I need to decide by next week, yoga or Pilate’s ????”
pat m-
don’t get me going on wang. i’m still trying to block it out and focus on the future.
plus the blog is in too good of a mood on opening day
i think judging by how much you liked your pool service personnel that you should enroll in a hot yoga class and find a nice spot in the back row
they should just open the scheduling up to anyone who wants to work one out and then select the best one. open source it. give the winners a WS box.
bet you’d get some great ideas then!
Bronxie or Jeersy ?
I think I prefer Bronxie.
really Pat M don’t be a trouble maker! Randy said some nice things about Cash, don’t try to ruin that!
Brad get a life – you are so childlike it’s surreal.
Jeez, don’t all jump on my 95 win bandwagon at once.
Pat M, I made a small number of season win total wagers, a couple head-to-head props, some player props, plus I took the Yanks to win the AL East, the pennant, and the World Series. Yanks over 91.5 wins is the biggest amount.
I think 95 wins is a baseline for the Yanks this year barring injuries. They won that many last year with career worst seasons by Jeter, Burnett, Vasquez, Arod, and Teixera. Plus Pettite missed a lot of the season as well….
Bojy
some of those names literally made me LOL
Jeers
go with Bronxie
I talked to a supervisor at DirecTV – YES contract is up Saturday. She said YES wants an exorbitant amount of money. They are talking but far apart.
John–
Go to Wiki and look up sense of humor, and then google it to see if you find one.
Yeah, good luck trying to nickname my name.
sweeney talking about how cold it is. the bench is heated, the dugout is heated, there’s a batting cage right behind them. i dont think it’s going to be a factor.
verlander will be a factor but not so much the weather.
sucks for the fans, though.
Bojo – I was just about crying!!!!!
I’m going with 92 wins
Trish – please put me down for 94 wins. Thanks!
“tomingeorgia March 31st, 2011 at 11:53 am
Trisha,
96 wins”
Do you want me to change it to 95 tom?
Asd March 31st, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Yeah, good luck trying to nickname my name
———————-
The committee’s first attempt did not pass the censors, so we’ll go with Butts.
The coldest Yankee game I was ever at was the opening game when it snowed and Pettite pitched against KC. The beer lines were empty since everyone was getting hot drinks. It worked out well because we were given a choice of 3 other games as a token of us braving the elements and I picked the Gooden no hitter game
If you have the audacity to go under 90 wins for our Yankees, you will NOT be on our chart. Hmph!
Bronx Jeers March 31st, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Bronxie or Jeersy ?
I think I prefer Bronxie.
***********************
Definitely go with Bronxie.
Gonna slip on home for ” lunch ” and try to catch the first few innings. I wonder if I’ll have car trouble after I get there. hmmm
The committe has announced that to be eligible for a cool Girardi nickname, you have to submit a win prediction to Trishy’s chart before game time, or as long as she is updating the chart. (It helps the committee keep track of posters, and they’re usually so high on crack, that any effort to actually think about keeping a list is just too much work.)
Trishy, Sorry about that. Let it stay at 96. I just determined that we’re facing either Beckett or Dice-K one more time than I’d figured.
Bojy,
Very funny list!
“Gonna slip on home for ” lunch ” and try to catch the first few innings. I wonder if I’ll have car trouble after I get there. hmmm”
welcome home to everybody who’s been dormant since the ALCS!
Let’s Go Yankees!
Larkin picked a Red Sock to win every award this year and the team to win the WS. Francona manager of the year, Ellsbury comeback player, Crawford or Youkilis batting title (although Crawford never hits for that high of an average), and Gonzalez for MVP… I thought he was going to champion Casey Kelly for ROY but then he realized he’s a Padre now so no need to talk him up anymore…
Upstate Kate,
I just woke up after a bad night…so…good luck this week. We both have good teams. You have a few of my guys who I hope do well all season….just not TOO well this.
YES contract w direct tv expires tmrw??
Another reason to hate direct tv
All this optimism is making me want to boost my over 91.5 wins wager… I should have avoided the LoHud until game time.
Larkin must be trying to get in good w/ the espn crowd
You don’t have one.
DirecTV has absolutely no leverage here. YES is the most viewed “cable-tier” channel in the country. Whatver YES wants, DirecTV is going to have to pay or risk losing many subscribers (including myself).
From the previous thread, Trisha:
“I’m on record for 101.”
Thx
this red socks tidal wave of predictions is pretty funny.
they all fell for the mariners last year, too!
they never learn.
I think the Yanks will have to have significant injuries to win less than 91 games….they are just too talented and too balanced to finished less than 10 games over. 500.
The committee appreciates all the kind comments, and would like to announce they are starting a collection to rent fannie a sense of humor.
Y’s Guy-
Just in case you had doubts… I will win
But best of luck to you!
someone just mentioned possibly slipping out to go home for lunch.
i like that idea & you know what, i might have to make that happen!!
DYD INDA WUL March 31st, 2011 at 12:42 pm
__________
Whew! You’re on your own….
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Sox will have a good team this year… but by no means are they some sort of juggernaut. They have just as many question marks as the Yankees.
thanks SAS, good luck to you too
The building is empty… where is everyone
Bojy
what about wooly?
now hear this!
Check this over or proceed at your own risk! I think I have everybody.
http://members.cox.net/lsdorga.....0CHART.pdf
Non-busy season I like to go to places with TVs for lunch during day games.
Jeff In Canada – what part of Western Canada are you in?
I know it’s cold, but I do hope the Stadium fills up more. Remember too that a lot of people go to the Mohegan Sun bar, etc., to catch the game.
Added to list
Nick in SF ==> Witty
Warning Track Power ==> Powey
TheStraw ==> Strawie
Abe Peterham ==> Hammy
Final list will be posted tomorrow
upstate kate March 31st, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Bojy
what about wooly?
________
SOLD!
when the lohud was broke again this monring, i was on RAB for a while.
all that woba was making my fip hurt.
fortunately, lohud made it back to life!
“the Grandyman can”
Why can’t the Yankees get guys like Phil Coke?
Cashman must be smiling a bit…
8th to So
9th to MO
nice lineup in the pen.