The New York Yankees open their 2011 campaign against the Detroit Tigers
After an offseason of his most disappointing in recent history, the New York Yankees opened their 2011 campaign against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
After losing in six games with the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series last October, came to New York this winter with a plan - get Cliff Lee.
However, things did not work as free-agent pitcher the Yankees refused money to go to Philadelphia. Then to make matters worse, Andy Pettitte retired, leaving the Yankees with two big holes in their rotation.
Young Ivan Nova was the best pitcher the Yankees' this spring, and ensuring a transparent, when the veteran Freddy Garcia was stuck in fifth place in front of the former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon to step out of the bullpen in the league after not pitch at all last season.
so much trouble, the Yankees may have on the back of their rotation, it is not regarding left-hander CC Sabathia, who will take the ball in the afternoon after a season that saw him go 21 to 7 with 3, 18 ERA.
"It was not on the bubble," Yankee manager Joe Girardi said with a smile. "His place in the rotation was not really a problem. For him, the spring just to get ready and get his stuff sharp."
After an offseason of his most disappointing in recent history, the New York Yankees opened their 2011 campaign against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
After losing in six games with the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series last October, came to New York this winter with a plan - get Cliff Lee.
However, things did not work as free-agent pitcher the Yankees refused money to go to Philadelphia. Then to make matters worse, Andy Pettitte retired, leaving the Yankees with two big holes in their rotation.
Young Ivan Nova was the best pitcher the Yankees' this spring, and ensuring a transparent, when the veteran Freddy Garcia was stuck in fifth place in front of the former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon to step out of the bullpen in the league after not pitch at all last season.
so much trouble, the Yankees may have on the back of their rotation, it is not regarding left-hander CC Sabathia, who will take the ball in the afternoon after a season that saw him go 21 to 7 with 3, 18 ERA.
"It was not on the bubble," Yankee manager Joe Girardi said with a smile. "His place in the rotation was not really a problem. For him, the spring just to get ready and get his stuff sharp."
This will mark Sabathia's eighth career Opening Day start, having drawn the honors five times with the Cleveland Indians as well as in each of his first two seasons with New York. However, he has yet to win in either of his two assignments with the Yankees.
Sabathia figures to get plenty of run support, as the Yankees field basically the same lineup that scored a major league high 859 runs a year ago. In fact that vaunted offense may be even better than last season, as Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez all had down seasons.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland once referred to the Yankees' lineup as "Murderer's Row and Cano". Well, Robinson Cano is no longer a supporting cast member. The second baseman distinguished himself as not only one of the best all-around players on the Yankees last season, but in the league as well. He hit .319 with 29 home runs, 109 RBI and 103 runs scored, while also playing a near-flawless second base to claim his first Gold Glove Award.
Rodriguez, though, had a phenomenal spring, as the three-time AL MVP batted .388 (19-for-49) with a team-leading six homers and 15 RBI. Jeter, meanwhile, enters the year 74 hits shy of becoming the first player in pinstripes to record 3.000 for his career.
Also, Girardi announced that Jeter will be moved from the leadoff spot against right-handers, with speedy Brett Gardner filling the role. Jeter will still lead off against lefties.
Jeter will be in the two-hole this afternoon against Justin Verlander, who is coming off another sensational season. One of the few bright spots on the Tigers a year ago, Verlander was 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA.
Verlander seems to have picked up right where he left off a year ago, as he pitched to a 0.96 ERA in six spring starts.
The American League Central figures to be a three-team race this season and unlike last year, the Tigers should be right in the thick of it.
After losing a one-game playoff for a division title to the Minnesota Twins in 2009, the Tigers began the process of clearing out payroll and it showed, as they stumbled out of the gates and never recovered before eventually finishing .500.
On the bright side, Miguel Cabrera put forth the best season of his career with virtually no protection in the lineup. As good as he was last year, the first baseman could be even better this season with the addition of newly- signed Victor Martinez.
Things did not get off to a great start for the Tigers, though, as Cabrera was charged with DUI following a run-in with police shortly after the start of spring training. Leyland and Cabrera insist his problems are behind him and he is ready to get going.
The Yankees split their eight matchups with the Tigers last season, but are 9-5 against them since the start of the 2009 campaign.
Sabathia figures to get plenty of run support, as the Yankees field basically the same lineup that scored a major league high 859 runs a year ago. In fact that vaunted offense may be even better than last season, as Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez all had down seasons.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland once referred to the Yankees' lineup as "Murderer's Row and Cano". Well, Robinson Cano is no longer a supporting cast member. The second baseman distinguished himself as not only one of the best all-around players on the Yankees last season, but in the league as well. He hit .319 with 29 home runs, 109 RBI and 103 runs scored, while also playing a near-flawless second base to claim his first Gold Glove Award.
Rodriguez, though, had a phenomenal spring, as the three-time AL MVP batted .388 (19-for-49) with a team-leading six homers and 15 RBI. Jeter, meanwhile, enters the year 74 hits shy of becoming the first player in pinstripes to record 3.000 for his career.
Also, Girardi announced that Jeter will be moved from the leadoff spot against right-handers, with speedy Brett Gardner filling the role. Jeter will still lead off against lefties.
Jeter will be in the two-hole this afternoon against Justin Verlander, who is coming off another sensational season. One of the few bright spots on the Tigers a year ago, Verlander was 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA.
Verlander seems to have picked up right where he left off a year ago, as he pitched to a 0.96 ERA in six spring starts.
The American League Central figures to be a three-team race this season and unlike last year, the Tigers should be right in the thick of it.
After losing a one-game playoff for a division title to the Minnesota Twins in 2009, the Tigers began the process of clearing out payroll and it showed, as they stumbled out of the gates and never recovered before eventually finishing .500.
On the bright side, Miguel Cabrera put forth the best season of his career with virtually no protection in the lineup. As good as he was last year, the first baseman could be even better this season with the addition of newly- signed Victor Martinez.
Things did not get off to a great start for the Tigers, though, as Cabrera was charged with DUI following a run-in with police shortly after the start of spring training. Leyland and Cabrera insist his problems are behind him and he is ready to get going.
The Yankees split their eight matchups with the Tigers last season, but are 9-5 against them since the start of the 2009 campaign.