New York Yankees open new park against Indians
New York Yankees open new park against Indians
On the road since Opening Day, the Yankees are finally going to be home in the Bronx on Thursday when they host the Cleveland Indians, and this home opener will have the added excitement of New York's new stadium, a $1.5 billion arena to serve as home for a Pinstripe payroll that almost seems that large. C.C. Sabathia will get the start for the chalky Yanks against fellow lefty Cliff Lee and the Tribe.
Welcome to The House Across the Street from the One that Ruth Built.
The latest incarnation of Yankee Stadium hosts its first regular-season baseball game Thursday afternoon when the struggling Cleveland Indians (2-7, minus-5.74 units) visit the New York Yankees (5-4, minus-0.59 units). It’s fitting that the new stadium retains the name of the old stadium – the dimensions are the same, and many of the old building’s features have been replicated, like the limestone exterior and hallowed Monument Park.
If only players could be rebuilt like that. Xavier Nady wasn’t even able to make it to the Yankees home opener before blowing out his right elbow; reports from the New York Daily News have Nady telling his teammates that he’s going to need Tommy John surgery, which would put him on the shelf for the rest of the season. Nady (.794 OPS in New York last year) had a hit in each of the seven games he played thus far.
The Yankees have deep pockets (see their new $1.5-billion stadium for proof), so they’ve got options. Nick Swisher (.742 OPS for the White Sox in 2008) takes over the starting job in right field; Swisher is on an absolute tear this year with 11 hits in 24 at-bats, splitting time between the outfield and first base as New York’s “10th man.” Melky Cabrera (.642 OPS last year) will get some more at-bats off the bench, but the Yankees won’t suffer much otherwise without Nady in the lineup.
At least, not yet. The Yankees seem to have their depth challenged on an annual basis. This year is already the same; Alex Rodriguez (.965 OPS in 2008) has yet to play a game at third base because of a hip injury, although he is reportedly ahead of his original May 15 timetable to return to the diamond. Journeyman Cody Ransom (.722 OPS lifetime) is starting in his place and not doing a very good job at the plate: 2-for-24 with a .279 OPS. The Yankees are third in the American League East in scoring with 51 runs in nine games and third in the standings behind 7-3 Toronto (68 runs) and 6-3 Baltimore (56 runs).
Now the good news, at least if you’re a Yankees fan: They’re sending CC Sabathia out to the mound to face his former team. The 2007 Cy Young winner was shelled for six runs in his first start at Baltimore (+172), but came back in fine style to blank the Royals (+196) over 7.2 innings in Saturday’s 6-1 Yankees win. Sabathia told the Associated Press after the game that he made an adjustment with his plant foot that allowed him to “stay on top of the ball.”
Cliff Lee might want to try that. The Indians ace is off to a rough start in 2009, allowing seven runs to Texas (+102) in the season opener and another four to the Blue Jays (-115) on Saturday. Lee made it two Cy Youngs in a row for the Tribe by going 22-3 last year with a 2.54 ERA, but seamheads were quick to pounce on Lee’s less attractive 3.69 xFIP (still an excellent performance) and the fact that the lanky southpaw stranded 78.3 percent of baserunners. In addition to the “regression to the mean” bogeyman, Cleveland fans should also be worried about Lee’s durability after throwing a career-high 223.1 innings in 2008.
On the flip side, looking like his old self is a good thing for Travis Hafner. After missing most of the 2008 season with shoulder problems, Hafner is ripping the cover off the ball with a 1.126 OPS, going 8-for-28 with three home runs and three doubles as the team’s designated hitter. This is the kind of power Cleveland fans grew accustomed to over three great seasons from 2004-2006. The Indians are also getting excellent results from Shin-Soo Choo (.917 OPS) in his first season as a full-time starter in right field, and catcher Victor Martinez (1.048 OPS) is lighting it up right now at 13-for-36 with a pair of dingers.
It’s early in the year and neither team has found its footing yet, so you’ll find the betting odds scattered across the board for Thursday’s matchup. The Yankees were available between -185 and -210 at press time with a total of nine runs. The weather forecast for Thursday afternoon in the Bronx: sunny with light winds blowing toward home plate and temperatures climbing toward 60 degrees. See you at the park.
On the road since Opening Day, the Yankees are finally going to be home in the Bronx on Thursday when they host the Cleveland Indians, and this home opener will have the added excitement of New York's new stadium, a $1.5 billion arena to serve as home for a Pinstripe payroll that almost seems that large. C.C. Sabathia will get the start for the chalky Yanks against fellow lefty Cliff Lee and the Tribe.
Welcome to The House Across the Street from the One that Ruth Built.
The latest incarnation of Yankee Stadium hosts its first regular-season baseball game Thursday afternoon when the struggling Cleveland Indians (2-7, minus-5.74 units) visit the New York Yankees (5-4, minus-0.59 units). It’s fitting that the new stadium retains the name of the old stadium – the dimensions are the same, and many of the old building’s features have been replicated, like the limestone exterior and hallowed Monument Park.
If only players could be rebuilt like that. Xavier Nady wasn’t even able to make it to the Yankees home opener before blowing out his right elbow; reports from the New York Daily News have Nady telling his teammates that he’s going to need Tommy John surgery, which would put him on the shelf for the rest of the season. Nady (.794 OPS in New York last year) had a hit in each of the seven games he played thus far.
The Yankees have deep pockets (see their new $1.5-billion stadium for proof), so they’ve got options. Nick Swisher (.742 OPS for the White Sox in 2008) takes over the starting job in right field; Swisher is on an absolute tear this year with 11 hits in 24 at-bats, splitting time between the outfield and first base as New York’s “10th man.” Melky Cabrera (.642 OPS last year) will get some more at-bats off the bench, but the Yankees won’t suffer much otherwise without Nady in the lineup.
At least, not yet. The Yankees seem to have their depth challenged on an annual basis. This year is already the same; Alex Rodriguez (.965 OPS in 2008) has yet to play a game at third base because of a hip injury, although he is reportedly ahead of his original May 15 timetable to return to the diamond. Journeyman Cody Ransom (.722 OPS lifetime) is starting in his place and not doing a very good job at the plate: 2-for-24 with a .279 OPS. The Yankees are third in the American League East in scoring with 51 runs in nine games and third in the standings behind 7-3 Toronto (68 runs) and 6-3 Baltimore (56 runs).
Now the good news, at least if you’re a Yankees fan: They’re sending CC Sabathia out to the mound to face his former team. The 2007 Cy Young winner was shelled for six runs in his first start at Baltimore (+172), but came back in fine style to blank the Royals (+196) over 7.2 innings in Saturday’s 6-1 Yankees win. Sabathia told the Associated Press after the game that he made an adjustment with his plant foot that allowed him to “stay on top of the ball.”
Cliff Lee might want to try that. The Indians ace is off to a rough start in 2009, allowing seven runs to Texas (+102) in the season opener and another four to the Blue Jays (-115) on Saturday. Lee made it two Cy Youngs in a row for the Tribe by going 22-3 last year with a 2.54 ERA, but seamheads were quick to pounce on Lee’s less attractive 3.69 xFIP (still an excellent performance) and the fact that the lanky southpaw stranded 78.3 percent of baserunners. In addition to the “regression to the mean” bogeyman, Cleveland fans should also be worried about Lee’s durability after throwing a career-high 223.1 innings in 2008.
On the flip side, looking like his old self is a good thing for Travis Hafner. After missing most of the 2008 season with shoulder problems, Hafner is ripping the cover off the ball with a 1.126 OPS, going 8-for-28 with three home runs and three doubles as the team’s designated hitter. This is the kind of power Cleveland fans grew accustomed to over three great seasons from 2004-2006. The Indians are also getting excellent results from Shin-Soo Choo (.917 OPS) in his first season as a full-time starter in right field, and catcher Victor Martinez (1.048 OPS) is lighting it up right now at 13-for-36 with a pair of dingers.
It’s early in the year and neither team has found its footing yet, so you’ll find the betting odds scattered across the board for Thursday’s matchup. The Yankees were available between -185 and -210 at press time with a total of nine runs. The weather forecast for Thursday afternoon in the Bronx: sunny with light winds blowing toward home plate and temperatures climbing toward 60 degrees. See you at the park.