E-Boland and the Bombers

Where indeed?

5 runs in two games...

Kat, it's good to know you don't jump to conclusions based on small sample sizes or anything.

MESSina will not win 10 games, and Yanks will sign Freddy Garcia at midseason to take his spot. Jays are a very good team. Doc H & Burnett are as good a 1-2 combo in baseball. If Ryan comes back & stays healthy-watch out. The Jays could win AL East. With the improvement of Rays/Jays, I think AL East winner will have less than 95 victories.

Two games, gene. Two games! Chill out. Halladay and Burnett are great pitchers, and they both get hurt a lot. The Jays' offense is not that good, so Halladay, Burnett and the rest of their staff (which I don't think will include Ryan for a long time -- no one ever comes back early from TJS) will have to be be near-perfect for them to win 90+ games. Outside of Wells and Rios, they don't have much going on in that lineup.

In his first start of the year, in the bitter cold, Mussina was one out away from going six innings/3 ER. If Mussina sent six innings/three ER in every start this year, the Yankees should thank the gods.

I'm also getting a little sick of the Mussina-bashing that goes on. HE'S OLD. HE'S A FIFTH STARTER NOW. He wasn't willing to inject HGH and 'roids, like the Barry Bondses of the world, and now he's almost forty and it shows. This is probably his last year in pinstripes. He is what he is: a once-great pitcher who is now old and doesn't have the same stuff. The anger directed at him seems to suggest he could be better if he wanted to, which is absurd.

gene,

Who in the Yankees organization told you about them signing Garcia?

BTW, I think the Jays will be hard pressed to have a winning record much less win the division. IMHO of course!

That's the thing about Toronto - the 1-2 punch of Halladay and Burnett probably isn't going to stay healthy all season.

When was the last time Burnett pitched a full season? He hasn’t done it yet since he donned the Jays’ uniform.

That is why the "Jays are gonna contend" argument doesn't hold a lot of water because you are ignoring their track record. They are everyone’s favorite team in March and April, but reality soon sets in once they start playing meaningful games. This is a team with a history of health issues.

Look at the team now.

* BJ Ryan is still out

* Rolen is out for 6 weeks

* Jansen is out for the season

It's only a matter of time before Burnett goes down and Halladay, as great as he is, has had a lot of health issues of his own during his career.

Toronto is certainly a talented team, but for this team to really contend for the division, they will have to overcome a lot of health issues to key players that have crippled this franchise in recent years.

Halladay and Burnett always pitch well against us, plus the cold weather has to be a factor.

The offense will be fine. Not many teams have as good a 1-2 as they do.

Hey Guys,

I'am looking into getting tickets to take a Stadium Tour before the end of the season.

Tickets are only $20, but there is a limited amount of days they allow you in the club house.

Has anyone done this tour and is it worth it?

that is the problem people wanna underestimate these teams and down play the BS , Track Record?? that seems to be the curse of Yankee fans , Always thinking track record will be the answer.

Then the Matter of time theory can go against the Yankees as well.

Stop assuming the Jays and rays are going to stay under all the time

Bailey, my frustration with Mussina is more directed towards the Yankees than it is towards Mussina. The Yankees should have seen this coming because of last year, had other options, and made a bad decision. I would have signed someone else for the back of the rotation and either used Mussina in the pen in long relief to eat up innings or moved him altogether (option him to scranton, he would have declined then left). I feel they are sticking him in there just to justify the salary, and that's always a bad basis for making a decision

Cold weather has a lot to do with it. Pitchers are usually ahead of hitters at this point in the season.

Keep in mind that the "greatest offense in the history of baseball" - the Detroit Tigers - have scored exactly four runs in 2-1/2 games and are 4 innings away from getting swept by the Royals to start the season.

It's way too early to be concerned about the offense.

Mc: The tour is definitely worth it, especially with the stadium celebrating it's final year.

Halladay and Burnett can stand up to any 1-2 in either league, so there is nothing to be ashamed about. Think Yanks did good to get 6 hits off the guy and only strike out 3 times. When it warms up a little, our bats will wake up. I am still amazed at how good Giambi has looked in the field. He could have a monster year.

Loved seeing Girardi's expression when Moose gave up the dinger to Wells. He really cares and it shows. Not saying Torre didn't care, but this is a very refreshing change.

Go get 'em, Hughes!

Re: Mussina - he clearly is the weak link in the rotation. One game or not, Moose has lost velocity over the past few years, and he's struggling to compensate for it.

I do agree Moose will have trouble winning 10 games this year. I credit him for a great career and good service to the Yanks (I have been to more of his games the past years than any other Yankees starter), but it's time to move on.

I understand Joba being in the pen to start the year, but Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain are going to have to get 40 wins between them (once Joba moves to the rotation, which I am guessing is mid-year) to make up for Moose, and Andy P., who I am guessing will miss a few starts here and there.

MC
Yes it is worth it. I have done it twice and plan on doing it again this year. I thought it was awesome. Sitting in the dugout, walking onto the field and around the outfield. Just knowing you are walking and sitting were some of the greatest players did is so cool.

I think fans of the Royals and Nationals should cut out the current standings and LAMINATE them.

Chances are this will be the only time this year they will be this high in the standings

Regarding people getting overly worried about the Yankees after two games...

Imagine a Yankee team losing their first 3 games and 4 of their first 5.

And the one game they DID win, the Yankee bullpen blew the lead by letting up a 2 out game tying homer in the 9th and had to win in a slug fest in extra innings.

And that team didn't just lose... they got their butts kicked
Losing 4-1, 10-2, 7-3 and 8-0.

And this coming off a disappointing post season the year before and HUGE question marks on the team.

What team started off this shaky?
The 1998 Yankees... who went 114-48 and rampaged through the post season.

Now I am not saying this team is as good as 1998... but 2 games isnt much to judge anything

Forgive me, but I want to plug something.
My friend Lynn, a very funny writer and author, wrote a funny article about dual sports loyalties and parents in a magazine which is available on line.

She's a Rabbi's wife (and in full disclosure a Red Sox fan) and she includes a quick interview with yours truly on the hazards of rooting for two teams (which is impossible)

Click on my name and it will link you to the article.

Sorry for the plug, but it is a sweet article and she's a good writer.

OK, back to baseball

Sully,
I'm glad to see you set Lynn straight on "fanhood" duel "fanhood" does not exist.
I'm also glad that she did will not allow her child to be raised a Red Sox fan in NY. That will save the kid some beatings in about 6th grade or so.