Friday night links

It is now officially baseball season in the Geant world, as my Syracuse Orange entered Heartbreak City last night. (That link is to a Gus Johnson soundboard. Have fun.) And that is the only mention of them I will make until I can do it without crying, so give me about 6-8 months.

But, as I said, baseball is right around the corner! We're just about 9 days away from Opening Night against the Red Sox as the World Champs head to Fenway to supply a Boston Beatdown.

It's been a uncharacteristically quiet spring in Tampa. But, as they say, no news is good news.

There are a few links to some interesting stories:

• A-Rod may or may not have been questioned by Federal Investigators in regards to Dr. Anthony Galea. If he was, he is back and in the lineup for tonight's spring training game against the Phillies. (How many times have the Yanks played the Phillies this year in spring training? And I thought we played the Red Sox a lot.) And as I was writing this A-Rod has told reporters that there was no meeting today.
• If you hadn't heard, Michael Jordan has become the principle owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA. Apparently, Derek Jeter wants to follow in his footsteps, and own a professional baseball team. Now, I know we would all love it if after his playing days were over Jeter would one day become the owner of the Yankees. In my mind, that would be the only person I would feel comfortable owning the Yankees besides the Steinbrenner family. But, when you look at it realistically, I don't see how it could possibly happen. According to a Forbes report from last year, the Yanks are worth $1.5 billion. That's a lot of money. Now, Jordan can afford to do it because 1) the Bobcats are worth $278 million. If Jeter wants to buy the Marlins (valued at $277 million) it might be possible. And 2) He's Michael Jordan. You know those shoes Jeter endorses? The Air Jordans? Guess who those were named after. And guess who gets a royalty every time they're sold. Though, I don't think Jeter has gambled away as much of his money as Jordan did.
  

Also, late Wednesday night, John and I drafted in our Fantasy Baseball league. It's a 12-team 5x5 Rotisserie league. His team, SwishHawk, is led by Prince Fielder, Troy Tulowitzki, Nick Markakis, Tori Hunter, Chris Carpenter, and Matt Cain. My team, A Deuce for the Cuse, boasts Matt Kemp, Mark Reynolds, Ben Zobrist, Roy Halladay, Ryan Zimmerman, Josh Johnson, and Jonathan Broxton. Of course, I think I have the better team, but I'm sure John thinks otherwise. We'll keep you updated throughout the course of the season on which Michael Kay's Successor is faring better in the league.

SEE YA!

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Let's Get it Started: Yanks take Game 1

Twins 2 10 1
Yankees 7 9 0

WP: Sabathia
LP: Duensing

Yankees lead series 1-0

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter. The captain proved why he is one of the best postseason players in MLB history. He pulled a home run down the left field to tie the game at 2 after CC had given the Twins a 2-run lead, but Jeter got the Yanks right back in the game.

PLAY OF THE GAME: The 5-4-3 around the horn double play that Robinson Cano turned so smoothly. Cano has gotten so good at that turn, it's almost like it doesn't even hit his glove.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Jeter's home run. After the Twins went up 2-0 there was some panic (at least John and I were panicking) but Jeter got all the momentum back with one swing.

GAME NOTES:

• CC got the playoff monkey off his back a little bit with 6.2 IP, 8 hits, and 2 runs (one earned) and 8 strikeouts. He wasn't economical with the pitches (113) but maybe the adrenaline was just pumping a little too much.
• There was a lot of good work out of the bullpen tonight, as Mo, Joba, Hughes, and Coke all got into the game. Mo struggled a little bit, but he had a 5-run lead and maybe wasn't in full Sandman mode.
  
• A-Rod also faced some of his playoff demons by going 2-4 with 2 RBI's. It was good that he took care of that in his first game, because it will give him a little bit of a break for a couple days.
• Jeter's home run was his 18th in the postseason, tying him for 3rd with Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle. Manny Ramirez and Bernie Williams are ahead of him in the list with 28 and 22, respectively.
• The Phillies beat the Rockies this afternoon, while the Dodgers just went up 2-1 against the Cardinals in the bottom of the 1st on a homer by Matt Kemp. The Red Sox and Angels open tomorrow.
  
• The wind was fierce tonight, John suggests that it was the ghosts from the old Stadium letting everyone aware of their presence.
  

NEXT GAME:
Friday, 6:07 PM
Yankee Stadium
TBS
A.J. Burnett vs. Nick Blackburn

With all the off-days in the playoffs, we'll have to find something to write about, so check back tomorrow, but until then...

SEE YA!

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