No time like now to look forward to 2009 - New stadium Opening date: 4/16/09

Some juicy info from AP baseball writer Ronald Blum:

The new Yankee Stadium will open on April 16 with a game against the Cleveland Indians.

Details of next year's openers were disclosed to The Associated Press on Thursday by baseball officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the teams nor the commissioner's office have made any announcements.

Nothing like a two-week road trip to start the season.

And then there is this:

The Yankees may have one or two exhibition games at their new $1.3 billion ballpark before the official opener.

I bet the season ticket holders appreciate being "scooped" on the home opener by having an exhibition there first. Its not unprecedented though, most new Stadiums do this very thing.

Lastly, if the Yankees can come back next year and make the World Series, Captain GIDP will have a chance to defend his "Mr. November" nickname. The season is starting late next year (because of the World Baseball Classic?), so game 7 of the World Series in 2009 is tentatively scheduled for November 5th. That Cubs vs. Yankees series should be a chilly one. Better get your Under Armour ready.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums!