Probable Starters For Stadium Openers Vs. Cubs and updated information about Bob Sheppard

Enough talk about obstructed seats, ticket pre-sales and urinals. Let's talk baseball!

We're a mere 8 days away from the opening of the BRAND NEW Yankee Stadium, with two exhibition games on tap against the lovable losers, the Cubs. Ok, they're actually pretty damn good nowadays. Could this be a World Series preview?

For those of you headed to the stadium to see its first live action next weekend, here's what you can expect as far as probable starters go:

Friday, April 3: Ted Lilly @ Chien Ming Wang
Saturday, April 4: Rich Harden @ AJ Burnett (Andy Pettitte slated to appear as well)

Meaningless as the game may be, that Saturday match-up has me salivating. Those two fire-ballers are sure to make a few guys look silly. Let's hope Burnett doesn't get too "geeked"(Thanks Michael Kay) for this meaningless game.

My question for all who plan on attending is this: What are you most excited about experiencing in the New Stadium? Me? I'm just hoping we can put the "YMCA tradition" behind us. Actually, I'm hoping we can put it in a time machine, and send it back to the 70's where that annoying song belongs. Please Yankees. No one likes it anymore.

UPDATE (3/26 11:00 AM): Via River Ave. Blues there is word that Bob Sheppard will be making his triumphant return as PA announcer for the April 3 exhibition game against the Cubs. We have always criticized El Capitan, Derek Jeter for insisting on a recording of Sheppard's voice for his at bats while Sheppard was out sick. That being said, a Yankee game just isn't the same without Bob Sheppard's impeccable pronunciations. No offense to Jim Hall, who did an admirable job and will likely be the permanent replacement once Sheppard is forced into retirement due to turning 130 years old.

UPDATE (3/26 4:22 PM): Via Newsday is word from Sheppard's family that he won't be able to make it back, even for the April 16th home opener. We are aware that Bryan Hoch was merely responding to a "mailbag" question, but that was some pretty shoddy reporting.
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Please, Mike, no more "aggressive" talk

Look, I have no problem with complimenting the best team in baseball. I don't at all. The Angels are really damn good. But if the Yankees playing the Angels 10 times this season means I have to hear Michael Kay tell me in thousands of different ways that the Angels aggressive play "always put pressure on you" and they "force you to make plays", I'm going to puke. All over Michael Kay actually.

It's not that I disagree with Michael Kay, I just think it's a little absurd to focus on. Yeah, sure, the Angels are aggressive on the base paths. It's very easy to do those things when (their) pitching staff rates in the top five in the AL in quality starts (1st), saves (1st), WHIP (4th), ERA (5th), BAA (5th) and OPS (5th).

The margin of error is much larger when you can get thrown out going first to third and will still remain very much so in the game, without worrying that your pitcher(Ian Kennedy?) will allow more baserunners than outs

The reason it annoys me? Because this is coming from the same doofus who credits Homer Bush and Clay Bellinger with being key parts of the Yankees championships. Even the most nostalgic dynasty lovers realize you could have slotted Ross or me into their roles, and we would have walked away with championship rings.

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Michael Kay will hate you for "tacking on"

According to Michael Kay on today's YES broadcast, Alex Rodriguez is tied for the major league lead with 9 "tack-on homeruns" in 2008. A "tack-on homerun" by definition is one when your team is up by 3 or more runs. It makes perfect sense! The opposing team can never come back from a three run deficit.

The real comedy in this is that Michael Kay became obsessed with this "stat" in a game that saw the Yankees come back from a 5-0 deficit, and the Angels come back from an 8-5 deficit.

Remember kids, if your team is up by 3 runs or more, you should just make an out. Definitely don't hit a homerun. That run will be meaningless and will NEVER help your team win a game.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump