Yankees Set to Begin Defense of Title Tonight

The World Champion New York Yankees will kick off the 2010 season tonight in Boston against the hated Red Sox.

It is kind of suprising that this game was scheduled to be played in Boston, one would think that the MLB would have put this in Yankee Stadium to honor the champs from the previous season, kind of the same thing the NFL does when it opens its season on Thursday nights, but, with the Super Bowl champ as the host team. Just another example of why the NFL gets it, and why baseball still doesn't.

Oh well, it should be one heck of a opener regardless.

C.C. Sabathia who won 19 games in the regular season, including three playoffs wins will look to add to his Yankee resume when he squares off against Boston ace Josh Beckett. Beckett is looking to rebound from a mediocre 2009, where he still won 17 games, but had an ERA of 3.86. He even struggled against the Yankees, pitching to a 5.03 ERA. Beckett used to own New York.

This should be a very interesting season for the Yankees. Even though they are the champs, there are still lingering questions as to how this lineup will perform without Johnny Damon, Melkey Cabrera, and World Series MVP, Hideki Matsui. Matsui was a wonderful bat to have behind A-Rod, thanks in part to Matsui ability to take advantage of the short porch in left, where he blasted 28 homers last season; his presence will clearly be missed.

Right now Robinson Cano, who is not exactly Mr. Consistency will bat behind A-Rod. Cano, will be asked to pick it up again for the second straight year.

Also, how long the Nick Johnson batting second experiment will be something to watch as well. Johnson is a player who tends to get injured frequently. Curtis Granderson is probably best fit for the two hole, because of his ability to hit with power and steal bases. Right now Granderson is batting seventh in the Yankees lineup.

Lineups:
YANKEES:
Derek Jeter - SS
Nick Johnson - DH
Mark Teixeria-1B
Alex Rodriguez - 3B
Robinson Cano - 2B
Jorge Posada - C
Curtis Granderson - CF
Nick Swisher - RF
Brett Gardner - LF

Boston:
Jacoby Ellsbur - LF
Dustin Pedroia - 2B
Victor Martinez - C
Kevin Youklis - 1B
David Ortiz - DH
Adrian Beltre - 3B
J.D. Drew - RF
Mike Cameron - CF
Marco Scutaro - SS

Let the games begin!