Some Pre-Game Yankee News & Notes

Looking at the press notes for today's game and thought I'd pass a few tidbits along:

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yanks' current 9 game road trip is the longest season opening road trip in franchise history
• Ramiro Pena became the 1st Yankee to record a hit in his 1st career plate appearance since Andy Cannizaro did it on 9/8/06, coincidentally in Baltimore
• Over the last 2 games, Yankees relievers have combined to pitch 8 straight hitless and scoreless innings
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nick Swisher became the 1st player to drive in 4-or-more runs in his 1st career start as a Yankee since Roger Maris did it back on 4/19/60. The Bureau also notes that Swisher became just the second Yankee in franchise history to record 5-or-more RBI within his 1st 3 games as a Yankee. The 1st to accomplish that was Bob Tillman.
• Tomorrow is Mark Teixeira's birthday

The notes also list how the current Yankee lineup has performed against Royals' SP Sidney Ponson:

• Melky: 0-3
• Cano: 2-7 w/ 1 HR
• Damon: 18-52 (.346) w/ 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 BB, and 2 K
• Jeter: 29-77 (.377) w/ 3 2B, 5 HR, 5 BB, and 9 K
• Matsui: 9-27 (.333) w/ 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, and 2 K
• Posada: 16-53 (.302) w/3 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, and 12 K
• Ransom: 1-3 (.333)
• Teixeira: 8-15 (.533) w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, and 1 K

Those 8 are a combined 83 for 237, which works out to a .350 average. For their careers, the Yankees as a team against KC are a combined 508 for 1655 (.307). Molina (.299), Matsui (.254), Nady (.250) and Swisher (.245) are the only ones with averages below .300.

Andy Pettitte is a career 7-2 at KC in 10 career starts, allowing 75 hits in 70 innings, posting an ERA of 3.34. For their careers, the current Royals hitters are a combined 38 for 128 (.297) against AP, hitting him for 9 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 8 BB, and 27 K.

On paper, this should be an easy one, right? It looks like the KC hitters have the potential to get to Andy, but the Yankees offense should easily be able to make up for that if he falters at all. The Yankees pretty much own Ponson and I see no reason why they won't hit him hard today. If only the games were played on paper. Watch Sir Sidney pitch a no-hitter.

Enjoy the game!

J-Boogie