Tentative 2010 Schedule Released

It looks like MLB released the tentative schedules for next year. Here is a link to the Yankees' 2010 schedule. I've looked it over and I have mixed reviews. Here's a quick little breakdown:

April is going to be a tough month. They open on the road in Boston and then head to Tampa before returning home for the 1st homestand, which is against the Angels and Rangers. So right off the bat they're facing their 2 toughest AL East opponents and they're following it up with the constant thorn in their side and a playoff contender. Wait, it gets better. After the homestand, they fly out to the west coast to take on the A's and the Angels, and then head back East to close out the month in Baltimore. 15 of their 22 games are on the road. Not a fun way to start the season.

May looks like a pretty tough month as well. Things get real fun after the first homestand of the month. The team plays 17 straight days from May 7-May 23. It starts with 3 games in Boston, followed by 4 in Detroit, back home for 3 against the Twins, and then 2 games each against the Red Sox and Rays. The stretch closes with 3 in Citi Field versus the Mets. That should be a pretty tough stretch.

June looks much easier in terms of the competition. A home-and-home with the Orioles with a trip to Toronto in the middle. Interleague play brings the Astros, Phillies and Mets to town. IP closes with another trip out west to face the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers.

If they fall behind anyone, they should be able to make things up in July. Their first 13 games of the month, if you include the last 2 in June, are against the Mariners, A's and Seattle. Unfortunately, their series with Oakland and Seattle will be out west, making it the Yankees 3rd west coast trip in as many months. After the ASB, they're home versus the Rays, Angels, and Royals. The month closes with a roadie to Cleveland and Tampa Bay. Maybe it's not as easy a month as I thought.

August features a 20 game span without any breaks. It's a mixture of good (Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers) and bad (Royals, Mariners, Blue Jays). It could be better. It could be worse. No west coast trips, but they have to go to Texas (for 2 games), which is a haul in itself.

September is pretty much versus the AL East, with the exception of going to Texas for another 3 games. Their final homestand is against the Rays and Red Sox. They close the season out with 3 in Toronto, then 3 in Fenway. so they open and close in Boston. Seems fair.

Now that I've typed it all out, it seems like a rough schedule. 3 west coast trips and 2 trips to Texas. Seems like a lot of long trips. I took a look at the Red Sox schedule and it looks to be a little easier. Not much but a little. Their longest trip in April is to Minnesota/Kansas City. 13 of their 23 games are at home. They don't really travel anywhere in May. Their furthest road trip is probably to Tampa. Their first west coast trip is in mid-June for interleague play. July will be a tough month for the Sox. They play 16 of their 25 games on the road and open up the 2nd half at home vs. Texas and then head right to Oakland for 10 straight on the west coast. Their big trip in August sends them to Texas. September features their 3rd and final west coast trip, which is 6 games (Oakland/Seattle). They finish at home against the Yanks.

I'm not too concerned about the schedule. Things always find a way to balance out and the cream usually rises to the top. If the team is good enough to win, they'll win regardless of where they are and when they play. I also don't want to dwell too much on it. We are after all still in 2009 and it's looking like postseason baseball is returning to the Bronx. Let's enjoy it and worry about 2010 after it's all said and done.

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie