New Stadium opens for real today

Here are a few New York Yankees notes today, a day in which the entire Yankee Universe is focused on the opening of the new Cathedral of Baseball.

• The Boss will be in attendance today when the Yankees play the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees understand that this is how it should be.

"He was the one that constructed this stadium," closer Mariano Rivera said. "He built this stadium and this organization. He is the face of this organization more than anybody."

• Yogi Berra (who else?) will throw out the ceremonial first pitch today.
• Yankee Manager Joe Girardi has already posted the lineup that will take the field today.

Quick thought

The Yankees are 5-4 after a nine-game road trip to start the season. Not bad. Usually you will be satisfied with a 5-4 road trip. Chien-Ming Wang's two starts were alarming, and the injury to Xavier Nady is unfortunate.

There is, however, a lot to feel good about.

A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte have been brilliant twice. Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano are off to great starts. Brian Bruney is throwing the ball exceptionally well. Alex Rodriguez is ahead of schedule in his rehab. Mark Teixeira's wrist appears to be fine. Derek Jeter is driving the ball better than he did last season.

There are 153 games to go, and who knows what will happen. But, all in all I think you have to feel OK so far.