Opening Day Notes

**Saw this on Yahoo Sports, it's what several scouts think about the Yankees chances this year with the three rookie pitchers in the starting rotation. Only time will tell, but that's why they play the games.

**MLB.com has this preview page for the game today, with stats, stories and other tidbits

**The New York Times had some notes on Joba's dad, some of the younger guys keeping their high numbers from spring training, and Jonathan Albaladejo gives a scouting report on George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch at the Nationals game last night.

**Also the Times had this on Jeter and Bob Sheppard, here's the quote “One of the things I had him do was record him introducing me,” Jeter said a few minutes ago, “so I’ll always come to the plate with Bob Sheppard.”

**It was raining so the teams took BP inside, Reggie Jackson will throw out the first pitch.

**Here is the Lohud Yankees blog update ... It also has this Yankees vs. Halladay: Damon 22-67, Jeter 16-62, Abreu 2-12, A-Rod 13-47, Giambi 17-54, Cano 5-13, Posada 12-37, Matsui 7-34, Cabrera 4-15.
Jays vs. Wang: Eckstein 0-2, Stewart 1-6, Rios 3-15, Wells 6-16, Thomas 1-11, Overbay 4-8, Hill 9-14, Scutaro 1-4, Zaun 2-12.

**Also here is a note from Peter Abraham on how the Yankees are on opening day during presidential election years, The Yankees are 61-43-1 on Opening Day, 28-10 at the Stadium. They are 16-11 in presidential election years. When the Yankees win at home on Opening Day, the GOP is 4-1 in the election. When the Yankees lose, the Democrats are 3-0.

**The game is delayed!!

**SI's Tom Verducci has his picks and surprise teams for the 2008 season.