New York Yankees 2007: Carl Pavano was the Opening Day Starter

Are they going to have a fly over for him?

I know why I hate ARod. Why do Yankee fans hate him so much?

October (lack-of) production.

Unfortunately, A-Rod is collapsing under the NYC pressure. Everyone goes through tough spots at the plate (what does it say that a tough year is .290-35-121), but his defense went down the shitter at times last year, which is the real sign of meltdown.

While I totally feel your sentiments regarding Pavano as the Opening Day starter, there's not really much depth in that rotation. Starting Pettitte for nostalgia's sake would have been nice, but I'm a Moose fan so I would have started Mussina.

And A-Rod's very first play in the field...is an error. D-Rays radio announcer: "Good to have you back, A-Rod."

Seriously, this guy is a brilliant ballplayer. What's going on?

Either the fans are mocking him, or they're willing to make amends...

They just cheered Alex Rodriguez when he walked up to the plate.

And they booed him when he struck out.

Is this the last season for him in pinstripes?

And gave him a standing O and curtain call after his home run. We like to toy with his emotions as a cat would with a mouse.

While Pavano is certainly the most.. surprising Yankee Opening Day starter in recent memory, nothing compares to the bottoming out of the team in the early '90s. Their Opening Day starter in '90 or '91 must have been, like, Andy Hawkins.

The Timid Texan?

Seriously, when you look at those 90s Yankees starters, vs. the guys they traded away-ugh.

Hey don't knock Andy Hawkins! The guy did throw a no-hitter. Yes, he still managed to lose the game, but that's besides the point.

Do people think the Yanks should keep A-Rod after this season?

Alex Rodriguez has got to crack this year. He has tried everything with the media, but anything short of hitting four home runs in a World Series Game Seven and asking for a $10 million paycut will get him booed out of the stadium every night.

Booed out of the stadium?

One meaningful October home run would be a nice start.

You know what always bugged me about the Alex Rodriguez bashing? The fact that he actually has come through in the postseason.

He came through for the Mariners against the Yankees, he basically carried the Yankees on his back passed the Twins, and no Yankee had a better series than him against the RedSox back in 2004, heck, had the Yankees swept, Alex Rodriguez would have been their MVP.

Hmmmm, you don't have to be too good to beat Ponson, but Pavano wasn't bad yesterday.

And another nice effort by Pettite tonight.

What I also like is that many are saying this is the Yanks' strongest bullpen in years. And if Wang returns healthy, Clemens is signed, and Hughes is called up late in the year, that'll give them tremendous pitching depth.

Not the strongest bullpen last night, apparently.

Pretty exciting game. On a commercial right now, but it'd be another coup for AROD if he gets a hit.

Alex is so hot right now, there really was no reason for you to use the word "if" right there.

Eh. No doubt A-Rod's playing out of his mind right now--it's really amazing--but it's still April.

For fuck's sake! 2 more homers tonight (and counting) for a total of 12. I have never seen a player have a run like A-Rod. Insanity.

So... Even though I'm on the opposing side, and the depression of my team spirit sets in, I really felt bad for Hughes. That just plain stinks.

He probably should've stretched before the game!

If I were you, I'd cross my fingers and hope that the Yankees wont do something dumb, like try to address a problem they don't have (read: pitching). There aren't very many teams in baseball right now with more quality arms than the NY Yankees. Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Ross Ohlendorf, Chien-Ming Wang...

God, I still can't get over the fact that the team with the highest payroll in baseball may very well have the best farm system in the sport.

So I'm sure we've all heard the big news by now. That is, of course, that Mattingly is not accepting a coaching position.

2008 champs confirmed.

For those of you wondering what Count Floyd is talking about:

The Curse of Don Mattingly:

1978 - Yanks win WS against the Dodgers
1979 - Mattingly Drafted by the Yankees, Captain Thurman Munson Dies in plane crash, Yankees begin 18 year Championship drought
1995 - Up 2-0 over Seattle in first Wild Card Playoff Series in Baseball history, Yankees lose 3 straight and miss ALCS.
1996 - Don Mattingly officially retires, Yankees rally from an 0-2 deficit to beat Braves 4-2 in World Series started by a 3-run game-tying home run by Jim Leyritz in the sixth inning of game 3.
1997 - Don Mattingly's number 23 retired, Yankees lose to Indians in ALDS 3-2 after being up 2-1 - Mariano gives up home run to Sandy Alomar.
1998 - Don Mattingly has no affiliation with the Yankees, Yankees win 125 games and win the WS 4-0 over San Diego
1999 - Don Mattingly has no affiliation with the Yankees, Yankees lose only 1 game in the playoffs and beat Atlanta 4 - 0 in the WS to achieve a record streak of 12 consecutive WS wins
2000 - Don Mattingly has no affiliation with the Yankees, Yankees beat cross-town rivals NY Mets 4-1 in the WS. WS win streak = 14.
2001 - Don Mattingly becomes a Spring Training Hitting instructor, Mariano blows first save in a World Series in Game 7, lose WS to Arizona 4-3.
2002 - Don Mattingly still a Spring Training Hitting instructor, Yanks get shocked by Anaheim Angels in the playoffs...Angels go on to win series.
2003 - Don Mattingly still a Spring Training Hitting Instructor, After narrowly escaping the ALCS with an extra-inning walk-off HR by Aaron Boone off of Boston's Tim Wakefield, Yankees lose WS to one-hit-wonder Florida Marlins at Yankee Stadium.
2004 - Don Mattingly promoted to full-time Yankee Hittting instructor, despite a $194 million payroll, Yankees blow a 3-0 series lead and lose to the "Cursed" Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The first time a team has lost a series in MLB after being up 3 - 0, the first time the Yankees have lost games 6 and 7 at Yankee Stadium since 1926. The first time anyone had 6 RBI in a ALCS game (Damon), the first time anyone has had 2 walk off hits in one playoff series, in one calendar day, and in 2 consecutive games in the 100+ year history of the sport (Ortiz).
2005 & 2006 - Don Mattingly continues as Yankee hitting coach, the Yankees lose in the ALDS both years.
2007 - Don Mattingly named Yankee bench coach, Yankees lose in the ALDS for a third straight year and lose the AL East to the Red Sox for the first time since 1995, Mattingly's last year as a player.