New York Yankees

It was the spring on 1996, and the New York Yankees had just had their hearts broken in the 1995 ALDS at the hands of the Seattle Mariners.

This article will tell a tale of how those same Mariners nearly broke the Yankees hearts in a much more profound and crippling way.

While preparing for the season, they got word of some bad news regarding infielder Tony Fernandez—who broke his elbow while filling in at second base for the already injured Pat Kelly.

The Yankees first "mini week" of the season had plenty of ups and downs and certainly some eye-opening moments.

Considering the Bombers won two of three from the Tigers, I would say they are content with that result. The goal is always to get two of three in all series.

Lets talk about the good first. I like the looks of Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and the bullpen combination of Joba, Soriano and Rivera.

Brian Cashman, who is the New York Yankees' Senior Vice President and General Manager, should examine his own actions before criticizing the management of New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets.

Cashman signed Pedro Feliciano, a journeyman left-handed relief pitcher, to an $8 million, two-year contract in January with an option for 2013. Now, more than two months later, Feliciano has a sore arm which has put him on the disabled list.

Phil Hughes Final Line: 4IP, 5H,  5R, 5ER, 2BB, 1K .333 GB/FB ratio

Opening Day in Major League Baseball marks the start of new life. 

Winter is turning into spring, "cold" is changing to "warm", and baseball is coming out of hibernation.

The early stages of the season can tell us a lot about a team: strengths, weaknesses and if they have the potential to make a run at the postseason.

Game No. 1 of 162 has been played for each team, and we take a look at what we learned about each team on Opening Weekend 2011. 

Following a disappointing season in which they were comprehensively beaten in the ALCS by the Texas Rangers, the New York Yankees enter the 2011 season with an unusual label—underdog. With the Boston Red Sox making all the headlines with their free agent acquisition of Carl Crawford and trade for Adrian Gonzalez, the Yankees have taken their place in the background.

After an offseason of turmoil and questions, the Yankees could finally put everything aside and let their play do the talking. Opening Day has finally come and gone and the Yankees are 1-0 and ahead of Boston in the AL East.

Everything is right in New York tonight.

Even though we are just one game into the long and strenuous regular season, we already have a feel for just what this Yankee team could be and is capable of.

Strengths shined through, but there are still some questions that have yet to be spoken for.

Today did not feel like Opening Day in baseball should feel. It was absolutely freezing at the stadium, windy, and at times we were hit with freezing rain/hail.

However, the Yankees looked pretty great for Opening Day. The bats came alive after a slow start, and the pitching looked top notch. 

CC Sabathia tossed six innings, giving up six hits and three runs (two earned). He had seven Ks and two walks, tossing a total of 106 pitches. 

First of all, let me state that I have nothing against GM Brian Cashman or the New York Yankees organization. I know Cashman does his best to keep a playoff-contending team year in and out. 

What this is for is to just lay out the possibilities that "could have been," as the Yankees' goal towards 28th championship has officially started today.

Now, the following prospects are very hyped ones—or at least they used to be. 

Yankee Stadium saw all kinds of weather today, ranging from overcast to sleet and snow but no matter how unpredictable the weather was, one thing was for sure; baseball is back and the Yankees are looking for number 28.  Over 48, 000 fans attended the game even though it was brutal to sit through (due to the weather) and the Yankees did not want to send their fans home unhappy.