Well, goodness that’s the Big Mike Pineda we always hope to see. Yesterday, he was in full control, his best self. David Cone mentioned on the broadcast how much a catcher collaborates with a pitcher and then said that Austin Romine was guiding Big Mike with a deft touch.

Good start, Yanks scored a bunch of runs late, a hell of an Opening Day. Final score: Yanks 8, Rays 1.

Yanks have the night off and it is even warmer and more lovely in New York today than it was yesterday.

Never mind spring fever:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

The Yanks gave the O’s a taste of their own comeback medicine yesterday thanks to some lousy pitching from the home team—Yanks 7, O’s 3.

Hey, that Aaron Judge had a nice day, though. Absolutely ripped a single off the left field wall that brought back memories of Gary Sheffield’s merciless line drives. Judge also hit a home run on a ball he didn’t really square up. The man is strong.

Today gives the home opener and it is a gorgeous day in the Bronx.

Dayenu, y’all.

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

And just like that Gary Sanchez, the Yankees’ young star catcher, heads to the DL after straining his bicep on a swing. And he ain’t the only one hurtin’ either.

Oh, and the Yanks blew another lead and lost again. Et tu, Mr. Betances? Masahiro Tanaka looked much better than on Opening Day. He was tough even when he got into a pickle. But that’s the way things go sometimes. O’s 5, Yanks 4.

C.C. on the bump this afternoon as the Bombers look to avoid getting swept.

Never mind the sunshine:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Yeah, that wasn’t the way we pictured the game would go. A plump 5-1 lead, thanks in part to a lovely bomb from Gary Sanchez, and everything was feeling fine. Until it wasn’t and a pair of home runs—those things the O’s like hitting—did our fellas in as the home team came from behind for the 6-5 win.

Fug it, they’ll be back out there again later this afternoon.

Never mind the chores:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags 

Yanks down in Baltimore this weekend where them fellas hit home runs.

Never mind the April drizzle:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Indeed.

Picture via This Isn’t Happiness

R.I.P. Joe Harris.

And on the day Michael Pineda pitched, the Yanks lost. I didn’t see any of the game but read this tweet from Steven Goldman:

“You could re-watch all five seasons of The Wire between Michael Pineda pitches.”

The final was 4-1.

Picture by Bags

Victory that is…after last night’s tidy shut out.

Never mind the rumpus:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Okay, so the first game was a dud. Good news, we got 161 more!

Never mind the New York drizzle—they’re playin’ in Tampa. It’s our old pal C.C. on the hill. That’s good enough for me.

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Opening Day didn’t go as planned for the Yanks but at least I had a good lunch. Burger with green Hatch chilies, cole slaw, sweet potato fries.

You guys thawed?

No matter, we have got a baseball season to mind.

Yanks kick off the 2017 season against the Rays down in Tampa—Masahiro vs. Chris Archer. Mike Axisa has the skinny over at River Ave. Blues.

Let’s Go Base-ball!

Picture by Bags

Over at Esquire Classic, I put together a gallery of vintage baseball ads. Think you will enjoy it.

I’ve got a little piece on our old pal Ichiro in the new issue of Esquire.

The editor’s were cool enough to include me in their “Contributors” page. They asked if I wanted to be photographed or illustrated. Duh—illustrated. Okay, so the results are, well, interesting, but what the hell? You only live once!

[Photo Credit: Hisashi Murayama]

Dudes, I didn’t realize the Yanks kick off the season on Sunday. How much fun. I see Tanaka has had a good spring. Cool.

Think that bust Jacoby Ellsbury will ever get his and become the target of the fans’ frustration? Or is his badness just too bland? Somebody has to take Alex Rodriguez’s place, after all…right?

Happiness is Acid Rap:

Picture by Bags

Lunch.

The new Lee Morgan documentary is evocative and emotional and well-worth catching.

In the meantime…

Frites!

Mel Brooks by David Levine (Esquire)