New York Yankees

Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays was the first time since 2004 that Javier Vazquez officially took the ball for the Yankees.

Most remember how bad that ended up, especially since it led to his departure from New York.

Unfortunately, his first start back wasn't any better than what most hoped for.

After Alex Rodriguez's RBI triple followed by an error gave the Yankees an early 2-0 lead, it looked like Vazquez could have a chance to settle down and control the game.

The Rays offense had other plans for the night.

Javier Vasquez (0-1) allowed eight runs on eight hits in five and two-third innings as Tampa Bay rolled to a 9-3 win, Friday night, at Tropicana Field.

Vasquez was making his first Yankees start since Game Four of the 2004 ALDS, at Minnesota.

It was only one game into the 2010 baseball season for New York Yankee fans, there were 161 more to go, but panic was in the air. The newest addition to the bullpen, Chan Ho Park, was roughed up. Curtis Granderson reiterated to all involved that he couldn't hit left-handed pitching, CC Sabathia couldn't last through six innings, and Joba Chamberlain's performance in the eighth inning indicated that he couldn't get out batters whether he was a starter OR a reliever.

Hey, would you look at that!

The Yankees bullpen decided to get their act together for the final two frames in what would turn out to be an exciting—and very long—three-game series with the AL East rival Red Sox.

I will be doing series recaps after all of the Yankees' series this year, and also highlight who performed well in the set, and who struggled a little bit more than expected.

The Yankees will have Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford present the team with World Series rings during a ceremony that will take place during their home opener against the Angels on April 13. The festivities will start at 12:15 p.m. and Bernie Williams will throw out the first pitch at game time.

Here is the press release :

Welcome to the 13th edition of "Daily Random Sports Thoughts!"

Although that "Daily" part kind of flew out the window...

But anyways, we're back!

For those not familiar, I pick a team, player, or any other topic in sports that I have five random thoughts about. If you like 'em, read 'em! I try to get them on here every day!

Today's lucky random sports topic is...(drum roll)...Brett Gardner! (Imagine that there's confetti or something raining down now)

The Yankees and Red Sox took the field for the rubber match of a three game series in Fenway Park. For the third game in a row, there was a good pitching matchup. This time it was Andy Pettitte for the Yankees going against Red Sox newcomer John Lackey.

The Good

- Curtis Granderson. The Grandy Man Can! Granderson hit his second home run of the season, this time a 10th inning solo shot off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon that gave the Yankees the lead and eventual win.

When the Yankees signed pitcher Kei Igawa to a 23 million dollar contract, they didn’t envision the left-hander spending the length of his contract in Triple-A Scranton. With time running out, the Yankees are taking another direction to find a use for Igawa: the bullpen.

If you're a Yankee fan, there was plenty to be excited about following Wednesday's 2-1 rubber-game win against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Curtis Granderson looks like a stud. Mo was Mo. The bullpen put it together. Nick Johnson didn't get hurt.

On balance, it was a successful beginning to the championship defense.

But ironically, it would be comments by longtime umpire Joe West that provided the biggest headline after the season's first series was through.

We all knew what to expect when the New York Yankees headed up to Boston to face the Red Sox in the Opening Series of 2010.

The games would be long, exciting, hard-fought battles.

Those expectations were met.

Along the way, the Yankees taught us a few things.

You can follow Ari Kramer on Twitter by clicking here: http://twitter.com/Ari_Kramer

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