Here come the Yankees (and Mets and Phillies)

Easter and Passover were the start and now that the Major League Baseball season is here we truly know spring is well underway. 

I’m sure there will be a few people taking the day off to travel to Yankee Stadium or Citizens Bank Park as both the Yankees & Phillies open at home today while the Mets begin their season in Washington DC. 

It should be around 60 degrees when former manager Joe Torre throws out the ceremonial first pitch in the Bronx this afternoon as the new-look Yankees take on the Blue Jays.  Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup while for the first time since 1996 Derek Jeter will not be the opening day shortstop as the retired captain will be replaced by Didi Gregorius.  Only 10 players remain from last year’s opening day lineup. 

Meanwhile it should be a glorious afternoon in Philly where it’s expected to hit 70 sunny degrees as the Phillies host the Red Sox in an Interleague Series to begin the season.  Cole Hamels gets the start for the Phills against a team many believe he’ll end up with before the season is over.  The Phillies five straight division championships seems like a distant memory and fans are prepared for a third straight losing season.

The Mets are in Washington where it will feel like summer this afternoon and 41-year old Bartolo Colon becomes the oldest opening-day starter in Mets history.

Of course the hope for this team is young guns like Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom can lead them to their first winning season since 2008.  As a Mets fan for my entire life I always assume the glass is half empty but I will admit there are reasons to be optimistic that the fortunes of the franchise have turned around.

Spent a wonderful Easter Sunday with our children in Hoboken which included a terrific brunch at The Madison Bar & Grill on Washington Street.  The fact they live three blocks apart is comforting and it’s great to be able to visit both at the same time.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s NCAA Mens Basketball final between Duke and Wisconsin because I like both teams and both coaches.  However I always root for the Blue Devils so I’ll pick Duke to win it 73-69.