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The month of January will be pretty slow until we get close to spring training so I thought I’d take a look at the Yankees schedule this coming season.

Let’s start with the March/April.

March/April 2008
11 Home Games
18 Away Games
Days off: 2 (April 1 and 21)
17 of 29 games against the AL EAST
5 games against Boston (3 @ Fenway, 2 @ Yankee Stadium)

A Look Back at April 2007
12 Home Games
11 Road Games
Days off: 4 (April 3, 12, 16, 30 + two PPD’s on the 4th and 25th)
9-14 record; longest losing streak of the season - 7 games (April 20 to April 27)
Runs Scored: 131
Runs Allowed: 125

Here are a few things to look out for in April:

  • The Yankees begin the year on March 31 at Yankee Stadium with a three-game set against the Blue Jays. Barring any injuries, Toronto will probably throw Halladay, Burnett and possibly McGowan. The Yankees will more than likely counter with Pettitte, Wang and Hughes/Mussina. The temperature could be a factor as it rarely gets above 50 degrees in the Bronx in late March/early April. Watch out for hamstring issues with the older guys if the field is wet and damp (that means you Damon).
  • Tampa Bay follows the Jays for a four-game set the first weekend in April. The Rays should be a much improved team in 2008, but they’re still very young. NOTE: Remember, it’s the Tampa Bay “Rays” now. The organization dropped “Devil” from their name at the end of last season. They’ll be wearing new uniforms as well. Will Scott Kazmir still be with the team?
  • After the Rays series the Yankees hit the road for eight games to KC (3), BOS (3) and Tampa (2). They return home for an unusual two-game series with Red Sox on April 16 & 17, then hit the road for 10 more games - BAL (3), CHW (3), CLE (4). That makes a stretch of 18 out of 20 away from home with only one day off (April 21).
  • The month finally comes to an end back home with the first two of three games against the Tigers.

That’s a pretty brutal road-trip to start the year. And it’s not like they begin out on the West Coast. They’ll have to play in cold weather cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Boston and Chicago. Last year in Cleveland, a whole four-game set between the Indians and Mariners was whipped out due to inclement weather (snow).

A word of advice from someone who grew-up an hour south of Buffalo… keep an eye on the Weather Channel all month long. It could get nasty, especially in Cleveland, Boston and New York.