It is gray, raining, and chilly in New York. Emily and I took a long walk yesterday down affluent Fieldston road and though there were several clumps of snow still littered around, we also saw a few fuzzy buds on the trees as well as batches of purple and yellow crocus’ popping up. On the first warm day of the year, I’ll generally be able to smell baseball, mixed in with the dirt and the blooming cherry trees. That didn’t happen this weekend, but you can feel it coming. Each morning, there is more and more activity from the little birdies outside of our window, chirping and buzzing around.

It’s hard to believe that in a week from now, we’ll be recapping Opening Night. It sure has been one long, hard winter for us Yankee fans. And yet, once again, there is so much to look forward to this year. I know that I’m ready to go, although I’d be lying if I said I was stoaked about seeing the Red Sox this early in the season. I understand why it makes sense, but couldn’t we just ease into it a lil’ bit? The last few years I’ve wondered why the schedule-makers don’t have the Yanks and Sox start and finish the season against each other annually. This year, they’ve finally gotten around to it. But I don’t relish the hoopla this early. It feels like too much, too soon. But considering the WWF nature of this rivalry I suppose it is fitting. So for the first couple of weeks we’ll be all jacked up. Things could be a lot worse.