Padres @ Citi, 2009-

[G-Fafif]

Citi Field will open on Tuesday, April 14, Padres at Mets. MFYS III opens two days later.

]NEW YORK -- Mark your calendars for the grand openings: The Yankees and Mets will inaugurate their new stadiums just two days apart next spring. The Mets will play their first game at Citi Field on Tuesday, April 14, against the San Diego Padres, according to Major League Baseball's draft preliminary schedule for 2009. The new Yankee Stadium will open on April 16 with a game against the Cleveland Indians. Details of next year's openers were disclosed to The Associated Press on Thursday by baseball officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the teams nor the commissioner's office have made any announcements. "That's exciting news," said Indians left-hander Cliff Lee, who started this year's All-Star game for the American League at Yankee Stadium. "Being at the last All-Star game at the old place was such a thrill, and to link the two together is going to be pretty neat." The current Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923, with Babe Ruth homering in a 4-1 win over Boston in the first game. The Yankees open next season at Baltimore, then go to Kansas City and Tampa Bay before the home opener. "Obviously, it is going to be a very special day," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "There's so much history with the Yankees and with the new stadium, I am sure a lot of people who have meant a lot to this game will be there that day." The Mets start next season at Cincinnati on April 6, then travel to Florida before coming home for a three-game series against the Padres. On the day the new Yankee Stadium opens, the Mets also will be home, playing San Diego at night. Back on April 17, 1964, the Mets opened Shea Stadium with a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh, which got a home run and four hits from Willie Stargell. Next season's MLB schedule opens on April 5 with an ESPN Sunday night broadcast to be determined. The regular season is scheduled to end on Oct. 4. That means if the current postseason format remains intact, Game 7 of the World Series would be on Nov. 5 -- the latest ending ever. The Yankees may have one or two exhibition games at their new $1.3 billion ballpark before the official opener. The Mets also may schedule exhibition games at $800 million Citi Field but have not made any decisions yet.

What the hell are Cliff Lee and Eric Wedge talking about? There's no history at MFYS III yet. You can't trust the Junior Circuit not to genuflect when the chips are down.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: What the hell are Cliff Lee and Eric Wedge talking about? There's no history at MFYS III yet. You can't trust the Junior Circuit not to genuflect when the chips are down.

They're talking about the future history that already happened. Cant'cha tell?

[Frayed Knot]

Couple things here;

- April 14 & 16 are real late for season openers these days, implying that BOTH teams are not only going to begin on the road but will be there for a fairly lengthy road trips. Unusual to say the least. They can't be THAT worried about completing on time can they?

- I knew a guy who used to work in the NYM ticket dept and he always told me anything you hear about specific dates at this time of year were far from concrete and shouldn't be believed. Doesn't mean they're wrong necessarily, just highly speculative.

[G-Fafif]

Frayed Knot wrote: April 14 & 16 are real late for season openers these days, implying that BOTH teams are not only going to begin on the road but will be there for a fairly lengthy road trips.

The story does say the Mets would open in Cincy on April 6 and then play their second series in Florida. Season scheduled to extend to October 4; perhaps starting (and ending) later because of WBC or just because it can't start any earlier than it did this year (March 31) and it kind of cycles back to the latest it can start after an early-start year.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Padres?

[Frayed Knot]

"The story does say the Mets would open in Cincy on April 6 and then play their second series in Florida. Season scheduled to extend to October 4; perhaps starting (and ending) later because of WBC or just because it can't start any earlier than it did this year (March 31) and it kind of cycles back to the latest it can start after an early-start year."

So the WS is sked to end around Nov 15th I guess.

Still odd to have both teams start on the road. They did that a while ago trying to take NE/Upper midwest weather into consideration but then went away from it amid complaints that teams didn't like to start on the road all the time. George, IIRC, was the biggest complainer.

So naturally if they're doing that again you start in Cincy and then have San Diego come East?!?!

[Guest Kong76]

I'd be shocked if Citi opened before Yankee. In fact, I'm a little disappointed
that the opening of the new new Yankee Stadium isn't already penciled in as
a national holiday and it should be the FIRST game of the season with no
other games that day. Sheesh, the gall.

Someone get me FOXsportsnet and Sealeg on the line - someone is clearly
dropping the ball in the historical significance here and it needs to be fixed.

[seawolf17]

You mean there isn't a grand Sunday evening only-game-on-the-schedule First Game Of The Season And First Game In The Great New Yankee Stadium special night?

I find that very hard to believe.

[Guest Kong76]

Gmta, I shoulda said ESPN.

[metirish]

KC wrote: I'd be shocked if Citi opened before Yankee. In fact, I'm a little disappointed that the opening of the new new Yankee Stadium isn't already penciled in as a national holiday and it should be the FIRST game of the season with no other games that day. Sheesh, the gall. Someone get me FOXsportsnet and Sealeg on the line - someone is clearly dropping the ball in the historical significance here and it needs to be fixed.

I would not be the least bit surprised to see the new President throw out the first pitch at new historic MFYIII.

Gary talked about this tonight like he had an exclusive , he should have been looking gin here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Not that 3 days makes a big difference but I understand that Citifield is ahead of MFYS III in completeion. This guy I met who worked on the park said they are adamant about hitting an early December deadline to complete. A bad winter can slow these things I guess.

[Gwreck]

="seawolf17"]You mean there isn't a grand Sunday evening only-game-on-the-schedule First Game Of The Season And First Game In The Great New Yankee Stadium special night? I find that very hard to believe.

There is that ESPN game. It typically goes to the winner of the World Series, so it looks like Citi Field will be opening sooner than we thought.

[Guest AG/DC]

]The current Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923, with Babe Ruth homering in a 4-1 win over Boston in the first game.

The current Yankee Stadium opened on April 8, 1976, with Oscar Gamble wearing an afro in a 5-0 loss to Milwaukee in the first game.

[seawolf17]

That's right, even I'm older than Yankee Stadium.

[Guest AG/DC]

Babe Ruth was dead. By tthe end of the year, Claire would join him.

[seawolf17]

AG/DC wrote: Babe Ruth was dead. By tthe end of the year, Claire would join him.

Claire's not dead, she can spontaneously regenerate. Turn off Project Runway and watch other shows sometimes.

[Guest AG/DC]

You've got the wrong homo.