WELCOME BACK MATSUI AND PETTITTE PREPARED

Hideki Matsui was the Yankees 2009 World Series MVP. Since departing the team, he has been an Anaheim Angel and an Oakland A. Upon his return to Yankee Stadium with each of those teams, he was greeted with cheers and applause from the Yankee fans. Well today, Matsui comes back again to Yankee Stadium. This time as a Tampa Bay Rays player.

Matsui being with the Rays changes things just a little. The Rays are, of course, in our division unlike his two previous teams. In addition, the Rays currently have a 1.5 game advantage over the Yankees for first place. However, keeping all that in mind, I still expect Hideki to receive the same warm welcome he enjoyed previously from the Yankee faithful. So, let me be the first to say Welcome Back Hideki Matsui!

Now, as for our guys, we have Andy going to the hill tonight. He has already said he is prepared to face this first place Rays team, including Matsui. He knows he was a little roughed up in his last outing, giving up too many home runs for his liking. I think we will see an even more determinded Andy Pettitte tonight.

The bats seemed to have started getting hot again. RISP still seems to be a problem and tonight they face "Big Game" James Shields. But you never know what will happen. That's why you can't predict baseball!

As usual, GO YANKEES!