Jerry Crasnick

  (1:03 PM)

Hey guys, I'm in the Yankee Stadium press box, the weather is perfect, and Yogi Berra is about to throw out the first pitch. It doesn't get any better than this.

Cosmo (NYC)

So Jealous of Jerry How does this ball park compare to others across America?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:05 PM)

Cosmo, My first impression when I walked in here was, "This looks a heck of a lot like the old place." But I think they did a great job of marrying tradition with modern amenities. The home clubhouse must take up about an acre.

Jesse (Chicago, IL)

Why are the Indians so horrible so far?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:06 PM)

Jesse, Not much pitching so far, but Eric Wedge was telling the writers before the game that he thinks they're starting to turn it around. Pavano's performance was certainly encouraging, and we'll see how Cliff Lee fares in his third start.

Jake (VA Beach)

Did you visit CitiField yet? If so, comparisons?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:07 PM)

Jake, I haven't seen Citi Field yet, but I'm planning to go there this weekend. From what I saw on TV, it looks a little more intimate than this place. When you're only spending a mere $800 million, what can you expect?

Steve (NY)

How are the food prices? I heard that they are insane!

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:08 PM)

Steve, On the ride up here, I heard on the radio that a beer and a hot dog will cost you $15. Using that as a baseline, this place is going to be a tad pricey.

Adam (syracuse,ny)

Jerry, we've heard alot about the home clubhouse. But, I haven't heard squat about the visitors lockers. Is it a dungeon or something?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:09 PM)

Adam, No, I stopped over there to the Cleveland side, and it's decent enough. But as Yogi Berra said in his press conference, "If you want to talk to somebody in the home clubhouse, you have to walk a half a mile.

manny baghdad, iraq

So do you think aj burnett is going to be a strong candiate for the AL Cy Young Award

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:11 PM)

Manny, Burnett has always had the stuff, but he's a bit of a quirky guy and he's had trouble staying healthy. But it appears he turned the corner pitching behind Roy Halladay in Toronto. If he can stay healthy for 220 innings, with the Yankees' offense, he can definitely contend for the Cy.

Travis, Omak WA

What do you make of the Mariners hot start and do you think they can maintain it?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:13 PM)

Travis, I don't see them as a 90-win team and a division title winner, if that's what you mean. But you have to like their pitching if Washburn and Silva can continue to step it up. I saw a scout here at Yankee Stadium today who said Washburn looks a lot better this year now that he's throwing his two-seamer with more regularity. Apparently his velocity is up a tick, too. That's a good sign.

Christopher

Looking at the new stadium what is the best and worst feature thus far in your eyes

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:16 PM)

Christopher, Some people might find the center field scoreboard overwhelming -- it's enormous -- but I kind of like it. To be honest, this just seems like a more modern, much cleaner version of the old Yankee Stadium, so it's hard to look at is as a completely different ballpark. Does that make sense?

Mike (Akron)

I hope I am not jinxing him, but Hafner, so far, has looked pretty good. Everyone else on that team...not so much.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:17 PM)

Mike, Pronk is definitely a key for the Indians, so it's encouraging to see the old bat speed back. I guess it would help if he could pitch, too.

Jack (Toronto)

When can Toronto fans exhale? Is this for real or just a nice offensive surge before pitchers have really had a chance to stretch out?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:18 PM)

Jack, They've got some nice pieces offensively, but I can see that pitching staff getting shredded against the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Orioles in the mid-summer months. Unfortunately, Baltimore's staff won't have a lot of breathers in that division.

Steve (NY)

Did you hear about that lawsuit in yankee Stadium already? The guy wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom during God Bless Americia.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:19 PM)

Steve, I did read about that. I guess I better stay glued to my seat come Ronan Tynan time.

Travis, Omak WA

Who is your pick to win the AL West? To me the A's pitching staff doesnt look good enough so far and the Angels have been extremely unlucky with injuries and the unfortunate passing of Nick Adenhart.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:21 PM)

Travis, I don't know if the Rangers have enough arms, but if they can hang around and let Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland get some more seasoning in the minors, that club could be troublesome. I picked the Rangers as my AL darkhorse this year.

Dave (NJ)

Why don't the mets move murphy to 2nd base since castillo is an automatic out at this point (and with schneider before him the 7-9 is horrible)...that way church can play right and sheffield can play left

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:22 PM)

Dave, I think they've determined that Murphy just doesn't have the skill to get it done at second base. He's not that great in left field, either, from what I've seen. But he has a pretty advanced approach at the plate for a young kid.

Joao (Brasilia)

Twice now you've compared the new Yankee Stadium to the old one. Do you mean the "Old" pre-70s rennovation one, or the one from last season?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:23 PM)

Joao, I mean the post-renovation Yankee Stadium -- the last season Yankee Stadium. I never saw the old one in person.

Carl (Iowa)

You keep talking about this Yankee offense, didn't they only make one real upgrade Tex over Giambi in what wasn't a very good offense last year?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:24 PM)

Carl, Yeah, but Posada and Matsui were hurt and Cano was terrible most of the season. So I think they'll be better.

Mike (NY)

Are you good friends with Tim Dirkes? He just wrote a good artice/interview about you on MLB Trade Rumores. Must admit that site is neat right?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:26 PM)

Mike, Tim is a good guy and his MLBtraderumors site has become must reading for baseball fans and writers. He sent me some email questions a couple of days ago. He likes to mix in a lot of viewpoints, which helps keep the site entertaining and informative.

Christopher (Chicago)

As you compare the new Yankee stadium to the past- what do you think about the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field? I am a firm believer that they should keep the outfield bleachers the ivy and the brick wall around the field and completely renovate the grandstand

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:28 PM)

Christopher, This might sound sacrilegious, but you have to wonder if Wrigley Field and Fenway Park can stay around forever. They're charming, wonderful places to watch games, but the cramped concourses, obstructed view seats, etc., can make for a less than optimal fan experience at times. But I don't see either park being replaced anytime soon. They'll still be open for business in 2030, I imagine.

Andy (LA)

If I had told you during spring training that Nick Swisher would have a better ERA than CC Sabathia at this point of the season, I bet you would have thought I was drunk, right?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:30 PM)

Andy, Yeah, but it was only one inning!

Carl (Iowa)

Okay Jerry but two of those guys you mention are a year older and not the 29 going on 30 but 35 going on to end of career older. I see an old team who did nothing but replace numbers they lose even the pitching.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:31 PM)

Carl, I picked the Rays and Red Sox in the east, so I hear ya. I had some concerns about the age and health of both the Boston and New York lineups going into the season.

Sean (MD)

Please explain to me how Adam Eaton keeps getting work in the Majors? He has always been terrible, and will always be terrible and yet he keeps ending up in a starting rotation somewhere.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:32 PM)

Sean, He was good enough to land a three-year, $24 million contract. That tends to keep a guy around for three years.

Andy (LA)

Could Boston's experience with Dice-K pitching in the World Baseball Classic lead to MLB teams not allowing their pitcher to ever pitch in it again?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:33 PM)

Andy, This was an issue in the first WBC, and it's always going to be an issue. It's just not normal for pitchers to gear up for hardcore competition in early March.

Scott (Boston, MA)

What do you make of the Red Sox so far this year? seems like almost everyone is underperforming...

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:35 PM)

Scott, The pitching will be fine, but they really need to get Big Papi untracked. The longer this funk persists, the more reason there is to be concerned how much the guy has left in the tank.

Jake (VA Beach)

What's your take on the poll question - harder to hit for the cycle, or go 6-for-6?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:37 PM)

Jake, I'll take the 6 for 6. Is there a stat on how often each feat has been accomplished?

Steve (Fresno, CA)

Jerry, did you get a chance to see Kershaw deal against the Giants last night? The kid was nasty. With all the offseason talk about how thin the Dodgers rotation is, they have looked pretty good so far with Billingsley and Kershaw being overpowering.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:38 PM)

Steve, Those are two potential front of the rotation guys, but they're young and Torre is going to have to monitor their workloads. Billingsley is a horse, and Kershaw is extremely poised and advanced for his age. They're off to an impressive start.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:39 PM)

Thanks for the emails, everybody. I have to get back to the game now. Try to make it up to the new Yankee Stadium this summer, if you can afford a seat.