With Canon Digital Rebels and new lenses in hand, the River Avenue News team will be attending the Saturday exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs.

This news might come as a surprise to some. Namely, my girlfriend. Hopefully she reads this website.

We'll be seated in Section 208 Row 14, similar seats to those where we began last season's summer long Stadium Tour.

Here's a shot of our view:

The New York Yankees have agreed to a one year deal with free agent left-hander Andy Pettitte, reportedly worth $5.5 million.

Pettitte was painted as a selfish crybaby (by the press) because he refused to accept a pay cut from his previous season's salary ($16 million). Pettitte disagreed with that assessment, stating in an interview:

"Heck, the bottom line is I'm a man, and I guess it does take a shot at your pride a little bit," he said. "But when you put all that aside, I wanted to play for the New York Yankees and, you know, that was the bottom line. I wanted to be there. I wanted to play in that new stadium."

Pettitte will likely fill out the back end of the Yankee rotation, joining newly acquired arms CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett as the Yanks open up their new ballpark with a significantly upgraded roster compared to last season.

Pettite finished the 2008 season with a 14-14 record, posting a 4.54 era in 204 innings pitched. Pettite also posted great control numbers again, walking only 55 batters while striking out 158.

According to multiple news sources (mostly Peter Abraham), the New York Yankees will be wearing a different kind of patch this season, one that has an artistic depiction of the new stadium emblazoned on their sleeve.

Abraham, on his LoHud blog, jokingly notes (hopefully) if you look close enough at the patch, you might find something hidden;
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It’s a nice patch and if you look closely you can see a team official asking the city of New York for more money.
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I'd like to see some sort of uniform "nod" to the old stadium. Maybe a little D.o.B-D.o.D on the back of the hat.

Now that the Yankees have dotted the "i's" and crossed the "t's" on the Teixeira contract and given him Jason Giambi's old position and jersey number, Giambi has probably (by now) seen the writing on the wall.

That's why he's going back home.

The Oakland A's have announced they have agreed in principle (and pending physical) on a one year deal worth $4 million. The team also has an option for the 2010 season (worth $6.5 million) with a $1.25 million buyout option.

And in other news, good ridance to the multi-million-dollar-mistake known as Carl Pavano. The Cleveland Indians, after an extensive physical (and by God it better have been extensive for their sake) agreed on a one year contract with the oft injured RHP, worth $1.5 million.

The contract has $5.3 million in performance bonuses.

No word yet on whether running his ferrari into the back of a garbage truck is one of the incentives.

And so ushers in the next era of Yankee baseball.

No, not the one that has Teixeira holding the coveted first base position for the New York Yankees.

I'm talking about the era that will last eight years; the era of me constantly misspelling the new Bomber's last name, and constantly typing like a 90 year old grandmother to ensure that I don't spell it wrong.

My biggest frustration with the Yankees' 2009 Offseason plan wasn't the fact that they outspent the entire GNP of the Congo, Tibet, or Guam. My issue is the fact that the Yankees spent that money on a man with a last name that is almost physically impossible to type.

We were excited when the Yankees acquired Nick Swisher. Swisher. The name just flows off the keyboard.

Burnett and Sabathia. Pretty easy to handle.

But Teixeira? GOOD F#@*'IN LORD!

My left hand will inevitably become crippled due to the constant strain of reaching for the letter "X" when I have to type such news articles as "Teixeira Hits Walk-Off to Complete Series Sweep" or "Teixeira Continues His 30 At-Bat Hit Streak" or "Teixeira Saves Wounded Seal, Wins Triple Crown"

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the New York Yankees organization for constantly delivering a great product to its loyal fans.

And we'd like to take this opportunity to make this Seasame Street announcement:

"The Letter X has been brought to you by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome"