Much of the offseason talk surrounding the 2007 New York Yankees was the future of the franchise.  The succession of ownership, the plethora of young pitching studs and the contract status of Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Joe Torre.  However during their 105th season opener, the Yankees derived some motivation from the past.

The Yankees honored former teammate Cory Lidle who tragically died in a plane crash on October 11, 2006.  His wife Melanie and son Christopher were on hand to throw out the first pitch.  On the jumbotron the Yankees also paid tribute to late great outfielder Hank Bauer.  While up in the booth was a pleasant sight to see in Yankee great Bobby Murcer, cracking jokes about his new bald look after a winter of ongoing chemo therapy treatment for a malignant brain tumor.  And of course there was a call from Bernie Williams to the Yankee clubhouse before the game, to which the bleacher creatures replied, "We want Bernie!  We want Bernie!"

And fittingly enough, as Yogi Berra and Don Larsen were on hand for David Cone's perfect game, that Bobby Murcer would be on hand for the day Jason Giambi would have in honoring his former friend, high school and Yankee teammate Cory Lidle.  You see it was Murcer, best friends with Yankees captain and catcher Thurman Munson, who after delivering the eulogy at his former teammates' funeral after he had died in a tragic plane crash, honored his friend and teammate that very night after the funeral.  That night after the funeral, Murcer crushed a homerun and also knocked in the winning run at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles.

This Opening Day it was Giambi who came through, setting the tone in the first inning with a two-run single putting the Yankees out front 2-0.  Jorge Posada also showed no signs of slowing down blasting the 199th homerun of his Yankee career putting the Yanks up 3-1.

Carl Pavano, making his first start since June 27, 2005 wasn't brilliant but wasn't horible either.  The Yanks defense on the other hand was, making three errors, leaving Yankee fans to wonder why Josh Phelps is taking up Bernie Williams' roster spot.

After a rough four-run 5th, the Yanks stormed back to tie it in the 6th.  Consecutive hits by Posada and Robinson Cano, followed by a beautiful sac bunt by the hard nosed fundamentally sound Doug Mientkiewicz setup 2nd and 3rd with one out.  After Melky Cabrera was plunked in the leg, Derek Jeter who hit the eventual game winning homer in the 8th inning against the Kansas City Royals in last year's home opener, picked up right where he left off from what should've been a 2006 MVP campaign, with a two-run bases loaded single knotting the game at 5-5.

In the 7th the Yankees played more small ball.  A-Rod singled, stole 2nd and Giambi knocked him in with this 3rd RBI for the go-ahead and winning run, putting the Yankees up 6-5. 

As the Yankees rolled into the bottom of the 8th, it looked as though A-Rod had put his early jitters and miscues to bed and the Devil Rays to sleep.  A-Rod hit an absolute bomb into the Yankee bullpen, the 465th HR of his illustrious career, fittingly tying him with former outfielder and Yankee great Dave Winfield on the all-time list and putting the Bombers up 9-5.

Then the Yanks bullpen which had been sharp all day with Brian Bruney, Sean Henn, Luis Vizciano and Kyle Farnsworth all chipping in, went to The Sandman for the 9th.  Mariano Rivera went out and got himself some negotiating leverage, striking out the side on 13 pitches, extending the Yanks winning streak in home openers to ten.

Yes the 2007 Yankees did their fans and old friends proud on Opening Day.  Speaking of old friends, they'll all be glad see another when number 46 Andy Pettitte takes the mound on Wednesday.

*News and notes: Johnny Damon left the game with a strained calf muscle and is day-to-day. 

*Interesting fact: The last time the Yankees lost a home opener was 1997 against the Oakland A's.  In that game the Yankees lost in 12 innings, the winning pitcher for Oakland that day?  Former Yankee starter Aaron Small.