About Last Night: A Grand Opening. NY 7, SF 0
- Tim Kabel
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
About Last Night: A Grand Opening. NY 7, SF 0
By Tim Kabel
March 26, 2026
***
The Yankees opened the season in San Francisco last night. It seems that every year the season opens a little earlier. It used to open in the first week of April and sometimes even a little later than that. Now, it opens at the end of March. Opening Day is over a week before Easter and Easter is early this year. In a few years, the season may open on Groundhog Day.
For anyone who thought the Yankees might not be ready for the beginning of this season, they certainly were last night. Everyone except Aaron Judge, that is.
In case you didn't notice, when I write my game recaps this season, I will be using a freeform style, at least for now. I think it will lead to better articles. That’s the hope, anyway.
This was the first Opening Day ever on Netflix. I don't remember ever seeing a game on Netflix. I don't know that I ever want to see another one on Netflix. I could not get the game on for quite a while and was starting to worry. I was afraid I was going to have to listen to Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims unless he had the day off. After multiple tries without success, I called Netflix. For some reason, the game would not come on because I was using my wife’s Netflix profile. I had to switch to another profile to watch the game. I'm surprised I didn't have to wear a disguise. I only missed the pregame ceremonies as it came on just as Trent Grisham was headed to the plate in the first inning.
It was a dominant game by the Yankees in every possible way. Max Fried was excellent, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing only two hits and one walk. He struck out four. Jake Bird, Brent Headrick, and Camilo Doval combined for two and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit. Well, Headrick was the one who allowed the hit.
The only Yankee who did not get a hit was Aaron Judge, who struck out four times. The only two other Yankees to strike out four times on Opening Day were Giancarlo Stanton in 2022, and Oswaldo Cabrera in 2023. For those of those of you who are panicking because Judge struck out four times, (and you know who you are), stop. Just stop. Stanton and Austin Wells each had two hits. Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon drove in two runs apiece. Jazz Chisholm had a hit and stole a base. He only has 49 to go.
A Few Tidbits:
· Aaron Judge was hitless for the first time in in his career on Opening Day.
· Jose Caballero became the first player to challenge a strike call against the new ABS system in the fourth inning. He lost the appeal.
· Max Fried became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on Opening Day, joining Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Rick Rhoden, and David Cone.
· It was the first time the Yankees won a shutout on the road on Opening Day since 1967.
· Last night was the first time Aaron Judge struck out four times in a game since September of 2024.
All in all, it was a great game for the Yankees and a wonderful way to open the 2026 season. It was the type of game that can fill you with hope and optimism. How long that will last is anyone's guess. But that's not important right now. Let's appreciate the game for what it was and be happy.
The Yankees will now have a day off before resuming the series on Friday afternoon at 4:35. Cam Schlittler will face Robbie Ray. Robbie and Cam sounds like a pop group from the 60’s. Perhaps we will see the debut of Randal Grichuk. One can only hope.
Netflix broadcast of this game was as bad as it gets.... other than the final score it was a freaking disaster. The three amigos announcers were horrible, laughing at each other's comments and talking over one another. The interview of Manfred was awkward as well.
four strikeouts
and for this they kept him
and sent Dominguez down!
I blame Boone
for screwing up Judge's spring training
and sending Aaron into an ugly early swoon.
All a fan can say is "Ain't it a shame"
and maybe add that at least
7 is better than nothing
Opening Day date creep has been happening for a while. In 1961 (the first year of 162 games), it was April 10 for the first game. Go back to 154 games, and it was even later (past April 15).
Jose Caballero has joined Ron Blomberg in the Hall of Trivial Firsts.
Let's hope 2026 goes better for the Yankees than did 1967.
The broadcast was a joke. Manfred called it a great day and that he loves baseball? To be like the late, great newspaper man Jimmy Breslin, B---S---!( yes, this exact word got me in trouble in 11th grade, and my late mother, the teacher just laughed at my teacher, when my mother got shown my writing. My teacher gave me C-. My mother would've given me an A) Mr. Commissioner. The sound was garbage.
Interesting Bonds to the Yankees story, that if you remember George, yeah, I could see that happening. Apparently George wanted an immediate commitment from Bonds to sign, and George was willing to make him the then highest paid player, and when Bonds didn't, that was that.…
I tuned in late due to work commitments and wasnt sure I was on correct network. Then Jameis Winston started rambling on about God knows what from the stands, and I got really confused. I had the game on in my car so I knew the score. Then suddenly, the field appeared, and the play by play started. Not sure what demographic Netflix is trying to reach? But it sure the heck wasnt old time yankee fans like me. Very odd broadcast. Fried was on top of his game, yankee hitters were smart putting ball in play at this cavernous ballpark instead of trying to hit 500 foot bombs. Very good start to season, notwithstanding netflix. Those spring training st…