On Tuesday afternoon, the New York Yankees returned to the scene of their raucous celebration of their 27th World Series championship, as they were victorious in their home opener against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by a score of 7 to 5.  In front of a packed house of 49,293 patrons, including the legendary “Boss,” Mr. George Steinbrenner, as well as Yankee legends, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Bernie Williams to name a few, the Yankees handed out their awe-inspiring diamond encrusted championship rings and raised yet again another championship banner.  With all the celebratory festivities remembering the amazing exploits of last season, the Yankees officially turned the page and moved on to their next arduous challenge, the pursuit of a 28th championship title.

In this rematch of last season’s American League Championship Series, which finally saw the Yankees triumph over their post-season nemesis, the Angels, the defending champs jumped out to a big 7 to 1 lead with the strength of powerful and timely hitting and the stalwart pitching of their veteran lefty Andy Pettitte.  Designated Hitter Nick Johnson got the scoring under way in the bottom of the first inning, as he overcame his early season hitting struggles with his first home run of the season, a deep solo shot into right field.  Johnson, playing in his first Yankee home game since the 2003 season, was 2 for 3 at the plate on the day, as his big bounce back day included a double, two walks, and three runs scored, to go along with the homer.  Ironically, Johnson was traded going into the 2004 season to the Montreal Expos for the newly re-acquired Javier Vazquez, who will take the ball on Wednesday afternoon for the Yankees looking to improve on his poor first outing this season, as he faces off against the Angels’ Joel Pineiro.

The living legend and captain of the Yankees, Derek Jeter, kept the offense going as he displayed his trade mark opposite field power with his solo home run he crushed into deep right field in the third inning to give the Yankees a 2 to nothing lead.  Jeter’s big 2 for 5 day at the plate continued in the fourth inning with his second RBI of the game with a single hammered right off of the pitcher’s body scoring Curtis Granderson.  From there, the Yankees stretched the lead with a two run single by the dynamic Alex Rodriguez in the 6th inning, and what would turn out to be big insurance runs in the 8th inning, with the RBI double by Jorge Posada and the RBI single by Granderson respectively giving the Yankees seemingly a blowout 7 to 1 lead going into the 9th inning.

With just one out in the 9th inning, all Yankee fans got more of a scare then they could have bargained for, when former Yankee outfielder Bobby Abreu blasted a grandslam home run off of young, fire baller reliever David Robertson to narrow the lead to just 7 to 5.  Thankfully, the Yankees had their always reliable hammer of god in the great Mariano Rivera, who bailed out the Yankees once again by easily getting the final two outs of the game to nail down another save in his storied career.

For all die-hard Yankee fans, the home opener starting pitcher, Mr. Andy Pettitte, brought a smile to both old and young fans alike, as he, along with the other three memebers of the “Core Four,” Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera once again continued the trend of playing important roles in yet another big Yankees win, something they have only been doing together for the last 15 years.  Pettitte dazzled once again, as he pitched a stellar 6 innings, without giving up a run, striking out 6 batters, while scattering just 5 hits and 3 walks on the day, as he earned his first victory of the young season, and his 230th win in his very accomplished career.  The 37-year-old left-handed hurler picked up right where he left off last season, as the pitcher of all three post-season series’ clinching victories, a feat that had previously not been accomplished.

Even with the youthful blood and changing of the guard of key players such as Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Joba Chamberlain, and Phil Hughes, it’s the “Core Four” that remains the pillar of a proud franchise that they helped restore back to glory together with the starts of their respected careers.

This point of unity, a word proudly displayed on their newly minted championship rings, was brought more to light, when seeing reigning World Series MVP, designated hitter Hideki Matsui, accept his cherished championship ring as a member of the opposing team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  Matsui, who has gotten off to a fast and productive start with his new team, went hitless in his five at-bats on the day in his return to the Bronx.  However, that wouldn’t stop the Yankees knowledgeable fans from giving him the loudest standing ovation of the day, as we even saw his former teammates welcome him back with hugs and smiles throughout the day.

In this era of free agency and a bigger focus since the whole steroid scandal breaking out, for teams to go younger and find more athletic and versatile players/talents throughout their ball clubs, Matsui became an unfortunate casualty, similarly to other fan favorite Johnny Damon, due to his increased age and recent injury history that has hobbled him and prevented him from being able to play defense in the outfield anymore.  Even after 7 years of commendable and productive service for the Yankees, Matsui coming off of a 28 home run season and some memorable October glory, was simply discarded this off-season without even a second thought.  These sorts of tough decisions, to go along with usually big egos and personalities that typically clash when compiling a team of star players, make what the Yankees have done in the last 15 years under the leadership of their “Core Four” even more impressive and something that should be cherished by all Yankees, as well as baseball fans as a whole.

So as many things change in life, including some big pieces from last season’s championship squad departing to make room for youth, as we saw once again in the 2010 home opener, the foundation still remains the same that it did all the way back on opening day in 1996.  So as all you Yankee fans bask in another Opening Day triumph, just ask yourself this difficult question, “ How many things in your life can you name that remain the same from back in 1996?”