Sabathia to start Opening Day

From the no surprises department: It was announced this morning that CC Sabathia will start on Opening Day, reports Bryan Hoch. Joe Girardi also said that Sabathia is on schedule to start the home opener on April 16.

Sabathia said that he was excited to get the assignment and that he hadn't assumed anything would be given to him, because of the way the rotation stacks up. Andy Pettitte was considered for April 16 but the pitching order didn't work out.

This is always my favorite story of the spring. It signals to me that the games that count are so close.