--3B Alex Rodriguez sent a text message saying he "feels great," manager Joe Girardi told reporters before Monday's season opener. Rodriguez is in Colorado rehabbing from his March 9 hip surgery, and a report in the New York Post recently said he could be back by the end of April instead of the initial mid-May expectation. "He feels good, he wished us good luck and said, 'Keep it going, the stadium looked great,'" Girardi said. As for when Rodriguez would return, Girardi said, "I'm not sure when he's going to be back. In my mind, I was told May 15, so that's what I'm kind of sticking to."

--LHP CC Sabathia didn't get off to the start he wanted -- or even come close -- in his debut as the Yankees' ace after signing his blockbuster offseason contract. Sabathia lasted just 4 1/3 innings in the season opener at Baltimore's Camden Yards, yielding six runs on eight hits and walking five. Not quite what the Yankees had in mind for the pitcher expected to anchor the staff. Sabathia previously had been undefeated against the Orioles in his career, but he struggled with his command and could open himself to questions about whether the New York spotlight will provide more of a challenge than it seemed to after he fit in well during spring training.

--1B Mark Teixeira had a shot to quiet the fans who had booed him in Baltimore, but he stranded runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh to complete an 0-for-4 day in Monday's season opener. Teixeira, a Maryland native who played high school ball in Baltimore and spurned the Orioles' reportedly lower offer in the offseason, was viciously booed throughout the game, but he said he expected that to be the case once he donned pinstripes. "I would expect Orioles fans are going to boo Yankees," he told reporters. "It doesn't matter where you're from, where you grew up, what your name is. If you're a Yankee, you're going to get booed."

--SS Derek Jeter got off to a hot start in his new spot atop the lineup, but he failed to come through in his most important at-bat of the game. Jeter, who swapped spots from the No. 2 role with LF Johnny Damon, picked up hits in his first three at-bats but grounded out with the tying run on third and one out late in the game. Damon adapted well to his new spot, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.

--C Jorge Posada and DH Hideki Matsui both homered in the Yankees' season-opening loss to the Orioles, which was a good sign for the club, since it needs both players to recover from injury-plagued 2008 seasons. Posada has rehabbed a surgically repaired right shoulder, and Matsui is returning from knee surgery.

--RHP Brian Bruney has been eager to show he can take over the setup role vacated by Joba Chamberlain's move to the rotation, but he struggled in his first appearance of the season. Bruney, who has lost significant weight the past two offseasons to help earn a shot at the role, didn't blow a lead, as the Yankees were already trailing when he came on in the eighth. But he gave up two runs and walked two while recording just one out.

ROTATION:

1. LHP CC Sabathia

2. RHP Chien-Ming Wang

3. RHP A.J. Burnett

4. LHP Andy Pettitte

5. RHP Joba Chamberlain

BULLPEN:

RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)

RHP Brian Bruney

LHP Damaso Marte

LHP Phil Coke

RHP Edwar Ramirez

RHP Jose Veras

RHP Jonathan Albaladejo

LINEUP:

1. SS Derek Jeter

2. LF Johnny Damon

3. 1B Mark Teixeira

4. DH Hideki Matsui

5. C Jorge Posada

6. 2B Robinson Cano

7. RF Xavier Nady

8. 3B Cody Ransom

9. CF Brett Gardner

RESERVES:

C Jose Molina

OF/1B Nick Swisher

OF Melky Cabrera

INF Ramiro Pena

MEDICAL WATCH:

3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He could be back as soon as late April. He will have more extensive surgery during the offseason.

DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery) should be ready for opening day, but he won't play in the field before June.

RHP Mariano Rivera (arthroscopic surgery on right shoulder) made his first Grapefruit League appearance of the year on March 17. He expects to be ready for opening day.

C Jorge Posada (right shoulder surgery) threw out three potential base stealers late in spring training and hoped to return to form behind the plate.