(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees begin defense of their World Series championship this evening, as they lift the lid off the 2010 season with the opener of a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Jason Varitek Jersey . It had been nine years since the Yankees had tasted the champagne, but after missing the playoffs in 2008, they bounced back to win their 27th World Series title a year ago. Armed with high expectations, things got off to a slow start last year for New York. The team struggled without Alex Rodriguez, who after an offseason of steroid revelations, missed the first month of the season recovering from hip surgery. The Yankees, though, caught fire once the three-time AL MVP returned and went on to win a major league-high 103 games. The Yankees then steam-rolled their way through the postseason, sweeping Minnesota in the American League Division Series before waiting out the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in six games of the ALCS. New York was put to the test in the World Series, but in the end the Yankees were just too much for the Philadelphia Phillies, who succumbed in six games. Surprisingly, it was Rodriguez who paced the Yankees offensively in the postseason. After hearing for years that he could not hit in the clutch, the third baseman batted .365 with six home runs and 18 RBI in his 15 postseason games. Rodriguez wasnt the only Yankee producing, as CC Sabathia -- one of the teams big offseason pickups -- earned every penny of his seven-year, $161 million deal with a terrific postseason. After tying for the AL lead in wins with 19. Sabathia was 3-1 in the playoffs with a minuscule 1.98 earned run average. "I think he loves having the ball in big situations, the challenge of it," manager Joe Girardi said. "I think he enjoys it. You can just see it. He loves that competitive feeling, going out there and being in a big game -- whether it was a playoff game or a game down the stretch. You could see that he really loved it." The big lefty hopes for a better outing tonight, though, than his Opening Day assignment last season, when he was tagged with a loss in Baltimore after surrendering six runs and eight hits in just 4 1/3 frames. This will be his seventh Opening Day start. "I definitely want to go out and set the tone, and try to get us off on the right foot," Sabathia said. "It didnt happen last year, but things worked out for us. Ill try to go out and pitch my game. Its going to be crazy because its going to be at Fenway, but it will be exciting." Sabathia was 3-1 against the Red Sox a year ago and is 5-5 lifetime against them with a 3.29 ERA in 11 starts. New York had a quiet offseason by its standards, but did make some changes, most notably acquiring outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team blockbuster. Having Granderson in the mix made a few other decisions easier, as the team did not meet the demands of free agent Johnny Damon and allowed World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to leave as a free agent for Anaheim. The Red Sox, meanwhile, head into 2010 with a different type of team than the ones that they have fielded in recent years. No longer a team that relies on the long ball, this years Red Sox will win with pitching and defense. Or at least that is what general manager Theo Epstein is hoping. The teams biggest run producer from a year ago, Jason Bay, was allowed to leave as a free agent and will be replaced by the slick-fielding Mike Cameron. Also, the sure-handed Adrian Beltre will take over at third for Mike Lowell, who was offered to anyone and everyone this past winter but will likely be on the roster come Opening Day. Already having one of the deepest rotations in the league, the Red Sox staff got even better this winter with the free-agent signing of righty John Lackey, who could also serve as an insurance policy should ace Josh Beckett leave as a free agent after the season. It doesnt look as if Beckett is heading anywhere, though, as reports have indicated that he is nearing a four-year extension with the team. Beckett will take the hill tonight, as he opens the year for the Red Sox for the second consecutive season, taking the ball on Opening Day for the fifth time in his career. "Any Opening Day is fun," Beckett said. "Ive got to go and make pitches, because theyre a good team. We dont face too many bad teams -- especially in our division." Following a 12-win injury-plagued 2008, Beckett bounced back last season, going 17-6 with a 3.29 ERA. He did, however, surrender 25 home runs. Beckett was 2-1 in five starts against the Yankees last season, but pitched to a 5.34 ERA in those outings. He is 9-5 with a 5.33 ERA in 17 starts in his career against them. The sweeping changes the team made this offseason were not to suggest that the Red Sox were bad last season. They won at least 95 games in the competitive AL East for the third straight year, while reaching the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years. It was apparent in the American League Division Series that changes needed to be made, though, as Boston was swept in three games by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This is the first of 18 meetings between the AL East foes. Boston won their first eight matchups against the Yankees last season, but New York rallied to win nine of the final 10 meetings to even up the season series for the second consecutive year. The Yankees, who last opened a season in Fenway back in 1985, are 18-10-1 all- time in Opening Day contests against Boston and 6-4 in openers held in Beantown. Kyle Wilson Jersey . Minutes after the previously winless Colts got their first win, 27-13 over Tennessee, team vice chairman Bill Polian said the four-time league MVP will not play this season though he has begun throwing to teammates at the team complex. Jim Kelly Bills Jersey . Both players, who are in China for the Shanghai Masters, reiterated criticism of the sports punishing schedule. "Its impossible to play 1st of January and finish 5th of December," said the 23-year-old Nadal, who did not defend his title at Wimbledon because of a knee injury. Jeremy Kapinos Jersey . - Garrett Zemlak stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Prince Albert Raiders shut out the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-0 in Western Hockey League action Wednesday. Anthony Munoz Bengals Jersey . Crosby a marqué en surnombre et en désavantage numérique, au troisième vingt, puis il a habilement déjoué Tomas Vokoun en fusillade. Les Penguins affichent le meilleur rendement de la LNH (9-1-0). Steven Reinprecht a inscrit deux buts en première période pour les Panthers, qui ont perdu six de leurs sept derniers matches. Colt McCoy Jersey . Before submitting the list of the new sanctions to the United Nations Security Council for a vote, it is trying to convince the international community that only sanctions can make Teheran change or scrap its nuclear program.OSAKA, Japan -- Canadas Aleksandra Wozniak has a date with the top seed at the Japan Womens Open. The native of Blainville, Que., advanced to the quarter-finals on Thursday by beating Taiwans Chang Kai-chen 7-5, 7-6 (2). Wozniak will face top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who overpowered Britains Katie OBrien 6-0, 6-1. Wozniacki convverted six of nine break points in a match that lasted just 44 minutes at Utsubo Tennis Center. Mike Green Jersey. American veteran Jill Craybas recovered from a shaky start for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Frances Mathilde Johansson. Craybas will face third-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur, who defeated Japans Akiko Morigami 6-1, 6-2. ' ' '