TAMPA — So Ruts, Griff and I are the first three Toronto scribes to arrive here at Legends Field this morning. Actually, we’re the only three guys sitting in the pressbox at the moment.

So, with plenty of seats open and available at this early hour, where do us three plop down? How about bunched together in a row, right behind a big section of wall divider between the pressbox windows. So I’m keeping an eye on the right side of the field, while Griff can keep an eye on the left side of the field. I’m not sure Ruts can see any of the diamond — like he’d be watching anyway.

What a bunch of idiots we are.

"I have a perfect view of the first and third base coaches," Ruts just informed me.

Today’s lineups:

TORONTO (9-13) at NEW YORK (12-7-2)
at 1:15 p.m. ET at Legends Field

BLUE JAYS
David Eckstein, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Shannon Stewart, LF
Marco Scutaro, 1B
Rod Barajas, C

PITCHING: RHP Randy Wells, others

YANKEES
Johnny Damon, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jason Giambi, 1B
Jorge Posada, C
Hideki Matsui, DH
Shelley Duncan, LF
Chris Woodward, 2B

PITCHING: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, others

Dustin McGowan is pitching in a Minor League game today, furthering Toronto’s efforts to hide their starters from the Yanks. New York is following suit, having Andy Pettitte pitch in a Minors game, too.

Word is that tomorrow’s Jays’ starter A.J. Burnett finally has that fake nail on his index finger. So we might get to see some curveballs in his outing against the Phillies on Sunday.

Don’t foget to tune in tonight to cheer on my Michigan State Spartans against Pitt at 9:10 p.m. ET. I have a bad feeling that this could be the end of the road for the boys in green…let’s hope not.