School lessons abound for my Sports Journalism classes — all of whom picked the Yankees to win the World Series in our class pool…still, here are a few thoughts from Game 1 against the Indians tonight.

*Wang shouldn’t have started…he is twice the pitcher at home this year as opposed to last year. He got nailed for seven earned runs in 4.2 innings. I would have liked to have seen him in the Bronx for game 3 instead, with Andy Pettitte going game 1 and Clemens going game 2. But what’s done is done which leads me to my next thought…

*Last year game 2 would have been Randy Johnson’s or Mike Mussina’s start in hopes of preventing the Yankees from falling into a two game to nothing hole…Pettitte might not win tomorrow, but I’ll take my chances with the old Yankee staple who has returned to the fold…

*Hughes gets in the game. It’s important to get the kid some post-season experience even if it was in garbage time…if he’s needed in a game or two, perhaps the butterflies won’t be flapping quite as hard.

*Foolish to show off Raphaels…the Indians have a pair of stud set up men who the Yankees don’t have much recent history against. Still, Cleveland manager Eric Wedge chose to have Raphael Perez and Raphael Betancourt show off the goods to some very perceptive Yankee hitters…something to think about as this short series continues…