It's funny how things turn out sometimes.
Okay, maybe not ha-ha funny, but strange-funny.
Joe Torre placed the ball in Carl Pavano's shoe for Opening Day today. That's why you can't predict baseball (as I steal a popular line from Yankees radio announcer John Sterling). Yes, Pavano is the last guy anyone would have predicted. In fact, if you were a betting man, the odds would have probably been off the boards for Pavano to receive the nod for Opening Day. They may have had Pavano at 2-1 to start the season on the DL.
But Pavano isn't being rewarded for missing the last year and a half with the Yanks. Actually, the Yanks were waiting to see if Andy Pettitte (who will follow Pavano in the rotation) could make the start before deciding on Pavano. Pitching Pavano on Opening Day just keeps everyone else on their regular schedule -- it's as simple as that. Yes, you would like to have your "A" team on the field for Opening Day -- there's the pageantry, the bunting, the packed house, the announcements along the baselines, but in reality, it's just Game 1 of 162. And who knows? Maybe Pavano gives up 2 runs in 6 innings and tips his cap to the crowd as he walks off the mound in the seventh with the Yanks up 7-2. A good pitching performance could get the fans off Pavano's back (at least for one day) and, more importantly, prove to the team that he can be counted on this season.
The Yanks also made some roster moves today. Josh Phelps beat out Andy Phillips for the backup first baseman's spot. Phelps had a monster spring (.400, 3 HR, 10 RBI in 20 games) while Phillips never got on track (.182 in 22 ABs). Phillips missed about 10 days during the spring to be with his mom who was in an auto accident in Alabama. Tough break for Andy.
Wil Nieves topped Todd Pratt for the backup catcher's position and the lefty Sean Henn outplayed veteran Ron Villone for a slot on the roster. Darrell Rasner will probably be the fifth starter to begin the season and Jeff Karstens will start the year on the DL.
But, these are the first of what will most likely be many moves by the Yankees this season. A team rarely starts and ends with the same roster.
After all, you can't predict baseball.
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You sound pretty confident that Pravano will not get hurt before monday. He could crash on the way to the airport, or crash coming back from the airport or just fall in the shower monday morning... If I were a betting man (and I am) I say pettitte is still the favor to pitch. I can just see Pravano triping coming out of the dugout during the pregame.