1. Letâs talk about the elephant in the room again. Letâs talk about Joe Girardi and young pitchers. On Monday, the Marlins put three pitchers on the DL: Sergio Mitre with a strained forearm, Anibal Sanchez as he continues to recuperate from shoulder surgery and Josh Johnson as he continues to recuperate from elbow surgery. Maybe all three of those young hurlers were going to have arm problems regardless of who their manager was in 2006. But their manager in 2006 was Girardi and none of the three have been the same since. Either has Scott Olsen or Dontrelle Willis. All were 25 or younger. Maybe there is no cause and effect. Girardi has insisted that he did not overwork these pitchers, that he was very mindful of their futures. But it would be silly not to be mindful that this did occur on and just after his watch, especially since the Yanks are banking their immediate future on a stable of talented, young arms maturing â notably those of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
2. Of course, the strongest criticism of Joe Torreâs strategy as Yankee manager was overusing (abusing?) his favorite relief arms. One exhibit for that belief was Tom Gordon, who pitched in 80 and then 79 regular-season games for the Yankees. In the two seasons since those heavy-load campaigns, his appearances have sagged to 59 and 44 as he has battled injury. Now, he is set to begin the season as Philadelphiaâs closer while Brad Lidge recovers from right knee surgery. Lidge is due back early in the schedule (he could be back as early as April 5). But Gordon is a valuable component in the NL East race. The Phillies do not have much pitching depth and Gordon â when healthy â has proven to be a dependable reliever. But he is 40 now. And at this age you wonder if he will ever distance himself from Torreâs use (abuse?).
3. I donât know what is stranger: Waking up to a regular-season major league game from Japan or just a few hours later, watching the Yanks and Mets on TV playing more exhibition games.
