Tampa – Starting the first day is often an honor, but sometimes a need. Someone has to do that. The most obvious guy is not available, so you cannot leave the mound empty.
As the Yankees did in 2007, this is how you can do it – true story – is picked by Joe Torre among Kay Igawa, Jeff Karsten and Karl Pavano. He basically went with Pavano. Because the season couldn't begin without someone delivering that first pitch.
“It's just one game,” said Torre, who is in Steinbrenner Field's Yankee uniform, recalling the decision.
Torre had planned to give Chen Min Wang the ball, but he was injured to the right late in the camp, and Andy Petttitt was still healed from the injury, and Mike Mussina wasn't in line properly. So Tore turned to Pavano. Pavano hadn't pitched for nearly two years and had openly questioned his teammates his toughness and commitment. Again, he got the opener. Because someone had to do it.
