In arm's way

The pre-camp plan was to take a dozen pitchers. Now, with Carl Pavano definitely starting the season on the disabled list and Aaron Small a strong candidate to join Pavano, Joe Torre is thinking 11 arms might be enough. "Let's get to there and see what our needs are," Torre said yesterday when asked if Pavano and Small would be replaced by non-pitchers. "I think there is a possibility of starting the season with 11, but I don't think it's realistic to start with 10."

From the moment camp opened, Torre had an inkling Pavano wouldn't be ready by Opening Day. Though Pavano and Torre have been encouraged by the pitcher's progress from a back problem, everybody has resigned themselves to Pavano starting where he finished last season - on the DL. Continue