Wang's pain is Pavano's gain

Carl Pavano arrived at camp this spring as the Yankees' biggest question mark. When he leaves next week, he might just be their Opening Day starter. No, that's not a misprint, but the result of Chien-Ming Wang's strained hamstring, Andy Pettitte's balky back and Mike Mussina's schedule. "It's Opening Day, but there are 161 other games," Joe Torre said. "It certainly is an important game, but so are the other ones."

Should the Yankees bestow the assignment on Pavano, he would be making his first start for the Yankees since June 27, 2005 - a span of 643 days - due to a multitude of injuries and mishaps. Pavano missed the final three months of the 2005 season with rotator cuff tendinitis, though no structural damage was ever found in his shoulder. He missed most of spring training last year with stiffness in his back, then when it looked like he was ready to return, he suffered a bruised backside while pitching on the final day of the spring. Continue