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Masahiro Tanaka to be named the Yankees Opening Day starter

Masahiro Tanaka

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) delivers during the second inning of a spring baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, March 12, 2015. It was Tanaka’s first outing since he was shut down last season due to an elbow injury. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

Yesterday Joe Girardi admitted that, based on how the Yankees spring rotation has been set up, CC Sabathia would be on short rest for Opening Day, making him unlikely to start that day. Who is in line: Masahiro Tanaka.

Sabathia has started the past six Opening Days for the Yankees. Before that he started the previous three for the Cleveland Indians. The last time he didn’t start an Opening Day game was 2005. But he did in 2003 and 2004, meaning that the big guy has started 11 of the past 12 openers in his 14 season-career.

I wonder if all of the people who are mad that the Mets are starting their big old dude on Opening Day are going to be mad that the Yankees aren’t.