1. A person close to Hideki Matsui told me something interesting a few weeks ago. This person said that Matsui does not see injuries and time on the DL as the natural order of playing baseball. He doesn’t feel disappointment about it. What he feels, this person told me, is shame and embarrassment. That is why there are so many people around the Yankees expecting the proud Matsui to rebound this year after two seasons in which he has been slowed by injuries.
2. Does anyone else wonder if Josh Beckett’s back spasms are caused by the potential of a 17-hour plane ride to Japan? Might it be an injury known as advanced Mussina-itis? The Red Sox had an interesting flying experience in March. They flew on consecutive days, once to Vero Beach to play the Dodgers and once to Fort Pierce to drive down to play the Mets in St. Lucie. Those flights were both about 26 minutes one way.
3. In case you didn’t see it, the Twins sent Kevin Mulvey to the minors. Mulvey was part of the Johan Santana trade.