Yankees game day--Toronto Blue Jays

Notes from today's Yankees/Blue Jays exhibition:

• Rising expectations--Peter Gammons quotes an anonymous Yankees source as saying, "Robinson Cano should have a breakout season, it's possible he could hit .335 with 40 hrs." I don't know if this is the same guy who said, "Melancon could be the next Joba" but I don't see the value of feeding the press these hyped remarks, off the record. It can't help the young player.
• Shelley Duncan barrels into home plate, avoids a collision and jubilantly shows off his raspberry in the dugout. He plays the game with the joy of a 10 year-old kid.
• Words of wisdom: "With young pitchers you always have to hold your breath... The AL East is a tough place to develop guys."--J.P Ricciardi, Blue Jays G.M.
• Kennedy's performance today shows the important role the bullpen will play in the regular season. Ian had good command, including his overhand curve. He produced: 4 1/3 innings, 1 run, no walks and threw 75 pitches. There will be plenty of days this season when the starter is good but the pitch count shows him an early exit, with two kids and Moose in your rotation, the pen will be up early and often.
• Joba makes his well publicized return to the pen by striking out the side on 11 pitches. His long-term home should be the rotation but his short-term value to the team is helping The Great Rivera shorten the game to 6 innings.
• Keith Law of ESPN.com, reports it would be reasonable to expect Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy to become solid members of the rotation by 2009-2010. This thinking is consistent with what I've been saying from the beginning--these things take time.