So: If Mariano gets this type of muscular soreness every year....

1) Does he always get an MRI with a month left in the season for his "piece of mind?"

2) Can't an experienced trainer/doctor diagnose "muscular soreness" without an MRI, particularly if it's an annually recurring issue?

Count me as a little worried, although empirical data shows that Mariano reached his usual velocity in the 9th inning yesterday.

If I were in charge, he would not pitch against the Twinkies this weekend. Then again, he might actually get 3 days off: If the Yankees can avoid using him tonight, the rest of the weekend looks like an Ernesto inspired washout...