Upon entering the Yankees’ home clubhouse, the first three lockers on the left have been empty as often as they have been occupied during the first three months of the season.
The most frequent tenant has been Ron Marinaccio, who has called the middle locker his own for the last month-plus. Clarke Schmidt was a near-regular at the first locker until he was optioned for a second time last week. And after inhabiting the locker on the other side of Marinaccio for the first 10 days of the season, JP Sears has since made a pair of one-day cameos there.
The trio’s residence in the big league clubhouse? Erratic. Their production when called upon? Much more consistent.
Life as a young pitcher with minor league options can be a bit unpredictable, but the Yankees have benefitted from their pitching depth — which has played a key, if sometimes overlooked, role in the club entering July with the best record in baseball.
