After C.C. Sabathia’s almost no-hitter, I felt it appropriate to discuss the reason in which he was able to start Saturday’s game. Because the New York Yankees had two off days within their first week of the season, they did not technically need a fifth starter until Thursday, April 15.

Phil Hughes beat out Joba Chamberlain for the fifth spot in the rotation, but it doesn’t seem like they were confident in him enough to take the hill in the first week of the season. Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said that Hughes pitching in two extended spring training games would allow the young right hander to stretch out and would effectively limit his innings.

For those not familiar with extended spring training, they are controlled games in which the manager can set up different situations for pitchers, not unlike an intra-squad game. For example, if Hughes had thrown 30 pitches in the second inning of his most recent extended spring start, the team can end the second inning so that he isn’t used as much.

However, Hughes is able to stay on the active roster all the while, and can be used in emergency situations. This is just one example, but is it fair, in this situation that Hughes can pitch, though it doesn’t count against his ERA, WHIP, or innings pitched?

Should teams be able to keep players active? If they want pitchers to get extra work, should they have to go to the minors and lose an option?