Baltimore, MD (WFAN) -- So it's come to this. The
Yankees are bringing
Carl Pavano out of mothballs and hoping that he can make 7 starts that will make a difference this season. I know. I'll believe it when I see it too.
Right now I'm picturing Brian Cashman standing on the edge of a cliff and singing Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For A Hero." Or at least this version of it…
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the Gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white night
Upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need…
I need Pa-vano!
I need Pavano in the heat of the race.
We've fallen behind
And it's getting too late
And I'm begging for another ace.
I need Pa-vano!
I'm holding out for Pavano
To shut down the O's.
He's gotta be sure
And he's gotta be soon
And he's already stolen the dough.
Pavano started for the Yankees in Baltimore on June 27, 2005. He didn't pitch for the Yankees again until 643 days later. In case you forgot how long that actually was,
click here. He pitched Opening Day last year, then once more...and now we see him again on Saturday. This time he's on 500 days rest. I mean, really…you guys had never even heard of
Joba Chamberlain the last time Pavano pitched for the Yankees.
We've all made Pavano the butt of our jokes for the last few years. Especially two years ago when one of the injuries he suffered was a bruised butt. But honestly, the guy did have Tommy John surgery last year. That was no joke. I know he's been hurt. But it's utterly impossible for a guy to sign a 4-year deal with the Yankees and pitch only 2 games against the Red Sox.
Sidney Ponson was picked off the scrap heap twice for crying out loud, and even he has started two games as a Yankee against the Red Sox!
A bad signing? No,
Kei Igawa was a bad signing. This was bad luck. The guy had 4 other teams (Boston, Baltimore, Seattle, and Detroit) lined up to give him just as much money, if not more. The Yanks coughed up a lot of money, but at least it didn't cripple them the way the Orioles were with the Albert Belle contract. Albert might still be on their payroll. Yikes!
I have no idea what to expect Saturday. Pavano will be starting the Yanks 129th game of the year. A lot of things have gone wrong over the first 128, so whatever happens from here on out cannot be all his fault. It shows you how far things have spiraled out of control for the Yankees in 2008 that they bring in Pavano and hope and pray he can give them something, anything.
Thanks for reading. Send comments and questions to
yankees@wfan.com.
Sweeny
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