So a guy who’s sweated the whole season and helped the Yanks get to the post season is left at home so a guy who’s been on the couch at home for over a year can play. That would suck. Pavano needs a few major league starts before I’d consider putting him on the roster. Otherwise, you’re just buying a pig in a poke.

Seeing Pavano as some sort of saviour is delusional. Pavano is coming back from injury and, BEFORE that injury, he was basically a league average starter (look at his adjusted ERA numbers if you don’t believe me). His 2004 season was the prototype fluke season. He was helped that year by a pitcher’s park, great Marlin defense, and some good luck. It’s also important to remember that no young Florida pitchers have really been great for an AL team (Clement, Beckett, Redman, even Burnett).

Here’s my point – to count on someone who hasn’t pitched in 14 months, and who was so-so (at best) when he last pitched (over his career, for that fact), is emotional and irrational. But, that’s just my opinion. Others are welcome to have their own.

Steve,

You can look up Pavano’s stats yourself and see that he was inconsistent and I don’t know when exactly he got hurt so it is difficult to tell exactly who was the healthy Pavano. But I think impressions of his time in 1995 is confused by folks because his record reflects poorly on his pitching performances. When he pitched well was when the Yankees offense was asleep. Unfortunately, he had 9 quality starts and only 4 wins (in 17 starts).

In comparison, Wright has only 5 quality starts so far this year (in 21 starts) but has 9 wins. Believe me, with our bullpen overuse issues, we’d be very happy to have Pavano right now. Pavano had a higher IP/start, the best K/BB ratio of his career, and its fairly safe to assumethat during his last couple of bad starts he was hurt.

Now, I wouldn’t put Pavano over Wright or Lidle automatically. I would force Pavano to pitch in long relief to make sure his stuff is there. Then depending on performance (his and theirs), I would try to work him in the rotation because if healthy he is our 3rd or 4th best option (depending on which randy johnson shows up). His career numbers, which show that his 9 quality starts in 17 games to be his worst stretch since joining the Marlins in 2002. Obviously Wright and Lidle get credit for pitching the way that they have so far this year.

Honestly, your comments on Pavano (and your insistence on asking when he last pitched – an obviouslyweak rhetorical question that you know the answer to) seem very emotional and irrational to me. If Pavano is healthy, we can use him.

baileywalk – you didn’t answer my two questions:

When was the last time Pavano took toe to a major league mound? And, how did he pitch in New York the last time he took a regular turn there?

Give me an honest, factual, answer on both and then I will be willing to continue the Pavano debate.

The only nice thing that I can say about Pavano now is that I would rather have him on the mound than Dotel. Other than that, I got nothing.

Sure, it would be nice if he could help this team – some time, in some way. But, it would also be nice if I could make $1,000,000 – some time, in some way. I think the odds on both, now, are about the same FWIW.

Hey, I hope Pavano comes back and Pitches awsome. Chacon and Small did it last year (ok not from injuries, but from Nowhere). Anything can happen. Hope is fun. Anybody know what the lotto jackpot is?

Neagle and Brown won 18 games in ’04? They won rings in ’03? I thought Brown was losing the ALCS for us in ’04. I guess I have the wrong guy…

Neagle is probably out picking up a disturbingly mannish prostitute. And Brown is retired. Last time I checked, neither is getting paid ten million dollars a year by the Yankees.

I, too, wouldn’t give the ball to Pavano over Wright. You might notice I said he was better than LIDLE.

I get that all the time — “you must be Pavano’s brother,” etc. — but I simply don’t understand the hostility toward the man. Would people prefer he pitch hurt like he did before the All-Star Break last year and go out there and bomb? I’ve had injuries that I ignored and, trust me, I regret it to this day. It’s stupid to think he’s “faking” injuries. Before he was hurt, he was effective. Since he’s a part of this team — like it or not — I want him to come back strong. And believe that he can.

When people complain about Pavano, a lot of it revolves around the money he’s making (or “stealing”). Last time I checked, we’re not paying his salary.

The best thing that could happen to this team is Pavano coming back and pitching down the stretch. I know people like to have a person they love to hate, but I’ll take the Yankees’ interests over some petty anger/jealousy/whatever-it-is-that’s-up-everyone’s-ass any day.

You must be related to Pavano in some way, baileywalk. Either that, or, you’re Brian Cashman.

Pavano is a ~~~”1) a World Series champ; 2) an eighteen-game winner; 3) a fresh arm that could help the team.”~~~

Denny Neagle fits all three of those items now too. Would you take him over Lidle? Kevin Brown too. Would you take Brown over Lidle now?

Two questions: When was the last time Pavano took toe to a major league mound? And, how did he pitch in New York the last time he took a regular turn there?

The Yankees would be better off giving the ball to Jaret Wright now than Pavano – and that’s not because Wright is very good.

Well, in the real world — not the one where fans who’ve never played baseball compare themselves favorably to a pro baseball players — Carl Pavano is 1) a World Series champ; 2) an eighteen-game winner; 3) a fresh arm that could help the team. People may think Pavano is “pussy” who doesn’t have the “heart” to play in New York, but he’s currently rehabbing back from surgery and if he feels he’s ready to pitch again, I’d certainly take him over Lidle.

Did I just see someone say that Carl Pavano will be on the Yankees post-season roster this year?

Hey, if you’re letting anyone on, can I be on it too?