Yanks Want 4th Opinion On Pavano
From the Daily News -
Carl Pavano is on his way to Southern California today to meet with yet another orthopedist about his ailing right elbow, but the oft-injured pitcher isn’t quite sure why he’s going.
That’s because Pavano has already been examined by three other doctors, and the consensus opinion appears to be that he will need to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his damaged ligament.
“I would not like to have the surgery,” Pavano said. “But if the professionals that make those decisions tell me that’s what is going to get my elbow better, then that’s what I need to do.”
“Altcheck says there’s a tear in there; Andrews saw the films and thinks there’s damage,” Pavano said. “Now I’m going to see a fourth doctor; I don’t understand it.”
When asked if he had been told he would need Tommy John surgery – a procedure that would knock him out of action for 12-18 months, effectively ending his Yankees career – Pavano replied, “That’s the surgery they’re talking about. You think I’m fighting to have that done?
“I want to do what’s right,” he added. “I’ve got three professionals telling me what is right. I’m seeing the best doctors in the business – all of them. It’s been, what, two or three doctors now? (Yocum) is lucky number four, I guess. I have no idea.”
I wish that Cashman had been this painstakingly careful and concerned about checking out Pavano before he signed him to a contract to come play in New York.
I have a hard time pinning this signing on Cashman, it’s the same as with the Javy deal. The Sawx wanted Pavano, and so did a slew of others. The only thing that I will give you, as far as Cashman is concerned, is that he didn’t trade Pavano in the off-season. But I didn’t think the signing was bad at the time and I won’t start going off on the signing if I thought it was a good one at the time.
It was a bad signing then, it’s a bad signing now. At least with Javy, it looked like he was poised to break out. Pavano had a track record of injury and mediocrity.
OMG, I agree with Raf! I need to go get a drink of water. [grin]
Raf, did you say as much then? I know I didn’t so I won’t change my tune just cause of what’s gone on. He was young, the Yanks wanted to get younger, he came off a career year and the Yanks, and others too, all thought he was going to be a pretty good pitcher for years to come. Would you think a good comparison is Josh Beckett? If you look at both of their track record then they really aren’t that much different, except that Beckett has stopped getting injured.
I just think it’s too easy to say it was a bad signing. We always seems to lose historical context when things don’t go well.
Raf, did you say as much then?
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Yep. You can search my comments in “Pavano” entries. I was hoping he would be traded after the ’05 season (for a CF’er), and after the ’06 season (for either a catcher, a 1b, or a bullpen arm). To be fair, I wanted Clement over Pavano.
Pavano analysis
http://tinyurl.com/2rndrx
http://tinyurl.com/3basv9
http://tinyurl.com/2v26or
I wish that Cashman had been this painstakingly careful and concerned about checking out Pavano before he signed him to a contract to come play in New York.
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Remember the circumstances which they signed Wright. He failed his physical, and instead of passing, they restructured his contract.
To be fair, I wanted Clement over Pavano.
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Clement really dropped off the face of the Earth, didn’t he? The Clement signing always seemed like a reaction to the Pavano signing (he was the “second choice” guy for the Sox). I always thought of these two are equally ineffective and hurt, but I was surprised to see Clement actually pitched 191 inning for the Sox in ’05. So they did get one full year out of him (something the Yankees can’t say about Pavano).
He fell apart in ’06 and then had shoulder surgery. It looks like he’s in the same position Pavano is in now — once he’s healthy and rehabbed, his contract with his team will be over.
I think it should be noted that the Pavano, Wright & Womack signings came on the heels of the 2004 collapse, so I could see the Yanks FO being in “panic mode.”
Good job with the links, Raf.