Help is on the way!!!

by sanchez96 on Aug 7, 2006 12:55 PM EDT

Carl Pavano, who has not pitched in a Major League game since June 2005, will make a rehab start with the Class A Tampa Yankees on Thursday.
Pavano threw batting practice to several of his teammates last week, including Saturday, and will throw a bullpen session Monday in Tampa, Fla. Thursday will be the first of a series of rehab starts, which will allow Pavano to rebuild his arm strength and endurance.
"He's ready to go," Torre said. "We're very enthused about what we saw yesterday."
Pavano also said he was very excited to be pitching in a game. If his rehab outings go well, Pavano could make a few starts with the Yankees down the stretch in September.
"That's what we're building toward," Torre said.
Pavano was sidelined last season after 17 games due to rotator cuff tendinitis. He's been battling back from a series of injuries, which includes surgery to remove a bone chip in his right elbow.

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Poll

How will Carl Pavano get hurt this week?

Ebola/Hanta Virus.

5 votes

Hit by meteor.

9 votes

Falls on butt. Again.

8 votes

Eats bad shellfish.

5 votes

Burns himself in icebath after start.

8 votes

He doesn't get hurt and is an ace again.

3 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I don't want Pavano to come back!

He is a crappy pitcher...2004 was a fluke caused by being in a pitchers park and having good defence behind him, he doesn't strike out a lot of hitters.

Go Yankees.

by goyankees on Aug 7, 2006 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Wang

The man proves that you don't need to strike out hitters to be good. Pavano has an acceptable strikeout rate -- averages around 6.00 per year. His best attribute his his walk rate, which he has consistently held under 2.00.

Remember, folks -- and I can't stress this enough -- he was pitching injured from the get-go in 2005. Those bone chips he had removed in May were certainly an issue a year prior.

The Sporting Brews
Editorializing the Yanks since 2005.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Aug 7, 2006 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the trick with Pavano will be to temper

expectations. I think his most useful role, playoffs-wise, could actually be out of the pen. Still, it is nice to have some non-Ponson insurance should Wright get hurt or Mussina or Johnson have to skip a start. Also, perhaps he could be used to give Wang a rest so he doesn't jump straight from 120 innings last year and before to over 200 this year (although his pitch-counts have generally not been too high).

by hugo @ Pinstripe Alley on Aug 8, 2006 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions

good observations

my expectations for Pavano are pretty low, but i'm admitedly jaded by his lack of contribution ever since he joined the team. but you make some excellent points -- i'll cut him some slack for now and hope you are right!

"90% of the game is half mental." - Yogi

by lee on Aug 8, 2006 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

We're not getting an ace if/when he returns in September. We're getting an experienced Major League pitcher who might -- just might -- be able to eat up some innings and give our hurlers a little relief.

The Sporting Brews
Editorializing the Yanks since 2005.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Aug 8, 2006 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

How leaves the rotation

I think it would be Wright. He kills the pen, even if his ERA is decent for his five innings. Then again, the chances of Pavano coming back healthy and effective are pretty low, so this may be academic.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Aug 8, 2006 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Great idea! And then if only Randy Johnson

could pitch as well as Wright all problems would be solved.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Aug 8, 2006 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Re-read my post

I am not saying that Wright isn't pitching well, but ERA is only part of the equation. His lack of endurance just kills our bullpen. If you still can't understand what I am saying the second time through, let me know and I will try to dumb it down for you some more.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Aug 8, 2006 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Re-read my post

As of late RJ has not been too kind to the bullpen either. Why pick on Wright when RJ has the same problem?

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Aug 8, 2006 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Because Wright's problem is more chronic

And not the chronic that Dr. Dre muses about.

The Sporting Brews
Editorializing the Yanks since 2005.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Aug 8, 2006 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Old age seems like a pretty

chronic problem to me. Personally, I would rather get six innings of 1 run ball than 3 innings of 6 run ball with the occasional complete game against KC.

P.S. Thank God the Yanks are in first place, otherwise this board would be brutal.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Aug 8, 2006 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Indeed

Unit is averaging over six innings a start, Wright is averaging less than five per start.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Aug 8, 2006 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

Mike A. at Baby Bombers has an intersting notion. What if Pavano can do for us out of the bullpen what Kelvim Escobar did for the Angels?

Yes, I majored in Wishful Thinking at Homer U.

The Sporting Brews
Editorializing the Yanks since 2005.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Aug 8, 2006 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Wishful thinking

but sounds good to me. I'm all for thinking positively about Pavano - at least until he breaks his butt again.

by Yankee Fanne on Aug 8, 2006 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a power pitcher

I think Escobar thrived in that role because he could blow people away. I don't see Carl doing that even if healthy.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Aug 8, 2006 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Here come's

ASS MAN, Carl Pavano!

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2006 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

waiting for the great pumpkin

I'm not going to anticipate his return too much, because I don't think he'll pitch for the Yankees this season. I kinda think we may never see Pavano pitch for a prolonged period with the Yankees.

I think what he refers to as "pain" is merely considered discomfort by other pitchers.

Whereas Pavano may have more athletic ability than other pitchers he doesn't have the same competitive drive.

I'd love to be wrong.

by collink on Aug 7, 2006 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

Yup,

he's a class a pussy

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2006 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

pavano can be johnson's mop up man in his the 50% of the games johnson bombs it....in 12 of his 24 starts he has given up 3 runs or less and avgerages just under 7 innings a start...in the other 12 he avg 5 runs given up per start and avg around 5 innings....it's like head or tails wen he starts

by wilson6590 on Aug 8, 2006 4:32 PM EDT reply actions