The 4-game series with the Cleveland Indians brings pitcher Carl Pavano back to the forefront…unfortunately.

 

With the Indians this year, Pavano has been effective, and has beaten both the Red Sox and the Rays this month.  His record is 5-4.  Compare that to the fact that it took him until the third year of his 4-year, $39.95 million contract to win his 5^th game with the Yankees.  Of course, the Indians are paying just a fraction of the price (1-year, $1.5 million).

 

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I have never disputed that Pavano has a quality arm.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the head to match.  Time will tell if he implodes with the Indians, but you expect that it will eventually happen.  For now, the Indians going along for the ride, and reaping the rewards.  Good luck with that…

 

Some guys just aren’t cut out for New York, and Carl Pavano proved that he is just another Ed Whitson.  Cleveland is probably a much better environment, with much less pressure, for Pavano.

 

 

 

Had he still been with the Yankees, I am sure that he would have found his way to the DL by now…

 

Barring a possible rainout tonight, Pavano is scheduled to pitch on Sunday against Phil Hughes.  Hopefully, Phil will prevent the Yanks from becoming the latest AL East giant to fall to the American Idle…

 

                                                   
Pavano!                          Pavano!                    Pavano!                    Pavano!                 

 

Other News

Jorge Posada was activated from the DL today, and is in the starting lineup for tonight’s game with the Cleveland Indians.  Kevin Cash was sent down to Triple A-Scranton/Wilkes Barre.  Francisco Cervelli will most likely catch CC Sabathia on Saturday against the Tribe.  The Yankees have an interesting decision to make when Jose Molina returns.  They’ll probably go the conservative route and send Cervelli down, but I’d rather keep Cervelli than Molina.  Then again, there’s a reason that Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi draw paychecks from the Yankees and I don’t…

 

 

The Yankees briefly held a share of first place.  Following Wednesday’s win in Texas, combined with a Red Sox loss, the Yankees had drawn even with the Red Sox.  However, it was short-lived as the Red Sox won on Thursday (the Yankees were off, or rather at a basketball game).  So, entering tonight’s action, the Yankees remain in second place, a ½ game behind the Red Sox.

 

 

 

I saw that the Yankees might be one of several possible suitors for Cleveland’s Mark DeRosa.  He would be an upgrade over Ramiro Pena and Angel Berroa, and I admired the intangibles and the play that DeRosa brought to last year’s Chicago Cubs.  The Cubs haven’t been the same this year, and I think the loss of DeRosa is one reason.  Of course, it wouldn’t surprise me if either the Atlanta Braves or Chicago Cubs re-acquired DeRosa

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AP

Two ex-Yankees were DFA’d today.  Cleveland designated outfielder David Dellucci for assignment to make room for reliever Rafael Perez.  Meanwhile, in Baltimore, catcher Chad Moeller was the victim of the much hyped major league arrival of top baseball prospect Matt Wieters.

 

 

 

I liked Joe Girardi’s comment when asked about a possible move of Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen (the ongoing debate that will not die):  “That’s why the Presidential debates are better,” Girardi said.  “They end.”  I have not been a proponent of moving Chamberlain, but he does need to figure out how to pitch in the first inning and when he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Melky Cabrera is back with the team, and is listed as day-to-day.  He won’t play for a few days, but he shouldn’t be out as long as initially projected so that’s a good thing.

How come Boston never has to face Roy Halladay when they play the Toronto Blue Jays?  I don’t get it.  The schedule is perfectly aligned in their favor.  I realize this isn’t Yankees news, but it obviously affects the team since Halladay is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball.  And, of course, Julia is loving every minute of it…

 

I agree with Dodgers manager Joe Torre, I don’t think that Manny Ramirez should play in the All-Star Game if selected…

What was up with the six wild pitches thrown by the Boston Red Sox the other day?

 

 

The Yankees have played a franchise-record 14 games without an error.  That’s an amazing stat, particularly given how weak defensively the team has been in recent years.  But I have to admit, offensive stats aside, I love watching Mark Teixeira field at first base.  I can’t even say that he’s an upgrade over Jason Giambi because that would be a huge understatement.  I know the phrase “defense wins championships” is specific to pro football, but I’ll take it for the Yanks.  Works for me!

 

 

 

Cavs over Magic

Yankees fan LeBron James led his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to victory over the Orlando Magic in a home game that was attended by Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Brian Bruney, Brett Gardner and Joba Chamberlain.  The Cavs now trail the Magic 3 games to 2 in their best-of-seven series.  I am not a Cavs fan, but I am a LeBron fan and it would be fun to see him in the NBA Finals.  Nothing against Dwight Howard and the Magic, but LeBron is the best the NBA has to offer.  It’s just a bonus that he’s a Yankees fan too.

 

 

Ironically, it was Yankees reliever Brett Tomko’s dad who gave the Cavaliers their name.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer held a contest in 1970 that drew 11,000 entries, and Jerry Tomko had the winning selection:  “The name Cleveland Cavaliers represents a group of daring, fearless men whose life’s pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds.”  That’s an interesting bit of trivia that I did not know…

 

 

 

Good luck to LeBron and the James as they continue their quest to overcome impossible odds in beating the Orlando Magic!

 

–Scott