TORONTO — How bad is the Yankees’ season going? The very smart money is being sent in on Carl “American Idle” Pavano, against all odds, starting Saturday night in Baltimore.
Though Joe Girardi won’t divulge the identity of Saturday’s starter, there were strong indications today that it will be Pavano, perhaps the biggest bust in Yankees’ franchise history considering he has worked 19 games for the $40 million bestowed on him prior to the 2005 season.
First, according to Trenton (Double-A) pitching coach Scott Aldred, Pavano looked strong in a bullpen session today.
“He was perfect,” Aldred told the Trenton Times. “It was the best I have seen him.”
Two, Phil Hughes isn’t believed to be ready for big-league action yet after five minor-league rehab starts.
Tuesday, Hughes was listed as Saturday’s starter for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A). That was switched last night when Hughes was slotted into a start tomorrow night with Chase Wright penciled in for Saturday.
How desperate are the Yankees? Publicly, none of the players spoke despairingly of Pavano re-entering their universe.
“If anything we are excited,” Jason Giambi said of Pavano, who has pitched in 19 games in three-plus years and hasn’t worked a big league game since last May due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Pavano missed the entire 2006 season with assorted injuries that included a bruised buttock.
“We need a win and he is a guy who can help. I hope we get the real Carl Pavano.”
They Yankees started tonight’s game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre 11 games behind the AL East-leading Rays and 6 1/2 back of the wild-card-leading Red Sox. The Yankees were closer to the last-place Orioles than to the Red Sox.
Who knows what the deficit will be if Pavano takes the Camden Yards mound Saturday night? What will be known is that there will be five weeks remaining in a season that will be remembered as much for underachieving players as it will be for the finale at Yankee Stadium.
“Everyone knows we need wins,” Johnny Damon said. “Hopefully the guy can provide them. Every game is important. Everyone is just looking to win games; if it means Pavano, hopefully he can win.”