Post by musicradio77 on Apr 5, 2005 18:53:36 GMT -5
From the Daily News:
Ex-Fish Ready to Dive In
Pavano to debut for Yanks
BY SAM BORDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Much was made of Carl Pavano's lunch with Curt Schilling over the winter, since the Red Sox were angling to land the free-agent righthander and Pavano had admired Schilling as a kid. But ultimately, it was a conversation Pavano had with Joe Torre that made the difference in his decision about where to sign.
Torre had heard speculation that Pavano wasn't interested in playing in New York and wanted the opportunity to talk with the pitcher, while Pavano wanted to set the record straight about his willingness to come to the Bronx. The meeting, which took place at a West Palm Beach restaurant in November, resonated with both.
Now, five months later, Pavano - after inking a four-year, $39.95 million deal - will take the ball in the second game of the Yankees season and make his debut against Boston today. He admitted near the end of spring training that he is prone to excitability, but said he doesn't believe he'll be overwhelmed by his surroundings.
Dealing with those emotions is what worries the Yankees most about any new pitcher, since history has shown - most recently with Javier Vazquez - that not every successful young hurler can feel comfortable in pinstripes.
"That wasn't something that was going to deter me from this challenge," Pavano said. "There are guys who have signed with other teams as free agents that have done well or done bad. You can say that about any organization. This one, the exposure is a little different, so everyone gets to hear about it.
"There's definitely going to be some energy (this) morning, but I don't think it's going to be a foreign situation or anything."
That's understandable. Pavano hasn't pitched in many big games, but he did stand up to Roger Clemens in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, allowing a lone run over eight innings before the bullpen coughed up the lead and Alex Gonzalez eventually won the game for the Marlins with a home run in the 12th inning. Pavano didn't get the win that night, but he did show something that Yankee executives didn't forget.
In any other year, Pavano would have spent the past six weeks under the hottest lights in Tampa, scrutinized as the top pitcher the Bombers brought in during the offseason. The presence of Randy Johnson lifted that stress, leaving Pavano - the most hotly contested free agent pitcher of the winter - to move in relative anonymity.
"Randy got all the attention," Torre said. "But (Pavano) is a big guy that can come after you. He wants to carry his share of the load."
Torre said he is still getting to know Pavano, but finds his quiet, low-key personality familiar. After one conversation in his office during the spring, Torre turned to pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and said Pavano reminded him of Andy Pettitte.
"Just the personality," Torre stressed. "The shyish side. Maybe his size."
The Yankees would be overjoyed if Pavano's performances were also reminiscent of Pettitte. Pavano was a hot commodity during the offseason because he was coming off a 2004 in which he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA, but that was by far his best season; he's a career 57-58 with a 4.21 ERA.
"He looks like a guy who is a workhorse," Torre said of Pavano. "He's going to keep the ball down more times than not, use both sides of the plate. He's probably pretty anxious to get the first start over with, too."
Pavano, who grew up in Southington, Conn., said his parents will be in the Bronx for his Yankee debut. They'll be watching him pitch for the first time at the Stadium since he helped beat the Bombers two Octobers ago.
What's changed since then?
"There's a little more traffic," Pavano joked. "There are a lot of things that are different. You walk through these doors and think about some of the guys that have come through this stadium. It's pretty exciting to be a part of it."
Ex-Fish Ready to Dive In
Pavano to debut for Yanks
BY SAM BORDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Much was made of Carl Pavano's lunch with Curt Schilling over the winter, since the Red Sox were angling to land the free-agent righthander and Pavano had admired Schilling as a kid. But ultimately, it was a conversation Pavano had with Joe Torre that made the difference in his decision about where to sign.
Torre had heard speculation that Pavano wasn't interested in playing in New York and wanted the opportunity to talk with the pitcher, while Pavano wanted to set the record straight about his willingness to come to the Bronx. The meeting, which took place at a West Palm Beach restaurant in November, resonated with both.
Now, five months later, Pavano - after inking a four-year, $39.95 million deal - will take the ball in the second game of the Yankees season and make his debut against Boston today. He admitted near the end of spring training that he is prone to excitability, but said he doesn't believe he'll be overwhelmed by his surroundings.
Dealing with those emotions is what worries the Yankees most about any new pitcher, since history has shown - most recently with Javier Vazquez - that not every successful young hurler can feel comfortable in pinstripes.
"That wasn't something that was going to deter me from this challenge," Pavano said. "There are guys who have signed with other teams as free agents that have done well or done bad. You can say that about any organization. This one, the exposure is a little different, so everyone gets to hear about it.
"There's definitely going to be some energy (this) morning, but I don't think it's going to be a foreign situation or anything."
That's understandable. Pavano hasn't pitched in many big games, but he did stand up to Roger Clemens in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, allowing a lone run over eight innings before the bullpen coughed up the lead and Alex Gonzalez eventually won the game for the Marlins with a home run in the 12th inning. Pavano didn't get the win that night, but he did show something that Yankee executives didn't forget.
In any other year, Pavano would have spent the past six weeks under the hottest lights in Tampa, scrutinized as the top pitcher the Bombers brought in during the offseason. The presence of Randy Johnson lifted that stress, leaving Pavano - the most hotly contested free agent pitcher of the winter - to move in relative anonymity.
"Randy got all the attention," Torre said. "But (Pavano) is a big guy that can come after you. He wants to carry his share of the load."
Torre said he is still getting to know Pavano, but finds his quiet, low-key personality familiar. After one conversation in his office during the spring, Torre turned to pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and said Pavano reminded him of Andy Pettitte.
"Just the personality," Torre stressed. "The shyish side. Maybe his size."
The Yankees would be overjoyed if Pavano's performances were also reminiscent of Pettitte. Pavano was a hot commodity during the offseason because he was coming off a 2004 in which he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA, but that was by far his best season; he's a career 57-58 with a 4.21 ERA.
"He looks like a guy who is a workhorse," Torre said of Pavano. "He's going to keep the ball down more times than not, use both sides of the plate. He's probably pretty anxious to get the first start over with, too."
Pavano, who grew up in Southington, Conn., said his parents will be in the Bronx for his Yankee debut. They'll be watching him pitch for the first time at the Stadium since he helped beat the Bombers two Octobers ago.
What's changed since then?
"There's a little more traffic," Pavano joked. "There are a lot of things that are different. You walk through these doors and think about some of the guys that have come through this stadium. It's pretty exciting to be a part of it."