Carl Pavano

[Macca11]

Is he to be trusted at home to the Red Sox tomorrow?
I benched him at Anaheim and he proved me wrong there.

[AllstonRockCity]

i realize MIN has a new home park, but in the past, trips to the twin cities have proved extremely difficult for the sawx. AT BOS, no way in hell, at home vs. Bos, I'd give him a chance. he looked precise against ANA the other night. nothing over 90-91, but pinpoint accuracy.

[lawr]

macca, i meant to post this morning, but work distracted me, and well, after the fact the words are not so pointed.

but, i see pavano really improving on his 2009, and turning in a great year for the twins, and i see the park helping him. why? because cold is generally the pitcher's friend, not the hitter's.

not to mention pavano has been a good ratio pitcher over the last year, and if you take away a few of his early season starts in 2009, like being mauled his first start by the rangers, well, all his numbers get better.

and, on a well managed team that stresses fundimentals like the twins, i see this as a boon.

keep him. he is really pretty good. when he is not hurt.

[Macca11]

Thanks for the comments, guys. Fenway, Arlington and the Bronx apart, I'll be mostly letting my pitchers pitch.
I guess it's picking up pitchers like Pavano off the wire that proves you should draft early/spend big on hitting.
Most of my pitching staff are injury risks, so I'm hoping for the best.
And if my hitters could just bring their average up to the Mendoza line...

[deansdaddy]

Shoot - I meant to post as well - I grabbed him last week in one NFBC league (not the Rookie League) and I pitched him this week. I liked that both games were at home - and figured with KC up next he was a good bet for at least one W - now we are looking at a potential nice 2 W week. I agree - he is a solid guy to have on the back end of your staff this year.

[deansdaddy]

Well - who would've predicted that KC would torch him for 7 runs - ruined a good week right there.

[Macca11]

“who would've predicted that KC would torch him for 7 runs?”

Not me, that's for sure. Closed down the Angels and Red Sox, got lit up by the Royals. Baseball certainly makes this crystal ball stuff difficult!

[Todd Zola]

To me, Pavano is the sort of guy you have to have a preset expectation for and are willing to accept, and then leave him in there, except for EXTREME road matchups like @NYY or @TEX or @BOS if those lineups are hitting.