Thank You Carl Pavano
By Brian Mason
Dear Carl Pavano,
I’d like to personally thank you on behalf of Red Sox fans everywhere for signing with the Yankees. Last winter, as you were deemed the best free-agent pitcher on the market, you proceeded to complete a tour of all interested cities. From New York to Seattle, you were wined and dined by owners, coaches and players who all wanted you to play for them. When the Carl Pavano tour finally ended, you chose (with far too much publicity for a seemingly inevitable decision) the Yankees.
It may seem strange that I’m thanking you for this, but it was your snub of the reigning World Series champions that prompted General Manager Theo Epstein to seek out the services of the then-lesser-known Matt Clement. Mr. Clement was coming off a mediocre year with a final record of 9-13 — a weak showing compared to your impressive eighteen win season. I can only speculate that the Red Sox management must have seen something special in the prospect from Chicago, something that was not on display in his record. If Theo Epstein and his crew predicted Mr. Clement’s current success, I doubt they felt even the smallest tinge of disappointment upon your signing in the Bronx.
So, Mr. Pavano, as it stands now, you are an average 4-2, while Boston’s new gun is sitting on an impressive 5-0 start. Mr. Clement is coming off his first complete game of the season against Atlanta – one of National League’s best. Despite one or two mediocre outings (let’s not forget that you’ve had your share as well), Mr. Clement has yet to loose.
If we compare statistics (both of you have pitched in ten games this year), I’m sure it will be clear that you are losing every category to Mr. Clement. Mr. Clement has a rather fine E.R.A. of 3.34, although yours is not far behind at 3.69. But, if we look deeper, you will see that Mr. Clement has 47 strikeouts to your 37. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, Mr. Clement has allowed only 2 home runs this year, compared to the 11 that you have given up – a rather dismal number this early in the season, if I might add. During this past month of May, Mr. Clement has an improved E.R.A. of 2.86. I’m sure that you are aware that your E.R.A. has decreased to 4.22 for this month.
You have no excuses, Mr. Pavano. I don’t want to hear any complaining about the pressure of playing in New York, for Mr. Clement seems to be thriving in a similarly large and outspoken market. I don’t care if you were hit in the head by a ball shot back at you, because you probably threw a bad pitch. And most importantly, I don’t want to hear the argument that adjusting from the National League to the American League takes time. If you look at Mr. Clement, he does not appear to be the least bit phased by the transition.
I’d like you to know I did question your ability when the Red Sox were throwing eight figures in your direction. I will admit that you did pitch very well last season. But, could that eighteen-win season of yours have been a fluke? Two years ago, you didn’t even finish over .500. It took just one very good season for teams across the country to become infatuated with you. In the fiery hot stove competition between the Red Sox and Yankees last winter, it seemed that if Boston did not sway you to Fenway, the Yankees would walk away with the pennant because of their resulting superior pitching.
But, here we are at the end of May, Mr. Pavano. The pitcher Boston "settled" on is out-dueling you in every category – primarily with his 5-0 start. I mean this letter in all earnestness, for I am sincerely gracious for your decision to pass up the great city of Boston. Besides, someone who has the hubris to conduct a city-by-city tour promoting himself clearly belongs in the Bronx. The Red Sox and their fans are more than happy with Mr. Clement.
The utmost thanks,
Brian Mason
{Statistics from mlb.com were used in this article.}
