Praise for Pavano?

I haven't seen this much mediocrity since I was in West Virginia.

Carl Pavano – everyone’s favorite whipping boy – finally went back to work on August 23, 2008. Oriole Park. Saturday Night. Numerous predictions of 5 innings or less.

And, Pavano delievered. Five innings, that is.

The Yankees won 6-3 thanks in part to the tall righthander who allowed three earned runs, 7 hits, one walk and racked up five strikeouts. But YES’ “Chevy Player of the Game”? Let’s be serious, here. His ERA is over the traditionally-mediocre 4.50, so I’m not giving him a trophy.

With the Red Sox loss on Saturday, the Yanks are now five games back. If that lead is the same or closer by the time the arch rivals begin their series on Tuesday, it will have big implications. After all, it seems as if the Sawx are hitting a snag of their own, and being forced to use less-than-desirable options to shore up the rotation. Beckett is on the fritz, too…