Pavano Wrap-Up; Change Your Bookmark

Just lead off with this... Sometime today, I'll be doing the switch. The old URL, http://tribetimereport.blogspot.com will still be available for some time. But if your reading this and the name has changed to "The Tribe Daily" then you best update your bookmark if you in fact are crazy enough to bookmark this site.

http://thetribedaily.com is the new URL.

NOW...

One Carl Pavano.

Let's recap this whole thing.

- Pavano is signed for one year and one year only.

- He is assured a roster spot and a rotation spot if he is healthy come season start.

- He will make $1.5 in guaranteed money, no matter what.

- Michael Aubrey was DFAed in response to this move, if he clears waivers he can be brought back.

- Pavano can make up to $5.3 in incentive money. That breaks down like this.

$100,000 For Starting 18, 20, and 22 games.
$100,000 For Pitching 130, 140, and 150 innings.
$150,000 For Pitching 160 and 170 innings.
$200,000 For Starting 24, 26, and 28 games.
$200,000 For Pitching 180 innings.
$250,000 For Starting 30 games.
$250,000 For Pitching 190 and 200 innings.
$300,000 For Starting 32 games.
$300,000 For Pitching 215 innings.
$350,000 For Starting 33 and 34 games.
$400,000 For Starting 35 games.
$400,000 For Pitching 225 innings.
$500,000 For Pitching 235 innings.

Basically, we'll know by 18 starts if this guy is going to get it done. If not, later man, no more cash for you.

If he even reaches the 200 inning mark, it will be well worth it, because as we've learned with Jason Johnson (and many people think this is him part II) if you aren't pitching well, there is a youngster behind you that could pitch better, so get out.

Now look... I'm not the biggest fan of Carl Pavano, but I'm a fan on the take a small risk on the veteran arm and hope for something. I was campaigning for Freddy Garcia, but you take what you get.

The main argument you can make against signing Pavano or any veteran is. What is so different than just letting Jeremy Sowers or Aaron Laffey take a shot?

Honestly... I don't know. Age.. If you have Freddy Garcia, you got a more established name who has had more than one year of success. Pavano is really riding off one great year that netted him that deal with the Yankees.

Here you are essentially dealing with Pavano, a guy with a good 2004 year, and that's pretty much it and Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, guys who combined have probably had just as much as Pavano.

I can see this working out either way.

1.) Pavano stinks it up for 5 starts, people start clamoring for him to get cut. He sucks it up for five more and gets the axe. Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers come in, do good and everyone goes, "SEE! WHY DID WE WASTE OUR FREAKING TIME AND MONEY ON THAT BUM!"

2.) Pavano pitches well enough to stick around.. He makes a few more bucks off a couple more starts, but get hurts, we cut him and let one of the youngsters take over until Jake Westbrook is healthy and ready to go, if that is the case.

Really, what's the big deal? Okay so it's a waste of time if he starts ten games, and $1.5 million dollars.

Money not well spent, which is a problem for this team who can't screw around with this type of stuff..

But, Shapiro views Pavano with HIGH UPSIDE. Is there high upside given his one year of success? I'm not sure.

"He's physically poised to have a season like that," Shapiro said, referring to '04, "and that's a guy who could have a big role in our starting rotation."

I will say though, Shapiro doesn't sound like he's going to let Pavano screw around.

"If he's healthy, he'll be in our rotation," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "And we expect him to be healthy."

But could the New York pressure have got to him? Not to mention the numerouos injuries?

"I don't think we'll have to worry about it," Shapiro said. "I think we're getting this guy at the right time. It was a tough situation with where this guy was in New York. It was tough for him to justify the contract he had. We're providing the right environment for him to be successful."

So... Let me recap his injuries for you.

2005 - Started 17 Games, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis..
2006 - Started the year on the disabled list for a... bruised ass? What the hell? Then he missed time for other various reasons, got into a car accident, hid that and didn't play in a single game that year.
2007 - Got knocked around opening day, came back a start later, beat the Twins, blew out his elbow, missed the year with Tommy John surgery.
2008 - Started seven games at the end of the year. Won FOUR games (largely off run support) with a 5.77 ERA.

Shapiro insits he is strong and focused. Mike Mussina, if you remember, questioned him and his desire to pitch for the Yankees.

Maybe.. Maybe it was New York..

As for moving on this offseason, the Indians are pretty much done, and I think I can say that with assurance that there is no more cash left.

"We'll continue to be creative," Shapiro said. "But at this point, we would not expect addition to our payroll without subtraction. There are still some things we could do, as far as bringing other guys in the mix [with Minor League deals] or potential trades, as well."

Who you going to subtract? The only guy is Kelly Shoppach and his money he hasn't gotten officially yet.

And I don't see that happening, at least not unless the Indians are knocked over with an offer for him.

So at this point... There won't be much more than just minor league deals offered. The Sal Fasano watch is on.

With that said... Isn't it rather ironic that the Indians are signing Carl Pavano while the Yankees are signing CC Sabathia?

A lot of people are actually laughing if you didn't think Ron Vallo's idea was valid.

There are Yankee fans laughing.

You know Baseball is a funny sport as we know.. You just never know anymore... 15 Win Season Perhaps?

Paul Cousineau put it best, when he's healthy he is a good middle of the rotation starter, which is what we wanted. But you need to underline when healthy, fifteen times and put it in parenthesis, brackets, and highlight it with a bright pink highlighter.

Anyway... I'm done..

Hafner is doing something as well.. Enjoy that.. I'd rather talk about the injured pitcher than our injured DH.

Oh speaking of DH's who can play first.. Michael Aubrey, one last note on him. Shapiro said it was emotionally tough, but the depth at first made the move the most logical one.

Oh boy.. The uh finanical board as I like to call it now needs a good updating with this Pavano deal and so does everything else. I'll try to get to it today during the epic name change.. Whoopeededoooo..