In recent years, the rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox has continued in the off-season. Two years ago, the teams engaged in a hard-fought battle for Jose Contreras. Last year, it was Curt Schilling and Alex Rodriguez.

 

This winter's Yankees-Red Sox battle may center on Southington's Carl Pavano. With the Yankees in desperate need of straightening out a troubled pitching staff and the Sox in danger of losing both Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, both teams will covet the 28-year-old right-hander.

 

If Pavano ends up in pinstripes, it may be the result of a timely trip that Yankees Manager Joe Torre made to Florida 10 days ago.

 

As Torre tells the story, he was in West Palm Beach for his nephew's wedding and learned that Pavano was playing golf near the same restaurant at which Torre would be attending the wedding rehearsal dinner.

 

Torre was a little murky on exactly how the meeting was arranged. His brother Frank was involved and Torre said he "reached out" to Pavano. Regardless, the two spent about a half hour at the same table talking about Pavano's future and how the Yankees might fit into it.

 

Torre didn't get any commitments. He also didn't get the feeling that the intensely private Pavano had ruled out coming to the media capital of the world. Pavano's agent Scott Shapiro has said as much. Torre wanted to hear it himself.

 

"I've heard he might not want to pitch in New York," said Torre, who joined many fellow Yankees at the Mohegan Sun this weekend for a charity roast of former Yankees bench coach, Don Zimmer. "I wanted to make sure we were involved. I knew there would be hell to pay later if it came out that he would have loved to play for the Yankees, but no one contacted him.

 

"He seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say," Torre continued. "He was very open with me, very at ease."

 

Torre called Pavano a "helluva pitcher" and "physically bigger than I expected."

 

The Yankees are familiar with Pavano. He pitched well against them in the 2003 World Series as a member of the Florida Marlins.

 

"He made a lasting impression on all of us," Torre said, referring to players, coaches, scouts and the front office.

 

Torre has no idea of the team's chances of landing Pavano, but is always confident that any player the Yankees are interested in may eventually sign.

 

"Players want to come here for the obvious reasons," he said. "They know George Steinbrenner is willing to spend a lot of money and they know they are going to have every opportunity to be in the postseason."

 

Torre's longtime pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and brand-new bench coach Joe Girardi, both gushed about Pavano.

 

Stottlemyre rated Pavano as the number one pitcher in this year's free-agent class because of his young age, his success over the past two regular seasons and his clutch pitching in the 2003 postseason.

 

"New York is no different than pitching anywhere else unless you make it that way," Stottlemyre said of the rumors about Pavano's reluctance to play in New York.

 

"It's not a particularly deep crop of free-agent pitchers," Girardi said. "Carl is definitely one of the guys at the head of the class."

 

Like Torre, the rest of us will have to wait for Pavano's decision.

 

I think the meeting bodes well for the Yankees. Pavano is a stand-up small town guy. If he wasn't interested in signing with the Yankees he wouldn't have taken up Torre's time.

 

Torre is very media-savvy. If he felt the Yankees had no shot at Pavano, he would already be sounding alarm bells to cushion the eventual outcome. I also don't think Stottlemyre would have been as effusive about Pavano if he thought the Yankees didn't have a fair chance of landing him.

 

Despite his size, Pavano is not a strikeout pitcher. More than 70 percent of the hitters he faces put the ball in play, many times in the air. So defense and ballpark dimensions will probably factor into his decision. The Yankees probably have an edge over the Sox in both areas.

 

If it does come down to the Sox or the Yankees, Southington is a winner either way. A lot of people that have been following him since Little League, will get to see him pitch and surely Pavano will have more opportunities to visit his hometown.

 

Celebrity Dinner: Former Yankees catcher John Ellis tells me the headliner for the 2005 Connecticut Sports Foundation Annual Celebrity Dinner will be Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield. The event is Feb.11 at the Mohegan Sun.

 

Ellis founded the organization, which provides cancer patients with financial assistance for basic needs like utilities, shelter and medicine.

 

Ellis said he's excited about landing Sheffield, who is in the running for the American League Most Valuable Player award. Zimmer and Stottlemyre have already committed to return. Other Yankees will be there as well. A member of the World Champion Red Sox might be in attendance. Last year, Johnny Damon shined during the pre-dinner reception. He chatted, signed autographs and took pictures for well over an hour. Zimmer and Stottlemyre also make a lot of time to sign and chat.

 

http://www.record-journal.com/articles/200...tomaselli01.txt

I rather Pavano go to the Redsox. I just cant stand these Yankees.

 

lol he is right about Pavano being physically fit.... :lol

Pavano can't go to the Yankees, they're cursed. But I guess he'll get $10 million a year or something outrageous like that. :thumbdown

Whatever, the Sox and Yanks are one in the same...

 

No use trying to outbid them, let them make the stupid mistake of signing him to a lucrative contract after his first good season in the pros

Pavano can't go to the Yankees, they're cursed.614879[/snapback]

:blink: :blink: :blink:

The Sox have Schill in their corner. I hope we reel this "Fish" in.

I rather Pavano go to the Redsox.

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I'd rather see Pavano go to the........ Marlins.

I rather Pavano go to the Redsox.

614877[/snapback]

 

I'd rather see Pavano go to the........ Marlins.

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My sentiments exactly.

I rather Pavano go to the Redsox.

614877[/snapback]

 

I'd rather see Pavano go to the........ Marlins.

614982[/snapback]

My sentiments exactly.

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Third :cool

Pavano is the real deal. This year was no fluke, but his breakout year.

 

I'd love to see him back in a Marlins uniform. But we can't break the bank to get him. Re-signing Benitez should be a higher priority, IMO.

Of course most of us would love to see Pavano back but it would kill me more if he left and played for those Yanks. :confused