A few random thoughts on a Sunday:
–When spring training began, I would have thought Allie Reynolds had a better chance of starting on Opening Day than Carl Pavano. I guess that is why we all keep coming back. The games and the seasons do not have scripts. Strange things do happen. But I do keep having this recurring thought that Pavano actually has to make it another week without getting hurt to actually take his turn in the rotation. And does anyone feel comfortable with that inside of outside the Yankee organization?
–Letâs give a little recent history: Teams were crazy for veteran pitching this past offseason. Even for those of us who have learned not to be surprised when salaries rise yet again, there was some surprise when the numbers came in. I mean, $55 million for Gil Meche.
Nevertheless, even in this market, Chan Ho Park could not get a job until February. The Mets agreed to pay him $600,000 or one-fifth of what the Orioles agreed to pay Steve Trachsel. So we have to assume the market for Mr. Park was not really all that hot. So when the Mets told him that they were planning on shifting him to the bullpen to begin the season, it would have been a good time for Park to shut up or simply say thank you. To indicate his displeasure, well, that was just plain ridiculous.
–Good for Mike Pelfrey pitching his way into the rotation during spring training and better yet for Lastings Milledge forcing the Mets to make a serious decision about whether he should be the regular right fielder rather than Shawn Green.
Milledge left the Mets last year with damaged having been done to his reputation on and off the field. He came to this camp, though, and showed greater maturity in his bearings and in his game. It is a long year and so â like with Pavano â we will keep skepticism somewhere in our mind. But, for now, Milledge has done all he could do with spring training, and that is a real plus on his record.
