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PAVANO SKIPS BULLPEN SESSION

STIFF NECK PUTS SATURDAY START IN DOUBT

By GEORGE A. KING III
May 25, 2007. He was in line to return Saturday for the Yankees but a stiff neck may derail that plan."
Last updated: 6:47 pm
August 19, 2008
Posted: 6:38 pm
August 19, 2008

TORONTO -- Yankees New York Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano Carl Pavano came out of a minor-league rehab start Sunday with stiffness in his neck and didn't throw a bullpen session today.

Pavano has been sidelined seemingly forever with a list of injuries ranging from a balky back to a bruised buttocks to rotator cuff tendinitis to a torn elbow ligament.

"He came out of his start with stiffness," Joe Girardi said before the game against the Blue Jays. "I don't think it had anything to do with him not (throwing a bullpen)."

If Pavano is Saturday's starter in Baltimore, he would have to throw a bullpen today, but Girardi didn't say if that was in the plan.

Because the Yankees' options include a not-ready-for-the-big-leagues Phil Hughes Phil Hughes and not much else, Pavano is in the mix to start Saturday night at Camden Yards.

"We hope to have it by Thursday," Girardi said of his Saturday starter. "We are still having internal discussions."

With Hughes not ready; Ian Kennedy and Kei Igawa, who isn't on the 40-man roster, not under consideration; and Victor Zambrano just getting back to throwing in games, Pavano has a real chance to walk into the clubhouse to try to keep the Yankees' flickering postseason hopes alive.

He has been close before. Actually, he made it back for two games a year ago before his right elbow required Tommy John surgery.

Prior to that, the 32-year-old experienced a litany of medical problems, some whose validity was challenged by teammates.

Girardi said there wouldn't be a problem with Pavano if he was tabbed for Saturday's assignment.

"The common goal is to try and win," said Girardi, who has had Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina go to the post for every start this year but has lost Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Kennedy and Hughes to injury. "If he (Pavano) is going Saturday, he is pitching to win for this club."

In five minor-league starts (two at Single-A Charleston; three for Double-A Trenton) he is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA. He has allowed 20 hits in 19 innings, walked four and fanned 19. Batters are hitting .270 against him.

Pavano was the Yankees' Opening Day starter last season then made one more start. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since May 25, 2007 in Minnesota.