Carl Pavano vs. Andy Pettitte in Yankees' ALDS game 3

Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano hands a
ball to a fan before Game 2 of the American
League division baseball series against the
New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in
New York Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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With a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series the Yankees are heading for Minnesota to take on the Twins in game three on Sunday at 7:07 PM ET. 

Andy Pettitte gets the start against ex-Invisible Yankee (2005-2008) Carl Pavano.

As Dave Campbell of the Associated Press said, “Pavano in pinstripes became one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history,” with his $39.95 million for four years in which he pitched only 145.2 innings due to difficult to fathom injuries.

In the same article Campbell quoted Pavano’s characterization of his time in the Bronx as a “Black period” in his career. Well, it wasn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows for Yankee fans either.

Many Yankee fans will be booing the American Idle from their couches Sunday night and are hoping the Yanks can polish off the ALDS against their former signing bust.

After signing with the Indians at the beginning of the season, Pavano was picked up by Minnesota and has started 12 games posting a 4.64 ERA and earning a 5-4 record.

All told in 2009 Pavano carried a 5.10 ERA and 14-12 record – not terrible but certainly not what has been expected of him since a 3.00 ERA and 18-8 record in his final year as a Marlin in 2004.

Also not the numbers you would expect from a number three starter on a playoff team.

Pavano’s only postseason pitching experience came in 2003 when the Marlins beat the Yankees for the World Series. That postseason Pavano worked a 2-0 record and a 1.40 ERA in two starts and six relief appearances, but that was a different Carl Pavano altogether.

In two starts against the Yankees this season Pavano has given up only four runs on 11 hits in 13.1 innings, though both starts came prior to the All-Star Break when the Yankees hit their stride for the season.

Andy Pettitte on the other hand has exceeded expectations over his impressive 194.2 innings in 2009 with a 4.16 ERA and a 14-8 record at 37-years-old.

Pettitte has only faced the Twins once this season and was touched for 12 hits in 6.2 innings for four runs but still got the win.