I think of all the words that New York Yankee fans could use to describe Carl Pavano, workhorse would not be one of them.
While Pavano clearly wasn’t a workhorse in New York, he has been one in Minnesota, and in 2010, he has become one of the best pitchers in the American League.
Pavano tossed his second complete game in a row last night as he and the Minnesota Twins blanked the Baltimore Orioles 5-0. Pavano allowed just five hits, walked one, and whiffed four in the 102-pitch effort.
Pavano and his 70’s porn mustache moved to 12-6 on the season, and he has a 3.26 ERA. For those of you not aware of how good Pavano has been this year, just take a look at his AL rankings after last night:
Wins: Second (12)
WHIP: Second (1.01)
CG: Second (5)
IP: Third (143.2)
First-Pitch Strike Percentage: Third (68.3)
ERA: 12th (3.26)
That is one heck of a season so far. It’s the type of season that will most likely have Pavano finish in the top-10 in AL Cy Young award voting. Who would have thought that before the season started?
Pavano is a free agent at the end of the year, and it’s unclear whether he will be back with the Twins in 2011.
However, one thing is clear—Pavano is having an amazing season in Minnesota.
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