Familiar Territory

"The hero is the great motivator, the magician, the person everyone will count on when things get tough.  They have unshakable character and style.  They do things everyone else wants to do but is afraid to try.  Heroes are symbolic figures whose deeds are out of the ordinary, but not too far out.  They show - often dramatically - that the ideal of success lies within human capacity." ~ Corporate Cultures (Deal & Kennedy, 1982)

The day was Wednesday, October 22, 2003.  The Florida Marlins were trailing the New York Yankees 2-games-to-1 in the World Series, after just having lost their first home game 6-1.  The Fish were in danger of going down 3-1, and having to play 2 of their final 3 games at Yankee Stadium.  Starting pitcher Mark Redman had performed poorly in the postseason, as had Dontrelle Willis; and both Josh Beckett and Brad Penny would not be rested enough to pitch Game 4.  What was Florida skipper, Jack McKeon to do?  Simple, give the ball to Carl Pavano.

Pavano, in October 2003

Pavano, at this point in his career, had been labeled a severe disappointment.  As the stud prospect who was acquired by the Montreal Expos when they traded away Pedro Martinez, Pavano was once expected to become an ace worthy of going toe-to-toe with someone of Pedro's stature.  Pavano had under-performed year in and year out in Montreal, and then was traded to Florida as a giveaway in a deal that brought Cliff Floyd to the Expos in July of the 2002 season.  With 2003 being his first full season, Pavano posted a mediocre 12-13 record with the Marlins, and had an earned run average of 4.30.  So naturally, when it came to the Marlins postseason run, Pavano was not in the plans.

Then something strange happened - Jack McKeon got desperate.  With the Marlins digging for some reliable bullpen help against the Giants in the NLDS, Pavano pitched a total of 2.2 innings in Games 2, 3, and 4 - giving up no runs on only 1 hit.  Then, amidst one of the greatest attempted comebacks in NLCS history, the Marlins turned to Pavano, in Game 6 against Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs.  McKeon gave Pavano the ball for the first postseason start of his career, as the Fish trailed 3-games-to-2.  Facing elimination, the Marlins would have to defeat Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, back-to-back, at Wrigley Field...something that had never been done...ever.  Pavano took the ball and went to work - going 5.2 innings, giving up 2 runs - not the best outing, but he kept his team within striking distance, and on that night, Steve Bartman took care of the rest.

So back to the 22nd, McKeon gives the ball to Pavano again, this time in an 'unofficial' must-win game against none other than Roger Clemens.  Clemens would be a tough opponent, not just because of his remarkable track record, but because this was likely to be the final start of his career (so we thought, at the time).  How did Pavano respond?  He went 8 innings, threw 115 pitches, surrendered no walks, and gave up only one run.  His performance was the heroic effort the Marlins needed to get back in the series...and after Alex Gonzalez's walk-off homer that night, they would never lose again.

Now what is the point?  Well tonight, here in 2010, the Minnesota Twins need someone to step up.  They need that person who is the great motivator and magician that creates success out of tough times.  So naturally, they are giving the ball to Carl Pavano.  The Twins have lost 10 straight postseason games, they haven't been out of the ALDS since 2002, and they are sick and tired of having the lead role in baseball's version of the movie Groundhog Day, where they just keep getting knocked around by the Yankees.  Ironically enough, they face an 'unofficial' must-win to tie the series - and 2 of the next 3 games will be played in the Bronx.  That puts Pavano in some pretty familiar territory, especially because he'll be opposing yet another Yankee legend...Andy Pettitte.

We keep hearing the critics mention how if the Twins want to beat the Yanks this time around, they need to do something different, they need to play the Yanks in a way they never have before - simply put, they need to stop being intimidated.  So in the moment that they need a leader, at the time that they face the daunting possibility of heading to the Bronx down 2-0, when they feel like it's just the same old story - they'll lean on a guy who has once again fallen off the map and fallen short of expectations...expectations that he created in October of 2003.  This time it's a shot at redemption for both the Twins and the man on the mound.  The Twins look to get back in this series, and Pavano looks to get back on the big stage.  Tonight Carl Pavano takes the hill at Target Field, and the Twins need him to be something more than just an average pitcher...they need him to be a hero.

Go get 'em, Carl.