Leaving Yankee Stadium Sunday I had to walk past Carl Pavano’s old parking space. Pavano is now officially a Yankee memory. His parking space is gone, too. Pavano’s No. 45 was painted over with black paint and replaced by the white No. 22 for the Rocket Mobile.
That is one expensive parking space, the most expensive space in New York when you consider Pavano is pulling down $40 million over the life of his contract from the Yankees and Roger Clemens is due about $17.4 million this year.
Pavano’s vehicle was still in that spot, though, because, word is, Pavano didn’t leave his keys so his vehicle could be moved to the disabled lot.
And now Clemens already has as many wins as Pavano has the last two years as a Yankee.
The Yankees had more energy in Clemens’ debut because they wanted so badly for the Rocket to come away with a victory. He did, a 9-3 win over the Pirates and now Clemens and the Yankees can get into a routine. When Clemens messed up like when he allowed the game to be tied with a two-out walk and a two-run double, he came into the dugout and told his teammates: “My fault.”
Clemens has his first Yankee win in 2007 and soon he will officially have his parking spot.