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Daily Scoop (cont.)

Posted: Wednesday March 7, 2007 12:06PM; Updated: Wednesday March 7, 2007 3:01PM
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Pavano doesn't want to pay

Carl Pavano's stint with the Yankees has been one headache after another.
Carl Pavano's stint with the Yankees has been one headache after another.
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The Yankees were hoping Carl Pavano could showcase his good side this spring, and after suffering two small physical setbacks (a case of "heavy legs" that forced him to miss a day, followed by a bruised foot caused by a liner), he impressed with two shutout innings. But around the corner is another reminder that he needs to keep focusing on what matters.

Team sources say Pavano may have to testify in Tampa later this month in a hearing over his non-payment of the commission on his $39.95 million Yankees deal. The commission should amount to close to $2 million, assuming the standard agents' fee of five percent. Get a load of this. Apparently, Pavano's contention is the agent should have gotten at least $40 million, not just a mere $39.95 million (for a lifetime losing pitcher, no less). So Pavano is handling it by paying nothing.

Amazing that he's the one who apparently feels he got a bum deal. What do you think the Yankees think about the $39.95 million contract?

Based on what he's done in pinstripes, Pavano should not only be paying his former agent but paying back $40 mil to the Yankees, as well. Oh sorry, $39.95 million.

Serving up the gyroball

JUPITER, Fla. -- Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, the $103.1 million import, has enough weapons without hitters imagining new ones. He impressed folks in his first outing vs. major-league hitters Tuesday, throwing his fastball between 91-93 mph (according to my scout) and tossing an assortment of other pitches in three shutout innings against Florida.

One pitch a few Marlins swore he threw was the much-hyped "gyroball." Though many in baseball claim the gyroball doesn't really exist.

"I took the gyroball," the Marlins' Jason Stokes said, almost matter-of-factly. Stokes ultimately struck out looking at a deadly 3-and-2 curveball, but swears the 2-2 pitch he took up and away for a ball was a genuine gyroball. And Jeremy Hermida swears he saw one, too, at least according to Hanley Ramirez.

"It looks like a split-finger, maybe a little bit slower," reports Stokes, who has yet to bat in the majors and was shocked at the attention he received following his encounter with Matsuzaka. Stokes also described the pitch as a cross between a splitter and a changeup, a pitch that moves down and in to right-handed hitters.

Stokes and Ramirez said there was a lot of talk about the gyroball on the Marlins bench. But there was no talk from Matsuzaka about gyroballs in his press conference.

I asked him through an interpreter about Stokes' claim that he threw the pitch. Matsuzaka's response was to smile broadly, blush unashamedly and wipe his eyes animatedly. The interpreter relayed, "He has nothing to talk about."

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