Not O-Kei

As far as Joe Girardi knows, the plan calls for Kei Igawa to start Wednesday night at Tampa Bay. So, Igawa has four days to come up with another 2-3 mph on his fastball, and find his changeup. Shouldn't be a problem.

At this rate - no joke- Carl Pavano has a better chance of making more starts in '08 than Igawa. Our pal in Tampa, Mark Didtler, reports that Pavano is still throwing on flat ground. One of these days, Pavano will meet the mound.

Girardi said it would be a great story if Pavano contributed in the second half and won six games. And the next meeting of the Eternal Optimists Club will be held Thursday at old Tiger Stadium.

A few of us stopped into the Tigers clubhouse to check in with Gary Sheffield. He talked some about missing the intensity of New York. Just like Darryl Strawberry, Sheff liked to be motivated by a crowd or a controversy. He wanted the white hot spotlight.

Most of Sheff's controversies were self-created, whether it was something he said, or a contract squabble. He's always had an opinion, about everything - sometimes a real goofy one. And his comments about Joe Torre last year were just off the wall.

But one-on-one, Sheff can be a very likeable guy, and he's been a good teammate. When it was suggested that the Yankees could use a right-handed hitter right now, Sheffield, smiled and said, "They got rid of me!''