-On this yucky rainy miserable day, I guess it makes sense to start with the latest Carl Pavano injury. This guy might just be a moron. He hasn’t pitched in a big league game for the Yankees in over a year. Between all his injuries and uncertain status, it was easy to see that the ex-Marlin is destined to become the biggest bu$t the Yanks have ever signed. So he was finally making rehab starts in the minors and progressing nicely. Even to the point where Yankee brass actually believed he might return this week. Then, the news came of Pavano that after a start he made in Columbus, he reported rib pain the next day. That’s because this jackass decided to keep a car accident he got into two weeks ago under raps. Somehow, he didn’t report it to anyone and continued to pitch “hoping it would get better.” You just can’t make this stuff up. So yesterday it finally came out and Yankee GM Brian Cashman wasn’t too pleased. To think he gave this guy $10 million-a-year for what? Four maybe five years? If I found something like this out, I would have just released this guy. It’s obvious that he can’t be trusted after this and doesn’t deserve to pitch for the Pinstripes. The problem is they have too much invested. I can’t even believe I wasted space on this bozo. He’s just not worth it.

-You could probably say the same thing for Daily News columnist Mike Lupica. The self-proclaimed Know It All continued to make a total jackass out of himself this past weekend in his Sunday column when he stated that Willie Randolph deserved Manager of the Year over Joe Girardi. On what planet? Did Lupica even bother to notice that the Mets have the highest payroll in the NL? Randolph is a good manager. No doubt. He’s done a solid job. But look at the talent he has to work with. What miracles has he performed when he has Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca who the Mets ransacked from those Marlins. He has Billy Wagner who the Mets overpaid in the offseason to fix their pen. Lupica likes to think his Mets (he’d never admit it but anyone can read between the lines) are some welfare case. Oh really? Did we mention MVP candidate Carlos Beltran in center? How did the Amazins’ acquire him btw? Oh wait. It’s the same way the Yankees do things. By offering the most money. And there’s really no harm in it. If you have the cash, why not? How exactly did the Mets go from a laughingstock two years ago to a World Series contender? When you add big name players via free agency or taking advantage of a team in your division’s situation, it’s going to drastically improve your team’s chances. This doesn’t take away from the fact that Jose Reyes and David Wright are two of the game’s emerging stars. But when you go through the Mets roster, you have to account for all the players they paid top dollar for to be in this position. That includes their top two DLed starters Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine. If either doesn’t deliever this Fall, the Mets aren’t winning anything.

Reyes and Wright will be great for years. But understand that they couldn’t accomplish an 80-49 record by themselves. Mets GM Omar Minaya went out and got the pieces. Here’s a suggest to Lupica. Go look at the Marlins’ payroll and read what some of the expectations were for them from real baseball writers such as his colleague Bill Madden. The Marlins can’t afford to rent Shawn Green for a stretch run because their top prospect outfielder isn’t quite ready. Go up and down Florida’s roster and look at the amount of rookies he has surrounding the game’s most underrated star Miguel Cabrera. Or better yet compare the lineups. Look at Dontrelle Willis’ season and you’ll notice it’s not as good as some of Girardi’s rookie hurlers. Despite all the first-year players, he has his ballclub two games under .500 having won eight in a row to close within 1.5 of the wildcard-leading Reds. If you go back to what was predicted for the rookie skipper’s team, this was supposed to be virtually impossible. Many thought they’d lose over 100 games. Btw…what were the predictions for those Mets (4th highest payroll)?!?!?!?!?! Most had them back in the playoffs. Girardi might clash with his silly owner but has done an amazing job. The best in baseball. Chew on this Lupica:

Mets- $101,084,963

Marlins- $14,998,500
-Speaking of the Marlins, rookie shortstop Hanley Ramirez who was acquired as part of the Josh Beckett/Mike Lowell deal looks a lot like the Mets’ Jose Reyes. Don’t believe us? Check out his first season:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7488

-Even with his brilliant tennis career about to end, Andre Agassi gives us a final show before it’s over. Even at the age of 36 with a bad back when everyone of his rivals are already retired, the two-time U.S. Open champion and eight-time slam winner continues to put out the effort when there’s really nothing on the line here. But you see how badly he wants to win and go out on top a la Pete Sampras four years prior. The body might not cooperate Thursday night against a younger Agassi-clone Marcos Baghdatis. But you know deep down the mind will be there in full force trying to pull the upset and get into the third round making New York fans envision a Round of 16 clash against Andy Roddick. Agassi has changed so much over his brilliant 20-year career. From the flambuoyant Image Is Everything model and baggy pants with rebel look (bleached long hair, beard) to the bald clean shaven gritty player we see now who gets it. A man so in touch with what’s right that he’s created his own school for troubled kids back home in Las Vegas. You can’t put into words what he’s meant to tennis. If Thursday is his final match, he will get the proper sendoff fitting of a King on the grandest stage. It will be emotional to watch but fun regardless. There needs to be more Andre Agassis in sports.

-So Chad Pennington is the Jets’ number one quarterback which is a feel good story after a second shoulder surgery. He’ll at least get the chance to prove he can still lead a team which is expected to win 3-4 games. Maybe it won’t last but how could you not root for him? It’s too bad about Curtis Martin.

-What other silly Award shows will they think of in the coming years?