MLB Notebook: Yankees’ Pavano involved in lawsuit
A Florida man involved last year in an accident with a Porsche driven by oft-injured Carl Pavano has sued the New York Yankees pitcher for injuries allegedly sustained in the crash, which the player initially tried to hide from the team.
Ernest DeLaura, 47, also named the Yankees as a defendant when he filed the lawsuit two months ago in Bronx state Supreme Court. Although the suit was brought in New York, DeLaura lives in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the accident occurred in West Palm Beach, Fla.
DeLaura sought an unspecified amount of money in the lawsuit, which requested a default judgment of $5 million if Pavano and the Yankees failed to answer the complaint. DeLaura has already undergone shoulder surgery and faces a possible operation on his neck, said his lawyer, Paul Edelman.
Pavano was scratched from his scheduled spring training start Friday night in Tampa, Fla., against the Devil Rays. The Yankees announced that he was excused to address a personal matter, but the team wouldn’t say if it was related to the lawsuit.
Pavano took part in pregame drills. He left Legends Field about 45 minutes before game time.
It’s possible Pavano could rejoin the team today.
The right-hander allowed one run in two innings during his first spring training start on March 4. The outing came eight days after his left instep was bruised by a line drive during batting practice.
Pavano, starting the third season of a $39.95 million, four-year contract, hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since June 27, 2005, because of shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries.
Senators will examine TV deal
Two senators plan to examine baseball’s $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV to determine its effect on fans.
Under the agreement, the deal contains a provision that allows its “Extra Innings” package of out-of-market games to remain on cable television if the other incumbent providers – iN Demand and EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network – agree to match the terms.
But Robert Jacobson, president of iN Demand Networks LLC, said those terms for the “Extra Innings” package of out-of-market games were impossible for his company to agree to and called it a “de facto exclusive deal.”
“I will review this deal to ensure it benefits consumers,” said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. “I’m encouraged that Major League Baseball may be willing to provide broader access to their games than what was initially proposed. I will be watching closely to ensure the league works in good faith so that America’s pastime is available to all fans. My concern all along has been that fans continue to have the ability to enjoy baseball on television.”
Off the field
Left-hander Mark Redman agreed to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, who acted quickly after learning that Mike Hampton will be sidelined for up to two months. … In a story in Thursday’s edition about a car crash, the Associated Press reported erroneously that Bob Feller is the second-oldest living member of baseball’s Hall of Fame. He is the fourth-oldest, according to the Hall.