Short Hops: Take the money and walk

TAKE THE MONEY AND WALK

It’s early, but if Indians management is dumb, C.C. Sabathia may be dumber. Both the reigning Cy Young Award winner and his Cleveland co-ace, Fausto Carmona, spent the spring seeking huge contract extensions. When the club wouldn’t meet Sabathia’s asking price of four years for $18 million-ish in February, he broke off negotiations. Carmona stayed at the table, and a three-day turn of events last week made him seem prescient. On Thursday, he put his name to a four-year/$15 million pact. On Friday, Sabathia allowed the most earned runs (nine) in a start of fewer than four innings by an Indians pitcher in the past half-century. And on Saturday, Carmona walked the most batters (eight) in a start of fewer than four innings by an Indians pitcher in the past half-century. Together, they put 26 of the 41 batters they faced on base. Fausto can afford, literally, to stink. C.C. might want to be sniffing around for a new agent.

I’M NOT WORTHY

Back in the day, Yankees reliever LaTroy Hawkins never could get Paul O’Neill out, and he’s still being haunted. Hawk, who was tagged by the former New York outfielder for seven hits and three walks in 16 at-bats in his career, wears No. 21 — the same digits that were stitched on the back of O’Neill’s pinstripes for nine seasons. Fans at Yankee Stadium have taken umbrage — apparently to both the numerals on his jersey and on the stat sheet (9.00 ERA) — and are riding Hawkins (the first to wear it since O’Neill retired in 2001) mercilessly to give it up. The pitcher has had no comment, but there is a report that he’ll soon relent. Teammate Morgan Ensberg can empathize. He donned No. 21 in spring training, then asked for a replacement when he was maligned even in Florida. Hawkins quickly requested it as an homage, he said at the time, to Roberto Clemente. The Yanks are not shy about canonizing their stars; they have retired 16 numbers. So if Ensberg thinks he out of the line of fire, he’s sadly mistaken. He switched to No. 11. Fred Stanley Nation is mobilizing.

HIT AND RUN

Short Hops’ recurring installment of slapdash observation and imprudent opinion:

At the close of play on April 12, 16 teams had records of either 5-6, 6-6 or 6-5.

As a rookie last year, five of Travis Buck’s first eight hits went for extra bases. This year, he started seven of eight. None in either season were home runs.

Through his first 15 games, Jose Lopez already was the proud owner of five sacrifice flies, including a record-tying three in one game against the Royals. Only one other Mariner (Gorman Thomas) has ever had that many SFs in one season in fewer than 86 games.

These are not your father’s streaks, Buick Boy. The term “streaks” is actually the players’ all-newfangled-hepcat term for RBI.

QUOTABLES

“My daughter’s 4 and has more frequent-flyer miles than most people.” — 34-year-old Mets starter Nelson Figueroa, pitching in his fourth country in the past year.