“Outstanding,” manager Joe Torre said Wednesday after watching Pavano throw a third time off the mound. “Even though he’s a little behind [the other pitchers], I think we’re way ahead of where we were last year.”

Carl Pavano is making progress while Al Leiter is one step closer to the end of his career. Leiter and Dontrelle Willis were pounded yesterday as the USA fell to Canada. The Americans are now just one loss away from making the Boss sleep just a wee bit better at night.