Not that they had one of the better rotations coming in on paper, but a recent string of “setbacks” (not “injuries”) have pushed them to the back of the pack. With only a week before the season starts, panic is starting to creep in. While they have vast resources, they don’t have depth. And according to Cashman, “We are going to go with what we have”. If you are a Yankee fan, how are you not VERY concerned?
Your opening day starter is Carl Pavano (insert punchline here). Your best starter in Wang is out at least 3 weeks of April, and his replacement Karstens just hurt his elbow during a game and will be out “for a time”. Pettite has had back spasms, and Darrell Rasner (who?) is your new 5th starter.
The only known quantity you have is in Mussina. But he’s another year older at 39, with a history of injuries. So, you’re counting on Pavano (hee hee), Pettite (already hurt with back spasms & just switched back to the grind of the AL), Igawa who’s never pitched in the majors – or bright spotlight, and Rasner (an unproven rookie).
Granted the Yanks won’t need a #5 starter for the first couple of weeks, but who would you stack them against? More like who has a worse rotation…
Notes & Projections / Stats
Mussina: Career year at 38, numbers to be worse in 2007: 14-8, 4.50 Era
Pettite: Switch to AL, last yr stats 14-13, 4.20 Era: 12-14, 4.95 Era
Igawa: Never pitched in majors, not highly touted: 10-12, 5.35 Era
Wang: Hamstring changes everything, numbers worse: 16-10, 4.25 Era
Pavano: Hasn’t pitched in 21 months, ugly spring: 5-8, 5.60 Era
Karstens: And/or Rasner – similar unproven soph status: 6-7, 5.25 Era
Hughes: May see the phenom too early if Yanks fall back: 7-5, 4.50 Era
That is not a scary lineup no matter how you slice it. Unless they all pitch well, the Yanks may be looking up at the Jays and the Sox. That's right Yanks fans, it's already time to get out your Clemens shrines & start praying. It's your only shot...
Your opening day starter is Carl Pavano (insert punchline here). Your best starter in Wang is out at least 3 weeks of April, and his replacement Karstens just hurt his elbow during a game and will be out “for a time”. Pettite has had back spasms, and Darrell Rasner (who?) is your new 5th starter.
The only known quantity you have is in Mussina. But he’s another year older at 39, with a history of injuries. So, you’re counting on Pavano (hee hee), Pettite (already hurt with back spasms & just switched back to the grind of the AL), Igawa who’s never pitched in the majors – or bright spotlight, and Rasner (an unproven rookie).
Granted the Yanks won’t need a #5 starter for the first couple of weeks, but who would you stack them against? More like who has a worse rotation…
Notes & Projections / Stats
Mussina: Career year at 38, numbers to be worse in 2007: 14-8, 4.50 Era
Pettite: Switch to AL, last yr stats 14-13, 4.20 Era: 12-14, 4.95 Era
Igawa: Never pitched in majors, not highly touted: 10-12, 5.35 Era
Wang: Hamstring changes everything, numbers worse: 16-10, 4.25 Era
Pavano: Hasn’t pitched in 21 months, ugly spring: 5-8, 5.60 Era
Karstens: And/or Rasner – similar unproven soph status: 6-7, 5.25 Era
Hughes: May see the phenom too early if Yanks fall back: 7-5, 4.50 Era
That is not a scary lineup no matter how you slice it. Unless they all pitch well, the Yanks may be looking up at the Jays and the Sox. That's right Yanks fans, it's already time to get out your Clemens shrines & start praying. It's your only shot...
8 comments:
Here is what you said in December..."Overall the Yanks have a fairly solid rotation. Wang should be terrific once again. The big question revolves around the health of the geriatrics. Johnson, Mussina, and Pettite are all on the back 9 of their careers with history of injuries. Igawa is an unknown and hasn’t faced the pressure and media scrutiny of NY. Pavano is like a “box of chocolates” at this point. Still, if this rotation stays somewhat healthy, they should produce over 70 wins especially with a potent offense. Expect another close race in 2007."
Very true. Things are a little different now than in December, non?
The Big Unit is gone. Thats good news for Yanks fans.
Wang is hurt and out for at least 3 weeks. It's safe to assume his hammy will flare up again and his #'s will be down.
Pettite is having back spasms in March - not a good sign for an aging pitcher.
Igawa may have success early on, but don't expect it to continue after June/July.
Karstens is your new starter - and now he's hurt and on the shelf indefinitely.
Pavano is your opening day starter (can barely contain ourselves).
Here's your "rotation":
Pavano (hee hee)
Mussina (down from last season)
Pettite (switch to AL & injury - HA)
Igawa (how high can you really rank him?)
Rasner (rook filling in for injured #5 rook)
Unless something drastic changes, this rotation will be lucky to see 60 wins. You're only hope is to win games 8-7. Forget October.
ahhh, isn't this post appropriate for today's lovely events - Schilling killed by K.C. Royals (who??????) and the Yankees with a nice comeback win on the Opening Day. Could not draw it up better than that.
ROYALS 7, RED SOX 1
Woeful opener
Gil Meche outdueled a shaky Curt Schilling today and pitched the Royals to a 7-1 opening day win over the Red Sox. (AP) Box score Discuss
EXTRA BASES: It's a wrap from KC
NESN: Schilling reacts to loss
DAN SHAUGHNESSY
38 not so special
Curt Schilling struggled in his shortest outing since July 2001
Wow, the Yanks came back against that highly touted bullpen in Tampa. Woo hoo! Get the paper ready for the parade!
And how bout that performance from Pavano! Outstanding 4.1 IP buddy!
Schill will bounce back. How about your boy?
38 years old - bouncing back from an awful performance against the worst team in the league last year - doubt it.....
Pavano - for a guy that has not pitched for a year and a half - he did pretty good...
You don't think we will do the same thing to your "highly touted" bullpen and extremely "underrated" starting rotation that we did yesterday to T.B.? Please.....
Pavano did pretty good? Your standards don't seem to apply to your own team eh?
Really enjoy the who sucks worse argument - KC or Tampa. Keep tryin though...
Sox rotation is not underrated - in fact it's one of the better ones in baseball even with Papelbon moving to the pen. It's certainly better than the Yanks.
Yanks have a better pen than the Sox (although not at closer any longer). But what condition will they be in when your starters can't get thru 6 innings all year?
Don't worry about it man. You were absolutely right in your next post - it's an opening day and there are 161 games to go. At the end we'll be able to talk about who is better with some authority.
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