Couldn't resist...
Just as the Yanks were making some separation from the land of .500, Wang now joins Phil Hughes & Ian Kennedy on the DL. Torn tendon? See you in September, maybe...
Their biggest innings eater is out of action for a minimum of 6 weeks (which is August by the way). With Joba the Hut in the rotation, an already depleted bullpen is now asked to take on more innings.
More pressure is on the starters to stay in games longer. Have a peek at the average innings pitched:
Mussina - 5.4
Pettite - 6.1
Rasner - 6.0
Joba - too early to tell
Kennedy & Hughes - under 5
Pavano & Igawa - insert punchline here
Are you praying for this years version of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon? It could be a long summer in NY...
You can't count on the young arms to perform consistently. They are going to have bad & short outings. The older boys have Era's near 4 & 5. Think they're going to get stronger as the years goes on?
If the bullpen is strained this early in the season, there will be nothing left in Sept. Close games in the 6th, 7th, and 8th? Panic time.
You also need a 5th starter. Oops. Well it's only 5 weeks until the trade deadline. But based on Cashman's plan to stick with the young arms, who do you get without giving up a young stud? Maybe you can find a closer as a one year rental. How about Gagne?
Should we say it? Kei Igawa. Get used to that one. You'll also hear "Now pitching for the Yankees in the 3rd inning..."
The Yanks do have enormous resources, and it's far too early to count them out. They didn't see .500 until July of last season and still made the playoffs. However, you can't make a run with subpar pitching.
Think Joba's a stud? Maybe he will be, but he's not pitching 200 innings this year. There's a shelf life.
Don't get too comfy above .500 - it could be your home for a while... First year the Yanks don't make the playoffs in a while? Would like to see Vegas odds on that baby...
