Nov
21

On the lack of pitching depth

By Benjamin Kabak

Our stint over at Newsday continues today as I take a look at the Yanks’ lack of pitching depth. As it stands now, the Yanks’ rotation features Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Al Aceves. It’s a good thing Spring Training is still nearly three months away, and the big-name free agents remain unsigned. Check out my musings on the topic On the Yankees beat.

Posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 1:00 pm in Asides.

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36 Comments »

zs190 says:

I think you meant three months away there.

 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

Ben, Is there any chance they we can get the entire quote of what Hal actually said about CC? I would like to know, and I’m sure many others would as well.

 
 

Taking a look at the Yanks’ organizational depth chart, we see that the Yanks’ starting rotation doesn’t inspire much confidence.

… shameless plug…

Mike A. says:

Wait ’til you see my post. It’s going to look like one big link, but it’ll really be a series of smaller links back to RAB.

 
 
jsbrendog says:

hahaha thats whati was comign here to post

 
 
A.D. says:

Maybe with that 40 man spot they’re giving Christian Garcia a spot…going younger and the like

 
A.D. says:

The Org depth chart lists JB Cox in bold, thus on the 40 man, but though he wasn’t on the 40 man??

 

according to Abe, Girardi said that they have told Andy they want him back.

that would help.

1-CC
2-Wang
3-Pettitte
4-Joba + Aceves
5-Hughes + IPK

Is that enough? Can we avoid the entire Sheets/Burnett/Lowe trifecta? Spend the money on offense instead?

A.D. says:

Mainly if you have that do they want to bring that much more in, you sign all these guys to a 4+ year deals and then you pretty much shelve Aveces, Hughes, and IPK so they don’t have a spot and would need to be traded

well, Pettitte’s spot would be available in 2010.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

I’d take that rotation if we make a trade for Dejesus and sign Texieria

nick blasioli says:

i agree with you pal…just wish they would get off their duffs and do something before they get beat out…

Ben K. says:

Do you seriously think the Yanks are sitting back and doing nothing or do you just not understand the way baseball works?

WHY THE FUCK IS THIS BURRITO TAKING THIS LONG TO COOK IN THIS MICROWAVE!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!??!?!!?!

 

yes. i’m pretty sure Cashman is on vacation.

he probably just figures he can start making calls in January and get whomever he wants.

Mike Pop says:

Can’t he after all we are the Yankeees !

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 

Cashman: Hey, Jeanie, I’m back from vacation. Any messages?
Jeanie, Cashman’s Secretary: [looking through stack of message slips] Yes. You have 14 days to move your car; you have 7 days to move your car; your car has been towed; your car has been crushed into a cube; and you have 14 days to move your cube.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
radnom says:

This is plenty.

I still say you don’t pass on sheets if the deal is right, but that is a serious conditional.

I have a horrible feeling they are signing Burnett.

Yup. The upside on Sheets for 3 (or 3+1) is considerable. The downside of Burnett for 4 or 5 is considerable.

Musts:
CC (6/140ish)
Tex (7/140 or 8/160ish)

Good followups:
Manny (4/100)
Sheets (3/42 + a vesting)

Interesting buy low options:
DeJesus (if he doesn’t require a premium player and we can’t get Tex)
Cameron (if he’s cheap and we can move Matsui)

Stay away:
Burnett (4 or 5 at any price)
Lowe (3 at any price)
Perez (good god, no)

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Well if everything hits the fan, per MLBTR:

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick spoke to Mike Hampton’s agent Mark Rodgers, who said, “We’re looking for a straight one-year deal – no option, no nothing.” Hampton obviously just wants to re-establish himself as a healthy, useful starting pitcher after so many lost seasons. It’s unclear whether Rodgers’ statement means Hampton will avoid incentive-based offers.

Let’s give him 8/121M. I’m sure he’s healthy now.

P.S. NYC Public Schools are friggin awesome, btw.

A.D. says:

He doesn’t want that it clearly states they are only looking for a one year deal

 
 
 
 
Januz says:

I simply do not want Sabathia here. I have seen far too many guys play in NY, who hate it, and ultimately fail. I would rather sign Texeira, at least he is not anti-NY like Sabathia (Throw in the fact, you keep him out of Boston.
I think what Hal said is right on the money, we do not need this guy pulling our chain, all winter. Let him stay in Milwaukee, or go to San Francisco, or Southern California (Where baseball is secondary to the Lakers and USC football).

radnom says:

Agreed.

From now on we can only sign players who own at least one “I <3 NY” shirt.

 

I liken Sabathia’s reticence to join the Yankees to the Camp David Accords.

/Januz

I would have went with:

I liken Sabathia’s reticence to join the Yankees to the mishandled $700B Federal TARP bailout.

/Januz

 
 
 
erik says:

we need cc and then we would have to sign one of those starters (preferably burnett) and then we could send our minor leaguers back to the minor leagues for another year or until someone gets hurt
therefore we would have
cc
wang
joba
pettite
burnett
and when burnett gets hurt hughes with aceves, mitre, and ipk (although he will probably get traded) and maybe even coke (if dunn is reported to be as good as he is) following that

 
Old Ranger says:

Not getting CC is not the end of the world, we will Adapt & Improvise. How about; CMW, Joba, Andy, Phil, AJ/Lowe, Aceves, Giese and even IPK. This is not ideal, but they will get the job done.

2008 we just missed the play-offs with has beens and guys that had never been there (Phil and IPK), also with key injuries to our offence/pitching. This year (if Brett stays in CF) we will have a better defensive OF…which will help the pitchers. We lose some RBIs’/HRs’ (Bobby and Jason) but we replace them with Posada, Matsui and Cano (hopefully). If we miss out on CC, we can go after AJ/Lowe and Tex.
Let’s hope Cash can get some help for the rotation we can sure use it…but not a non-starter. A line-up of Johnny, Jeter, A-Rod, Matsui, Posada, Nady, Cano, Swish, Brett looks good to me…adding Tex would be even better.

This is the Yankees, they will (can) win with what brung’um. If I remember right; when we played the Braves in the WS, we were underdogs by a lot…what happened? We lit them up!
27/09.

ceciguante says:

that rotation would not cut the mustard.
significant chance they’d get pounded. better chance they’d be mediocre overall, with some rough spots. looks an awful lot like last year’s rotation, actually.

we need CC (esp considering that cashman flushed 2008 by not trading for santana).

Old Ranger says:

No argument with the need for CC (I had said so), or another good pitcher. My point is; we play with what we have…and we win with what we have.
Look at it this way; Dependable starters=CMW, Andy, Joba, starters that have had a taste of the bigs and can adapt=Phil, Giese. After that we add one of AJ/Lowe, we end up with a starting rotation that can do the job. CMW, Andy, Joba, Lowe/AJ, Phil other than the weak link (Phil) we have Giese…he was a very good suprise last year, should be better this year.
So, all in all I don’t think it is as bad as it may seem. I wish it could be much better but, it is what it is…just win. 27/09.

“My point is; we play with what we have…and we win with what we have.”

Old Ranger = Donald Rumsfeld

 
 
 
 
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