Wang and Pettitte are a terrific top two. Both of them give us innings and have relatively low ERAs. Clemens is a decent middle of the rotation starter who is going to keep us in games most of the time. He doesn't eat many innings but he's certainly better than the other options we would have. Our bullpen is fairly stabilized with Mo, Viz and Joba anchoring the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. Edwar and Farnsworth are decent middle relievers, and I think Britton will be, but I need to see more. Our offense is terrific and there was never any question about that. I think we are fairly stable in all these regards. Of course it could be better but I'm not complaining.
However, the bottom of the rotation must pick up the slack. I think the world of Hughes, I think he is going to be terrific. But he has been pretty below average since he got off the DL. Kennedy I think will be good. I think Mussina might have something left. Two of these 3 are going to have to pick up the slack and start giving us quality starts. Since the end of July, we've got nothing from these two spots. We've gotten very little on a consistent basis from the 4 and 5 spots as a whole on the year. We have 29 games left, and our bottom of the rotation will likely start 10-12 of those games. They need to keep us in the game and give our offense a chance.
We used our top 3 starters against Boston at Yankee Stadium. We will likely do the same thing at Fenway. But the other 2 guys need to pick up the slack or we are going to lose any momentum we've had.
I'm not asking for perfection or anything, I understand there will be growing pains, and I don't care what their final season stats look like, but Kennedy and Hughes are the key to the rest of the season.
Key for rest of the season: bottom of the rotation
Moderator: nykgeneralmanager
Key for rest of the season: bottom of the rotation
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cmaff051
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34Celtic
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I think Hughes and the two headed question mark of Kennedy and Moose is all we have to worry about. Clemens showed last night that in a big time start he wants the ball and deserves it, I really don't think we have to worry all that much with him. We knew what we were getting from him, a guy that 2/3 of the time out will put you in a great chance to win a game, but 1/3 starts will need a little pick me up from this offense.
HCYanks wrote:Thanks for reminding me Clay Buchholz is a couple of blocks away from me, Fox. Now I have to go hide my laptop.
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nykgeneralmanager
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This is why the injury to Hughes really bothers me. It hurt his velocity, his location, and the development of his change. All 3 things that he had working for him that night in Texas. Now he is going to need a full offseason to rebuild his legs and get the velocity back, he's a classic power pitcher and they are all legs. Once he gets that back he'll just feel more comfortable and the location will be as pinpoint as he usually is. And once he is comfortable we will see that impressive change again. He could've had a really really good season for us as the youngest pitcher in baseball. Instead he has been so so. And while most Yankee fans realize that he has actually been better than his numbers, there are the (Please Use More Appropriate Word) ones who want him dealt already, and there is the media and fans of other teams that get on him.
Hughes is a freak of a prospect so people expect the world from him right away, but pitchers take YEARS, not weeks or months, to develop. Randy Johnson led the majors in walks in his first couple of seasons, now he is a first ballot HOFer. Hughes is going to be amazing NEXT year, I just hope he gets his legs back underneath him before this season is up so he can show us the signs of greatness we saw in Texas.
Hughes is a freak of a prospect so people expect the world from him right away, but pitchers take YEARS, not weeks or months, to develop. Randy Johnson led the majors in walks in his first couple of seasons, now he is a first ballot HOFer. Hughes is going to be amazing NEXT year, I just hope he gets his legs back underneath him before this season is up so he can show us the signs of greatness we saw in Texas.
