The Yankees Have a Problem

Like every team, the Yankees have more than just one problem, however minor they may be.  However, unlike most teams, the Yankees have what is probably considered the best problem that a team can have: too much pitching.  With Chien-Ming Wang back in the rotation, the Bronx Bombers find themselves with six starting pitchers for five spots.  This is a nice change from what we’ve been through in recent years.  After relying on the likes of Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon, Tanyon Sturtze, Al Leiter, Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner, (am I forgetting anybody?)…. to fill out vacancies in our rotation as recently as last year, it is hard to find a word to describe the feeling of having a quantity of high quality starting pitching.

While it is exciting to finally be in such a position, I do need to point out that Wang did not perform particularly well today, and Phil Hughes, who has been pitching well, finds himself in the unenviable long-relief role.  We’ll touch on Wang first.  All sarcasm aside, Wang did make it out of the first inning this time which has to be worth something.  More importantly, his stuff – mainly his sinker – looked good early on, showing good depth as opposed to the more hittable lateral tailing action.  You could even go as far to say Wang was dominant the first two innings.  Of course, I’ve never seen a baseball game complete after two frames, but two dominant innings is still a lot better than 1+ EXTREMELY shitty innings.  Perhaps he fatigued soon after that as his sinker began to flatten out and he started to get hit hard.  I guess the bottom line is, he showed some signs of his old self and that gives him something to build on in his next start at Boston (nice two-start stretch in a return back to the rotation by the way).  Now, let’s touch on Phil Hughes.  It’s frustrating for fans, and certainly Hughes, to see him moved all around and whatnot – especially in a role as non-descript as long – relief.  One would think that he would be better off continuing to start every 5th day down in AAA.  Each has its advantages for, not only the team, but Hughes as well.  While it is simple for a fan to speculate on what he or she THINKS is best for each party, Joe Girardi and the front office will KNOW what is best and I have zero concern regarding their ability to make the best decision. 

Far too recently, Yankees fans would look at our pitching matchup and hope that the offense was ready to carry the load.  Thankfully, those days appear to be in the past as each night we have someone on the hill capable of delivering a solid performance – if not a dominant one.

Tags: Aaron Small, Al Leiter, Chien-Ming Wang, Darrell Rasner, Phil Hughes, Shawn Chacon, starting pitching, Tanyon Sturtze