Friday, September 7, 2007
NY Daily News: Yanks’ hopes rest on rookie arms and pitching by committee
There have been glimmers of hope that the rotation will roll, like when Pettitte, Roger Clemens and Chien-Ming Wang combined for a 1.80 ERA in last month’s sweep of the Red Sox. But three of the next four starts, including one apiece by Pettitte and Clemens, were duds.
“It’s amazing how quickly it can look ugly, right?” Pettitte said.
But that downturn was followed by good outings from Wang and Phil Hughes. Tonight, Ian Kennedy, who had a fabulous debut last weekend against Tampa Bay, starts against the Royals.
Kennedy and Hughes give the Yankees two rookies in their rotation, spots that used to be held by more experienced, playoff-hardened pitchers.
I’d rather see rookies like Hughes and Kennedy out there than Jaret Wright starting an elimination game in the playoffs, but I’m weird like that.
Seriously, Pettitte and Wang should be a decent 1-2 punch, then you just throw in the pitchers who are throwing the best at the end of the season in the 3-4 slots, be it Clemens, Kennedy, Hughes, or (snicker) Moose. If the Yankees make the playoffs that is, which I’m still not sure about.
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