Tuesday, May 13, 2008
NY Post: RAY-GGEDY ANDY
May 13, 2008—ST. PETERSBURG - The rotation’s caboose collapsed under inexperience and ineffectiveness.
The lineup wasn’t flexing dock rope muscles before Alex Rodriguez Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went down.
So when Andy Pettitte Andy Pettitte , Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina , pitch the Yankees are in must-win situations.
And when one of them fails, it further illustrates why this club is likely in for a very long summer unless the Yankees can remain afloat until help can be secured through trades.
Andy Pettitte once again pitched poorly as the Yankees fell to Tampa Bay 7-1 last night. After starting the season off with a 2.45 ERA in his first four starts, Pettitte has a 6.75 ERA over his last four starts. Opponents are hitting .322/.372/.529 against him over the last four starts, and he’s given up 5 HRs. Pettitte’s been streaky throughout his career so I’m not particularly worried about him, but with the Yankees missing arguably their two most valuable offensive players his poor pitching right now is more damaging.
Last night’s game was the 39th of the season. The argument that it’s still early is starting to slip, the season is now just about one-fourth over. I don’t know what trades the Yankees would make that would make sense. Their biggest problem has been Robinson Cano’s horrible start, their big hole at catcher with Posada out, and the poor pitching by Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. They aren’t going to trade for a new second baseman. Darrell Rasner has replaced Hughes in the rotation. It’s probably too early to move Joba Chamberlain to the rotation, but that may eventually end up being a better boost than anyone the Yankees can get in a trade.
It’s frustrating to watch the team right now, even though I know they are better than this. With Tampa Bay now looking like a legitimately good team now, the Yankees’ margin of error is lower than it’s been in the past.
All is not bleak though. The Yankees may have a potential reinforcement for their staff in Daniel McCutchen..
Unlike Hughes, McCutchen is no kid. The 6-2, 195-pound right-hander is two years removed from the University of Oklahoma and will be 26 in September.
Unlike Kennedy, he doesn’t nibble. He goes right after hitters, and has 43 strikeouts in 46 innings this season to prove it.
He’s got major-league stuff: a fastball in the mid-90s, a good slider and an improving curveball. And good numbers: a 4-2 record with a 2.14 ERA.
But is he ready for the big leagues?
Trenton manager Tony Franklin says McCutchen can definitely pitch at a higher level. Tino Martinez, a special assistant for the Yankees, says he could skip Triple A and get big-league hitters out right now.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is intrigued, but not yet ready to say he’s the organization’s next Joba Chamberlain.
“It’s too early to say that. But he’s certainly throwing very well at Double A right now,” Cashman said. “He opened our eyes in the spring, too. He works fast; he’s got some power stuff that goes with it. He’s got a great mentality. All he’s done is win since he’s been in the pros.”
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