Starting Pitching - 2009
The big question is will Joba be a starter or a reliever in 2009? He will pitch about 100 innings this year so a jump to 200 will not happen. Do they start him in the minors and limit him to 5 innings a game, then call him up in mid May to make 20 or so starts?
I think the Yankees need to bring back at least Pettite or Moose, maybe both if the contracts make sense.
Aceves looks good but if I had a dollar for every young pitcher who pitched well in September and had a bad pitching career I could retire.
Hopefully Kennedy or Hughes can develop this offseason. Hughes goes tomorrow night and has the potential to develop. Kennedy has more work to do.
The Yankees do have some other kids at AAA who can maybe develop but they are big maybes right now. I am hoping Wright gets another chance.
If Joba starts, the Yankees sign Pettite and Moose, Hughs develops and the Yankees make a splash with someone like Sabathia, the Yankees should have a good rotation in 2009.
A team can never have enough pitching and the Yankees have some arms in the minors that look real good. The trick will be to develop the kids, make some good free agent signings and mix and match and develop a great rotation. It will take a lot of work patience and a little luck.
