Thursday, June 4, 2009

Yankees pitching still worries me

Yankees pitching still worries me. Don't get me wrong; they've got stuff. The problem is i don't think the coaches have any idea who to put in as 4th or 5th starter. They've announced Wang (0-3) will go back into the starter's role and throw against the Rangers Thursday afternoon. This means a trip to the pen for Phil Hughes. This comes despite Hughes having apparently gotten some of the kinks out of his game.
To make room for Wang, it was either gonna be Hughes or Joba. Joba, who was originally supposed to be the setup man for Mo, has been pitching too good lately. Monday night against the Indians, Joba fought off the bugs that haunted the Yankees' postseason two years ago to throw 8 strong. When he can hit 97 on the gun in the 7th and 8th, they almost have to let him go in the rotation.
Don't look for this to happen for long. I think this may be what Hughes needs to switch from reasonably good stuff to the incredible stuff we know he's capable of. Maybe the Burnett suspension will give Hughes a chance to come back, throw a gem, and put Joba back in the pen as one of the best 7th/8th inning guys in the majors.
Burnett's suspension for throwing over the head of Rangers' Nelson Cruz after A.J.'s teammate Mark Texiera was plunked twice by Vicente Padilla. However, I'm not exactly sure this will stand after the precedent the MLB set earlier this year with Beckett's suspension. A.J. probably won't even miss a start.