Cashman Talks Hughes & Kennedy
I caught the end of Kim Jones’ interview of Brian Cashman on the YES pre-game Batting Practice show tonight. Two things that I heard really caught my attention.
Cashman said that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy earned positions as members of the Yankees starting rotation this season based on what they had shown in 2007. However, Cashman said, because of their performance and injuries this season, Hughes and Kennedy would not be considered – in the team’s off-season planning – as being part of the big league rotation next season; and, they both would have to fight during Spring Training next year (along with all others not guaranteed a spot) to make the team (and to avoid starting next season as members of the rotation down in Scranton).
That was music to my ears.
But, Cashman also said that Hughes and Kennedy not meeting expectations this season was not the Yankees problem on pitching. More so, he said, it was losing an ace (Wang) and then losing the guy who replaced him and who was also pitching like an ace (Chamberlain). Getting back to Hughes and Kennedy, Cashman said something along the lines of…”You can always find replacements, during the season, for your fourth and fifth starters. But, you can’t replace your guys at the front of the rotation.”
You can always find replacements for your fourth and fifth starters?
Hearing that was not very pleasing.
Yeah, sure, you can find them…but they often turn out to be people like Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner. Maybe it would just be smarter to have solid guys in those slots rather than go with a gamble and just hope that it works out…and, if not, then trying to get lucky with someone off the scrap heap?
I don’t think it is so smart to start doling out big deals to people who are #5 starters. I think the 4,5s should be promoted from within or be a cheap deal so they can be released or “bullpenned” when you want to bring in the youngins who are tearing up the minors. I agree that those two should not be counted on from the get go, I didn’t think so this year either, but you have to have the flexibility to bring them up if they start to dominate. and if those fillers are doing ok, you can flop them to the national league for something.
i would consider lowe though. if moose and andy don’t sign. good #4 innings eater.
Unfortunately this seems to be Cashman’s modus operandi for the last 3 or 4 years — get past June or July with what they break camp with, then start sifting through the other teams’ scraps when the starters begin to break down…
Yuck. Go get Sabathia *and* Burnett, and cross your fingers the offense returns to form. To me it would seem easier to replace bats during the season…
After Carl Pavano, I don’t think the Yanks should sniff anywhere near AJ Burnett. His stuff is filthy on some days but the bottom line is this: he’ll be 32 this January, he’s still barely a .500 pitcher with a career ERA+ of 109 (ERA+ of 96 in 2008), and his history of injuries is terrifying.
AJ Burnett is not someone I’d make a 4-5 year gamble on.
Hearing that was not very pleasing.
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But looking around the league, he’s right.