Guaranteed Spots: Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes
That leaves 2 spots for 3 pitchers - Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, and Mike Mussina.
Management has a number of concerns coming into the grapefruit league. Will Andy Pettitte be affected by his involvement in the P.E.D. scandal? Will Chien-Ming Wang shake off his 2 horrendous playoff performances and show the consistency that made him a 19 game winner two years in a row? How much does Mike Mussina have left in his arm?
But the biggest concern is how to handle the “Big 3” - Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain. The team wants to limit the innings pitched for all three of them, particularly Chamberlain who spent much of the season working out of the bullpen. The debate has waged on all off-season internally as well as between the fans as to what Chamberlain's role should be (if you haven't already answered our poll question in the right sidebar, please do).
The Yankees also want to be sure Hughes can handle a full load after missing much of last season with injuries. Kennedy was a horse last season, throwing 165.1 innings between 3 levels of the minors and 3 starts for the Yankees.Chamberlain pitching out of the pen of course gives it a huge boost, and allows Joe Girardi to not have to rely so much on Kyle Farnsworth or LaTroy Hawkins to set up Mariano Rivera.
Much of what happens will be directly tied to what the Yankees can get out of Mussina. The ornery right-hander started out a house fire last year, but then burned to the ground. Yankees fans would like nothing more than the young guys to become the established starters, and in our case, Mussina shipped out of town.
At some point, Alan Horne could also have an impact on the rotation, or could join Russ Ohlendorf in an attempt to strengthen the pen.
Red Sox
Guaranteed Spots: Josh Beckett, Dasuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz
Things have changed drastically for the Red Sox before pitchers and catchers even report to spring training. Curt Schilling has a bad shoulder and differing opinions on how it should be treated. For now it’s a cortisone shot and rehab, but no matter what the course of treatment is, the big windbag will miss the beginning of the season.
The direct outcome of Schilling’s injury is the Sox, just like their division rivals, will be looking towards their youth to pick up the slack. Instead of just Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz being part of the rotation, both will be penciled in.
Lester was the feel good story of the year, coming back from cancer treatment to post a 4-0 record in the regular season and the final win of the World Series. Buchholz made a big splash on the scene, throwing a no-hitter on September 1st before being shut down for fatigue after 2 more starts. The Sox will be monitoring their innings as well. Lester threw a career high 153.2 last season, while Buchholz threw 148.
The Red Sox still have plenty of experience though in Beckett, the incumbent Cy Young Winner, Dice-K who is a sophomore in MLB experience only, and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.
Blue Jays
Guaranteed Spots:
Halladay is the stud of the group. A Cy Young Winner with some of the nastiest stuff in baseball. Burnett’s stuff may be even nastier than Halladay’s, but he could be gone by the end of spring training. GM J.P. Ricciardi publicly dissed his injury-prone 2005 free agent signing last year, and Burnett still has 3 years left on his deal.
McGowan finally began to show the promise last season that scouts have talked about for years, posting a 12-10 record with a 4.08 ERA. He also struck out 144 in 169.2 IP.
Marcum stepped up in his role split between the bullpen and starting rotation. His 4.13 ERA in 122 K’s in 159 innings should help the Jays pitch their way to a competitive season.
Jesse Litsch went from being a Rays bat boy to a 24th round pick in 2004 to jumping from Double-A to the majors in his 1st season in pro ball last year. After leading the Eastern League with a 0.96 ERA, he put up very respectable numbers- 7-9, 3.81- for the Blue Jays. Right now he has the inside track for the final spot in the rotation.
Gustavo Chacin went 22-13 in his first two seasons before injuries start to befall him. He made just 5 appearances last season. He’ll most likely start the season at Triple-A Syracuse. Casey Janssen was a starter before being moved to a set up role last season where he excelled. Though it would hurt the pen, he could return to a starting spot.
Orioles
Guaranteed Spots: Daniel Cabrera, Jeremy Guthrie
The Orioles dealt their ace Erik Bedard to the Mariners last week, leaving their rotation pretty much in shambles.
Cabrera falls in to the category of “if he could only harness his stuff”. Cabrera’s inconsistency has been one of the constants in
Guthrie showed last year that the Indians gave up too quickly on their former star prospect. Though he tired out down the stretch, Guthrie tossed 175.1 innings, compiling a 7-5 record with a 3.70 ERA.
Adam Loewen missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, but is ready for spring training and could make the rotation. He could very well be the next Erik Bedard for the O’s, though fans must look at that as a mixed blessing.
Brian Burres, Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Garrett Olson, and Hayden Penn will compete for a spot, which is why GM Andy McPhail might bring in Josh Fogg and/or Steve Trachsel for a more veteran presence.
Rays
Guaranteed Spots: Scott Kazmir, Jamie Shields, Matt Garza
Kazmir is the stud of the group, and it remains to be seen whether the Rays will be able to keep him long term or if he’ll “Bedard” his way out of town. The left-hander led the
Shields had an outstanding rookie campaign, going 12-8 with 3.85 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 215 innings. He also only walked 36 hitters.
Garza was the key to the Rays dealing Delmon Young. He began to show the promise expected of him last season, going 5-7, 3.69 in 15 big league starts.
The final spots are up for grabs for just about any pitcher in camp. Chief among them is the Rays’ number 1 pitching prospect, David Price. The lefty out of Vanderbilt was the top pick of last June’s draft, and though the Rays don’t like to rush their youth, he could have an impact this season.
1. Red Sox
2. Yankees
2. Blue Jays
4. Rays
5. Orioles
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Don't give me that feel good crap. Lester faked his cancer as an excuse. He just isn't that good.
ReplyDeleteUm, yeah..ok
ReplyDelete