Something's Different
The Yankees have promoted Joba (pronounce that with an "a" instead of an "o") Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy to AAA and demoted Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright to AA. This is a marked departure from previous seasons when the Yankees have coddled pitchers (see Phil Hughes 2006 season) and hopefully shows that the Yankees are serious about using their youth.
This could also be a move by Brian Cashman to hedge his bets. If the Yankees don't make the playoffs (a very strong possibility despite the recent winning streak) Cashman can point to Chamberlain and Kennedy as evidence that he has turned the farm system around. Assuming they do well at AAA, they are definitely in the mix for the rotation in 2008 and possibly could help the Yankees in 2007. I would suggest that Chamberlain's addition to AAA at the expense of Wright and Clippard means the Yankees are keeping him in the rotation, as they should. No matter how the bullpen looks, taking Chamberlain and trying him there is the wrong move. You just don't fool around with prospects who could be top of the rotation starters.
Sending Clippard and Wright down is interesting because it damages their trade value. Based on their performances, it isn't the wrong move, but it will obviously make it harder for the Yankees to use them as trade chips in the next week.
But, that is a concern for another day. For now we have two of the best prospects in the system at the top of the minor league chain. A 2008 rotation of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy is looking more and more likely and Yankees' fans should be very, very excited by that.
Comments
I can't imagine the Yankees choosing to go with that rotation for 2008.
Nothing wrong with youth as #4 or #5 starters but you would be having 3 spots essentially filled by rookies (Hughes has time to prove otherwise).
No way they go with that rotation, perhaps they default to it during the year because of performance or injuries , but not to start.
Posted by: blmeanie | July 24, 2007 03:06 PM |
I would say it is about 50-50 to start the year. We know Clemens won't be there at least to start the season. Mussina and Wang are under contract and Pettitte has a player's option. That means there is at least 1 opening besides Hughes and possibly two. (I don't figure Igawa into this) If the Yankees see enough from Ian and Joba in the next two months, I bet at least one of them gets a spot.
Posted by: Peter | July 24, 2007 06:02 PM |
I agree Peter. The Yanks will go into next season with almost the same plan as this one. Wang, Petitte, Hughes, Mussina. After that, they count on DeSalvo, Rasner, Karstens, Kennedy & Joba to fight for the 5th spot. Clemens as the emergency plan and a bias to give Joba & Kennedy more AAA experience. If one of them is lights out & forces themselves into the 5th spot, all the better. Where this leaves the other 15-20 highly rated arms they have I don't know but after a 16-5 run in their last 21 games, acquiring Texiera w/o giving up Joba/Hughes/Bellintces(sp?)/Kennedy sure makes a lot more sense than it did 1 month ago.
Posted by: tim | July 25, 2007 04:08 AM |