It's Still About Pitching
While everyone bemoans the loss of the cleanup hitter, please keep in mind that the Yankees outscored every team in baseball in 2007, and are losing from a position of strength. They have a stellar lineup most teams would love to have. To wit, as of now:
LF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Abreu
1B Giambi
C Posada (assuming he resigns)
DH Matsui
2B Cano
CF Cabrera
3B Betemit
Cashman would probably like another big right-handed bat in that group, but as-is, that's still a potent lineup.
The bullpen is a mess. As currently constructed (assuming Rivera returns):
Rivera
Farnsworth
Ohlendorf
Veras
Ramirez
Henn
Igawa
Bruney
Britton
w/ Sanchez and Cox on the horizon.
Since the rotation shapes up as one of two options:
Wang
Hughes
Chamberlain
Kennedy
Mussina
or
Pettitte
Wang
Hughes
Chamberlain
Kennedy/Mussina
there may be a spot in the 'pen for Kennedy or Mussina, and although everyone says it won't happen, Chamberlain.
Still, it would greatly behoove Cashman to make a move and improve that bullpen. There are far too many question marks.
Is San Diego still interested in Igawa? Thatcher or Meredith might be available, as it now seems that Bell is their closer of the future. Speaking of San Diego, they also have a logjam at third base, and Kevin Kouzmanoff is most likely trade bait.
There are a lot of options out there. Before anyone jumps off the bridge that the loss of Rodriguez is the end of the world, consider that the team's real need is pitching, and that would have been a fact with or without Alex.Labels: bullpen, pitching woes, roster moves
posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 2:01 PM
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