New York Yankees Need Another Starter to Help Sabathia and Pettitte
May 30, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
In 2011, New York Yankees pitchers led the league with a 118 ERA+.
Their 3.73 team ERA was surpassed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (3.57), the Tampa Bay Rays (3.58) and the Oakland A’s (3.71), but the Yankees had a better ERA+ because unlike ERA, ERA+ factors in a team’s home park.
This season, the Yankees have a 105 ERA+ and a 4.11 ERA.
There has been more pressure on the pitchers because the offense is down. Allowing the opposition four runs no longer means an excellent chance of victory.
CC Sabathia is the only consistent starter. Hiroki Kuroda has been inconsistent, Phil Hughes continues to be a disaster and Ivan Nova still has a 5.46 ERA. Andy Pettitte has been himself, but that will not be enough.
Last night, Pettitte couldn’t handle a hot Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim team that got to him for five runs in seven innings. The problem is that when the Yankees are faced with almost-elite teams such as the Angels and Texas Rangers, their pitching and offense fall short far too often.
An aside on Pettitte’s performance. The article recap on CBSSports.com wire incredibly stated “Andy Pettitte (2-2) yielded nine hits and five runs over seven-plus innings in another solid start for the Yankees….”
Oh, I didn’t realize that a 6.43 ERA is a criterion of a solid start. This in not a knock on Andy Pettitte, who is an excellent pitcher and has been his entire career.
There is no doubt that that Yankees need another solid starter besides Sabathia and Pettitte. It is not going to be Hughes or Kuroda. It might be Nova. Freddie Garcia might provide some relief (pun intended) to the starting rotation during the season, but October is another story.
Roy Oswalt is now with Texas, which might not be a bad thing for the Yankees if they face him in the playoffs.
The loss of Mariano Rivera is disheartening, but it may not be insurmountable. Rafael Soriano has a 210 ERA+ to go along with his five saves, although his 1.500 WHIP and 9.3 hits allowed per nine innings is disturbing.
Cory Wade, Boone Logan and Dave Robertson, when he returns, are a strength.
The Yankees are playing .531 baseball at 26-23. They will do better than that down the road, but if they continue playing at that pace they will win only 86 games and likely miss the postseason.
The Yankees have 113 games left. Ninety-three wins should win a wild-card spot, which is not desirable, but better than playing golf in October.
The Yankees must go 67-46 and play .593 baseball to reach 93 wins. One problem is that 93 games might not win the division, especially with the recent reemergence of the Boston Red Sox.
Hey, Brian, get another starter
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