Here is exactly what I wrote back in MARCH regarding the Yankees Starting Rotation ..
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1) FROM CORE FOUR TO SORE FOUR :
When you look for concerns on the 2015 Yankees, you need to start with ..the Starters.
The top FOUR (repeat top four) in the rotation each have very real and significant
health concerns, which cost them to collectively miss the majority of the 2014 season.
Masahiro Tanaka (partially torn elbow ligament), Michael Pineda (surgically repaired
shoulder), CC Sabathia (knee, etc.) and Ivan Nova (recovering from TJ surgery).
Add to those health concerns, the fact that the Yankees parted ways
with the THREE pitchers who did most of the heavy lifting in the second half of last year
with regard to starts, innings, and wins.
Shane Greene was traded, Free Agent Brandon McCarthy signed with the Dodgers,
and Hiroki Kuroda returned to pitch in Japan.
Yes, the Yankees did trade with the Marlins for an exciting young flame thrower
Nathan Eovaldi who has enormous upside potential, but make no mistake
he is a project for Larry Rothchild since he did give up more hits than
any other pitcher in the N.L.last year.
Chris Capuano is back as the fifth starter until Nova returns, hopefully in June.
The net/net is that Cashman & Co. decided not to sign or trade for a top of the rotation
Starter, and are really rolling the dice on this one.
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Notice my last comment directed at Cashman …. “REALLY ROLLING THE DICE ON THIS ONE”
My point was that Brian Cashman was GAMBLING BIG TIME on the hope that the rotation I
called the ” Sore Four” ( Tanaka, Pineda, CC & Nova ) would all be healthy in 2015.
During Free Agency, Cashman did not open the Yankee check book and sign Scherzer or Lester.
This would have provided much needed support to (imo) an injury ravaged 1-4 Rotation without
depleting the thin but promising farm system.
Now we fast forward to yesterday’s (7/31/15) trading deadline, and Cashman once again did NOTHING
to support the “Sore Four”.
After the trade dead-line came and went, without the Yankees acquiring a top Starter,
Brian Cashman in a sense acknowledged that he was “ROLLING THE DICE” from Nov ’14 -March ’15 by saying
“I AM DOUBLING DOWN ON WHAT WE’VE GOT”
(link)
I supported Cashman 100% in the belief that Severino & Judge should NOT be traded!
However, when you take a macro view of his moves (non-moves) going back to
2014 FA & GM Meetings, that’s where I am extremely critical of Cashman.
It’s not just that the Yankees didn’t trade for David Price, it’s the fact that … that non-move
was the culmination of 9 MONTHS of non-moves when it came to the procurement of a Top Starter !!
When you look at today’s (8/1/15) top ERA leaders in MLB, you see a number of Starters that were available
to Cashman either via … TRADE OR FREE AGENCY.
(There are 94 MLB Pitchers who have enough total innings to qualify for Statistical Ranking)
RANK PITCHER ERA HOW HE WAS AVAILABLE
_____ __________ ______ _________________________
(3) Scott Kazmir 2.10 traded from A’s to Houston at trade dead-line
(5) Max Scherzer 2.22 2014 Free Agent .. signed with Nats
(10) David Price 2.53 traded from Detroit to Toronto at trade dead-line
(14) Johnny Cueto 2.70 traded from Reds to KC at trade dead-line
(30) Jon Lester 3.26 2014 Free Agent … signed with Cubs
(49) Cole Hamels 3.64 traded from Phila. to Texas at the trade dead-line
In case you are wondering where the Yankees Starters rank on this list, they do not
have one in the top 60.
(61) Michael Pineda 3.97 just placed on the DL.
(72) Nate Eovaldi 4.30 has pitched much better of late !
(90) CC Sabathia 5.54 how long will he be allowed to stay in rotation?
( neither Tanaka /3.80 , nor Nova /3.38 have enough innings to qualify for list)
I totally support Luis Severino not being traded, and getting his opportunity to Start,
however, my point going back to Nov. 2014 is that more was needed to address the “Sore Four”.
Instead of Severino making his MLB debut supporting an already solid rotation, now has an
enormous amount of expectation and pressure heaped upon this talented 21 YEAR OLD to save the rotation, and
possibly save the season.
Not only did the Yankees not strengthen their rotation, but many of the teams they will play head to head
against competing to make the playoffs and then hopefully in the post-season DID.
And when it comes to starting pitching, Cashman doesn’t want to look at our cross town rivals
who we play three times .. September 18, 19, 20 at Citifield !!
Cashman did gamble by doing nothing to support the Starting Rotation.
Then he Doubled Down on his bet at the trading dead-line.
IMO – you don’t gamble with your rent money, and you don’t gamble
with your Starting Pitching.
PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
As always,
GO NYY !!
