Yankees need to show patience

Jim Baumbach

11:24 AM EDT, April 21, 2008

Despite Hank Steinbrenner's demands that Joba Chamberlain, left, be added to the Yankees' rotation, general manager Brian Cashman says Chamberlain is staying in the bullpen. (Newsday / David L. Pokress)

Just 20 games into the regular season and the feared worst case scenario for the Yankees is a reality.

The rotation was easily the Yankees' biggest question entering into the season, and right now you might even say that this is worse than the worst case scenario.

There are so many stats that indicate just how poorly Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have performed this season, but opponents' batting average stands out the most: Opponents are hitting .313 off Mussina, .328 off Kennedy and .357 off Hughes.

OK, so it's only four starts for each pitcher, with as many as 25 to 30 remaining. So, yes, it's important that the Yankees, their fans and even their owner's talkative son show some semblance of patience. It's still April.

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Yet what compounds the problem is that it's three of their starters that are struggling. It's easy to preach patience and follow through when it's one or two. But the Yankees knew coming into the season that they were putting a lot on the shoulders of a veteran who could be finished and two youngsters who have loads of potential but who have not proven themselves. They knew that was asking a lot, and now it's hurting them.

So, no, the Yankees shouldn't act now, in my opinion. Give these three starters another three spins through the rotation. But if by the middle of May nothing has changed, then it's time to act. And you better believe the Yankees already are thinking about their options if they have to act, because that's what they have to do.

Here's what we see their options to be:

-- Move Joba Chamberlain into the rotation.

No, no, no, no, no! Yes, this is Hank Steinbrenner's preferred answer, as stated in Monday's New York Times. But if you read my debate with Newsday's Anthony Rieber on The Final Score blog, then you know there are too many reasons not to do this move. First and foremost, the Yankees have placed an innings limit of about 140 on Chamberlain this season. So what good is putting him in the rotation now if he is out of innings in the middle of August? And, secondly, you're talking about the best eighth-inning pitcher in baseball. Make the most of him in that role, and switch him next spring training. No reason to mess with a great thing in April.

-- Send Ian Kennedy to the minors.

He's nibbling big-time, which tells you that he's not trusting his stuff and perhaps could be a little overwhelmed by the situation he's in. That's nothing to be ashamed of. It's happened to many others. And let's not forget he started last season in Single-A and made only a combined 15 starts in Double-A and Triple-A. So perhaps he's been a bit rushed. There's no harm in sending him down to Scranton to find himself. It also makes sense to give Hughes more time to find himself in the majors than Kennedy because Hughes was here longer.

-- Who do you bring up?

Don't laugh about this. But Kei Igawa's numbers are pretty impressive down in Triple-A. He has a 2.49 ERA in 21 2/3 innings and has allowed only 16 hits and four walks with 20 strikeouts. Yes, he looked so awful last year in the majors. And, yes, the Yankees definitely overpaid in response to the Red Sox landing Daisuke Matsuzaka. But don't let the money cloud your vision or your expectations here. There is reason to believe that Igawa could be useful in the majors. And based on his strong Triple-A, might you be willing to give him a look in place of Kennedy's nibbling? I think so.

-- Darrell Rasner is another option.

Rasner doesn't have the best stuff, clearly. And he made it through waivers a few months ago without a problem, so he's not exactly in demand. But he has performed adequately in the majors for the Yankees, and he's pitching real well for Triple-A - 11 hits, no home runs and four walks in 17 innings. That's a .88 WHIP to go with a 1.06 ERA. I think he could give the Yankees innings, which is something they need.

-- How about Freddy Garcia?

It's so hard to place any stock on pitchers coming off injuries. The Yankees know: see Dotel, Octavio from 2006. So while the word is Garcia should be ready to pitch by June or July, what can he provide? That's the question. But if you can get him on an incentive-laden, one-year deal, then why not? Of course that might not be a reality because pitchers with a track record always are in such great demand and there already seems to be a line of teams interested in a summer Garcia tour.

-- Roger Clemens is available.

Oh my goodness gracious. Don't even think about it.

-- How about the return of David Wells?

I don't know about you, but I'd like to see it. Why not?