Carl Pavano vs Phil Hughes

May 31, 2009

By DailySkew

Phil Hughes’ fastball was working but he ran into some trouble. His final line score looks a lot worse than how he actually pitched (5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 1BB, 6HR, 95 pitches). Meanwhile, Carl Pavano pitched great against his former team. Indians manager Eric Wedge made a move in which he will be second guessed: he removed Carl (89 pitches) in the 8th with one man on, and his bullpen promptly surrendered the lead (4-4).

Chien-Ming Wang pitched great for 3 innings. Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Johnny Damon hit well.

Unfortunately, Phil Coke and Dave Roberston blew it in the 9th. It’s a shame, especially since Robertson was great Saturday, and Joe Girardi gave him a chance to shine. It seems as if Mariano Rivera and Alfredo Aceves would have been the only reliable arms to be put in a 4-4 9th inning tie. This is a test that Coke and Roberston failed today, but it’s not the end of the world.

Anyway, we are at the end of the month of May. So let’s take a look at the 2009 Yankees starting rotation.

Going into the season, the starting rotation was:

1. CC Sabathia
2. Chien-Ming Wang
3. A.J. Burnett
4. Andy Pettitte
5. Joba Chamberlian

After April, it was”

1. Andy Pettitte
2. A.J. Burnett
3. C.C. Sabathia
4. Joba Chamberlain
5. Phil Hughes
6. Chien-Ming Wang

And after May (cumulative):

1. CC Sabathia
2. Andy Pettitte
3. A.J. Burnett
4. Joba Chamberlain
5. Phil Hughes

Here’s what I think Joe Girardi’s bullpen confidence level looks like after May:

1. Mariano Rivera
2. Alfredo Alceves
3. Wang
4. Coke
5. Brett Tomko
6. Dave Robertson
7. Jose Veras