The best thing about yesterday's rainout is it gave the Yankees more options as far as ways to skip Kei Igawa in the rotation. I have a really, really hard time believing they would start him Friday against the Mets at Yankee Stadium.
Here are a few options:
They could bring up Ian Kennedy, who was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre at the start of the month The Yankees want to see at least two good outings by him before recalling him, and yesterday's start was rained out, so they would have to bring him up before they'd maybe like to. He'd have to pitch several innings and do well today, then come back on short rest.
If Igawa pitches, it will likely be Thursday against the Rays. If the Yankees decide to dip into the minor leagues, they could bring up Dan Giese (2-2, 1.13 ERA at Scranton), Daniel McCutchen (4-2, 2.15 ERA at Double-A Trenton) or Chase Wright (5-1, 2.54 ERA at Trenton). McCutchen might have been a stronger candidate except his scheduled start yesterday was also rained out.
Skipping Igawa is "a possibility," Girardi said, but "Kei could throw Thursday, as well."
Giese, 30, signed with the Yankees as a minor-league free agent this winter. He made his major-league debut with the Giants last year, posting a 4.82 ERA in eight relief appearances. McCutchen, 25, was a combined 14-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 24 games at Class A Tampa and Trenton last year. Wright, 25, made his major-league debut for the Yankees last year and was 2-0 with a 7.20 ERA in three games.
If the Yankees go with someone other than Igawa, they would probably try to keep Darrell Rasner pitching on his normal rest Thursday and pitch the player who is called up Friday.
Comments (5)
Keep Kennedy down in AAA for one or two more starts. The Yanks need to be sure he can be consistent in AAA before being sent back up. His one start was great but they need to verify he can do it every five days.
I bring up Dan Giese if I am the Yanks. Let's see what he has to offer at the MLB level. Start him Friday against Oliver Perez. It will be a big test for the kid but if he shows a little bit of anything it gives them yet another option, so they don't have to start Igawa ever again.
It has only been 2 starts but Rasner has looked like a great 4th/5th starter so far. Seattle and Detroit are not easy wins, giving up only 2 ER's in each game. If he keeps this up, no one is going to be missing Hughes much.
Hughes himself, as he actually performed, might not be missed, but I think the dream of the great young franchise pitcher rising in triumph that people hoped for will be greatly missed.
Instead of 2 more < 5 innings Hughes losses, you have 2 Rasner wins. Nuff said
Its silly to think there is any possibility of bringing up Wright or McCutchen any time soon, they haven't spent any time in Triple A this year. Duh. And I don't think they're bringing up Kennedy yet...It will be Igawa, White, or Giese. White will only be able to if they keep his outing short tonight (Same for kennedy)...
Anyway to shuffle the rotation so that Igawa does the last tampa bay game and rasner starts against the mets on friday??
The problem with bringing up anyone other than Wright or White is that the Yanks would need to cut someone from the 40 man roster and there aren't any clear candidates for that at the moment. So I'd put my bet on Wright just because a. he's been here before (and he can't do much worse than last time), and b. I can't see them bringing up White to pitch on short rest (even though I think it's high time he got a call up).