Fourteen games into the season, this is what we know about the Yankees: They are going to need pitching help.
Aaron Small and Octavio Dotel will improve the bullpen when they return from injuries, but the greatest need is in the starting rotation. Before April drains into May, the biggest question mark coming into the season has morphed into a problem.
Of the five starters, only Mike Mussina has pitched well. Randy Johnson’s last two outings have raised questions about his health and age (42). Beyond those two, it has been a crapshoot from Chien-Ming Wang, Shawn Chacon and Jaret Wright. Combined, they are 2-2 with a 6.89 ERA in six starts. In 31 1/3 innings, they have given up an alarming 45 hits and 10 walks.
“We are the old guys, as everybody reminds us,” the 37-year-old Mussina said of he and Johnson. “We want to have a stabilizing effect on everybody else. They know we’ll put up a decent game and let those guys get comfortable on the mound. We’re going to need guys the rest of the year. It’s not going to be the two of us getting us anywhere.”
So where does the help come from? The easiest avenue is for Wang, Chacon and Wright to pitch better. Due to a body that won’t remain healthy, Carl Pavano can’t be counted on. And remember, he is only a 61-64 pitcher when active, something he hasn’t been since June 17, 2005 due to shoulder, back and buttocks problems.
The simplest outside solution is Roger Clemens. The smart money has the 43-year-old Clemens returning, because if he were going to retire, he would have already done so. Since it will cost the Yankees nothing but money – figure $3 million to $4 million a month – they won’t be shy in their pursuit of teaming Clemens with Johnson in a righty-lefty combo of Hall of Fame locks, even if they are a combined 85 years old.
When Clemens spent time with the Red Sox’ and Rangers’ brass in Arlington on Opening Day and with the Astros shortly thereafter, a friend of Clemens was asked if he planned on meeting with the Yankees. The friend said there was no need to do that, because Clemens is well aware of the people running the Yankees, some of whom he has kept in touch with since the season began.
Clemens could likely find himself in the middle of a Red Sox-Yankees bidding war, and wouldn’t that be delicious?
The question concerning Clemens is: How much does he have left? Can his hamstrings and groin take the pounding he puts himself through? And can he handle the Yankees not letting him come and go like the Astros did a year ago?
Beyond Clemens, the market hasn’t defined itself. At some point, the Marlins are expected to shop lefty Dontrelle Willis. In the odd chance the A’s flop – don’t count on it – Barry Zito could be available.
“They are going to move Willis, but they would likely want (Robinson) Cano and (Phil) Hughes from the Yankees,” an NL talent evaluator said of the Marlins.
That may be too steep a price for the 24-year-old Willis. As for Zito, A’s GM Billy Beane has traded Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder to NL teams to avoid having them bite him. If he has to deal Zito, it likely won’t be to the Yankees, who didn’t nibble last year when the A’s wanted Hughes as the centerpiece of a deal for center fielder Mark Kotsay.
Meanwhile, Wang goes tonight and is followed by Chacon tomorrow – two chances to show people the help the Yankees need is already in pinstripes.
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Orioles-Yankees pitching matchup
TONIGHT
Kris Benson (1-2, 3.32) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (1-0, 4.08) Ch. 9, WCBS, 7:05 p.m.
TOMORROW
Daniel Cabrera (1-1, 5.40) vs. Shawn Chacon (1-1, 8.03) YES, WCBS, 1:05 p.m.
SUNDAY
Bruce Chen (0-2, 8.10) vs. Randy Johnson (2-2, 4.63) YES, WCBS, 1:05 p.m.
