The Future of the Yankees: Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy Need To Pitch Now

I know that Cashman's policy of looking towards the future is going to take some time and patience from the millions of Yankee fans throughout the world. However, with the Yankees playoff hopes being a microscopic mathematical possibility, Cashman and Giradi has been given a great opportunity.

Unlike other teams in the MLB, the Yankees have constantly been in the thick of playoff and pennant races in September. This has called for them to use more experienced players and seeing limited appearances from youngsters in the Yankees system. This year, with no pressure to get to the playoffs, Giradi and Cashman need to play some of the young guns.

Phil Hughes definetley needs to pitch some ball games for the Yankees. With a 5 man rotation and 14 games left, Phil Huges can get three starts in and the same goes with Ian Kennedy. If these two pitchers are going to be a part of the Yankee's future, they need to play now. With little to no pressure on them now, they can pitch relaxed and show the fans how good they are. This increase in confidence should pay dividends next season when the Yankee's will need them to perform well if they can't sign Sabathia.

What good could possibly come from keeping them in the minors? They Ian Kennedy can senseless beat up on minor league hitters, but that doesn't help the Yankees in the majors. He has to prove to the Yankees, to the fans, and to himself that he is not a AAAA pitcher. He needs to make sure he doesn't become like Kei Igawa and perform amazingly in the minors, but can't pitch in the bigs. Hughes needs to pitch in the majors to prove his fitness and how well he pitches when healthy. Other than the playoff performance against Cleveland, Hughes hasn't done anything of substance.

On a completely different note, the Yankees need to shut Joba down. There is nothing to be gained by making him a reliever for the rest of the season. He needs to rest and stretch his arm out. He has the ability to be the best pitcher in baseball and has showed that he can be. That performance against Beckett showed me that the Yankees have a true #1 pitcher. These reports of him starting the bullpen next year are completely idiotic. He serves no service in the bullpen for the Yankees relative to what he brings as a starter. The bullpen for the Yankees in completely packed with hard throwing righties. Joba is and needs to be a starter. This offseason and spring training should be spent stretching him out and teaching him how to pitch as a starter.

This season is over for the Yankees. However, the future for the Yankees is now. Hughes and Kennedy need to pitch this season in order for them to have confidence going into 2009.

Yankee's Hitting Prospects

Yankee's Pitching Prospects