New York Yankees: The Battle for the Fifth Spot Lives On

Bronx Baseball DailyMar 19, 2010

The spring training statistics of the five guys battling for the fifth spot in the rotation (in order of least to most likely to win the job):

Chad Gaudin

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Sergio Mitre

0-0 (W-L), 3.00 ERA, 3 GP, 1 GS, 9.0 IP, 7 Hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 K

Career as Starter: 13-23 (W-L), 5.47 ERA

Expectations are that either Mitre or Gaudin will be traded. It is possible Gaudin played himself right off the team, but also possible Mitre has hurt his chances of staying with the Yanks by having a strong spring.

Alfredo Aceves

1-0 (W-L), 0.90 ERA, 3 GP, 1 GS, 10.0 IP, 3 Hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 5 K

Career as Starter: 1-0 (W-L), 3.42 ERA (Five Starts)

Aceves is, undoubtedly, the most deserving to win the fifth starter job based on his spring performances, but let's be real—it’s just not going to happen. (Although this should help his case to get some important innings during the season.)

Phil Hughes

0-1 (W-L), 2.08 ERA, 3 GP, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 7 Hits, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K

Career as Starter: 8-9 (W-L), 5.22 ERA

Hughes has impressed in the spring, working on his pitches, and he put it all together with a phenomenal four-inning performance, closing the game against Houston on Mar. 16.

Joba Chamberlain

0-0 (W-L), 16.20 ERA, 3 GP, 1 GS, 6.2 IP, 10 Hits, 12 R, 12 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 5 K

Career as Starter: 12-7 (W-L), 4.18 ERA

If you’re a fan who only looks at the stats and doesn’t follow exactly what is happening, I know your probably saying “ouch”.

But let's not throw Chamberlain in Single-A just yet. His velocity looks good considering it is so early and not perfect conditions for a power arm (Sabathia has an ERA over 8.00). Plus, it is still only spring. The concern is that he is fighting for a spot in the rotation, and his numbers don’t reflect a guy who has been given this huge opportunity.

My overall outlook is that this is still a two-man race between Hughes and Chamberlain and has been the whole time, but don’t let the numbers fool you.

I still get the gut feeling that the Yankees will start the season with Joba in the starting rotation and then they will take it from there. They have put a lot of time into making Joba a starter, and putting him in the bullpen now would just be a huge setback.

I am not against having one of them in the starting rotation and putting one in Triple-A since I see them both as starters in the long run, but I’d rather them both see major league batters.

The sooner a decision is made, the better. Neither guy gets led on, and you fans will not have to read us bloggers discuss this issue ever again!