New York Yankees Should Begin to Look Toward '09

ESPN gives the Yankees a 1.4 percent chance of making the playoffs this season which is probably more than anybody else.

Now that it looks like the Yankees have missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993 you would think they would have begun gearing up for next season. Instead they continue to run the team like they’re going to fight this thing down to the last day when in reality they’ve been out of it for about two weeks.

Maybe it’s because they’re not used to packing it in so early. Another team would see this as a good time to give some of the rookies and minor leaguers, who will be playing a bigger role next season, a chance to show what they’ve got.

I’m not even talking about Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy who are likely to finish their seasons in the Bronx after Scranton is finished with the playoffs. They should be inserted into the starting rotation when that time does come.

I’m talking about guys like Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, David Robertson, and Brett Gardner. Why would a guy like Sidney Ponson, who has almost no chance to stick with the team in 2009, still be starting and a promising young starter like Aceves has been buried in long relief?

Aceves should be starting, especially when Ponson has been hurting the team by not making it out of the fifth inning in any of his past three starts. Aceves is a promising young starter and while he might never be front of the rotation material he certainly could be part of the starting rotation next season. I guess the Yankees would rather find out what he’s got later instead of now. Why find out if he’s a viable option.

Darrell Rasner has also been getting regular starts lately even though he’s been more inconsistent than Carl Pavano’s health. Once Hughes and Kennedy’s minor league seasons are over, Rasner’s days need to be numbered. He should probably come out of the rotation now to give Coke a chance to show what he’s got, but he’s been coming out of the bullpen for Scranton for the past few weeks before his call up and it may be too late to stretch him out now.

Speaking of Pavano, the Yankees need to figure out if they are interested in resigning their oft-injured pitcher or not. If they are definitely going to cut him loose, they need to drop him from the rotation now. There is no need to keep giving him starts if they aren’t interested in retaining his services. Especially after spending four seasons on the DL, now is not a time to be doing him favors.

In the outfield, Johnny Damon has been getting far too much playing time in center field. Gardner should be starting there now and for the rest of the season. The only reason I don’t mention Bobby Abreu is because he hurt his wrist this week and Melky Cabrera has been called up to take his place on the team. A good move, but the Yankees shouldn’t have been forced into it because of injury.

Another necessary lineup move is at first base. Jason Giambi’s Yankee career is likely winding down so the team should call up minor leaguer Juan Miranda and give him a chance to see if he’s a legitimate option for next season. The Yankees might be going out and acquiring Mark Teixeira this offseason without seeing if they have a proper internal replacement first. That would be a big mistake.

Finally, Robertson and Coke should not be buried in the bullpen for the rest of the season. They both need to get as many chances as they can to learn from their experience so they know what they can work on next spring. They’re both promising bullpen pieces who should be getting as much valuable major league experience so they’re good to go in 2009.

The biggest problem keeping the Yankees from making these necessary moves seems to be their lack of letting go of their failed run this season. They still seem to be denying reality and they must realize it’s time to cut their loses and look to the future.