As we draw closer to the deadline, a lot of Yankee fans (and fans of “sellers”) are abuzz with talk of the Bombers rotation. Everything seems a-ok in the Bronx right now, but Brian Cashman is ripping out the four hairs he has left as thinks about the upcoming months as it pertains to his rotation. Some may think this is lunacy, as the Yanks are fresh off of an 8 game winning streak and seem to be building up Big Mo (not the Rivera variety) heading into their upcoming series with Boston. C.C. is pitching like an ace, A.J. Burnett is healthy and dealing, Joba seems to have finally put it together as a starter, Andy Pettite is up and down but has scads of pennant race experience, and Sergio Mitre impressed in his first start of the year. In Bullpen Land, things are even better as Big Mo (the Rivera variety) hasn’t lost a beat and Phillip Hughes has transformed into circa ’96 Rivera, giving them they luxury of a 7 inning ball game. Then why the unrest? Two words.
Kei. Igawa.
Currently, the Pride of Oarai is the Yankees technical “6th Starter.” Cashman knows this (I would hope), and as he watches Chamberlain’s much publicized “innings limit” draw closer and closer, sleeping at night becomes more and more difficult. What will happen when Joba hits that magic number? Will the organization cast aside the “Joba Rules” that have plagued the young man throughout his career (and sold a ton of shirts)? It doesn’t seem likely. Then the logical move would be a trip back to the bullpen for the former Sooner. But who then inherits his spot in the rotation? Hughes? Certainly not. The Yanks can’t sacrifice the dominance Hughes has brought to the 8th inning role. “The Acesavior” Alfredo Aceves? No way. He too has flourished in his bullpen role. They both have been valuable cogs in the Yankees’ recent success. The Wanger has been the complete opposite of “reliable” this season, so there’s no reason to even consider him. The top of the farm system is barren…the aforementioned Igawa tops the list of potential call-ups followed by a group of pitchers with little to no experience facing Major League hitters. A trade then? Perhaps the Jay Buhner trading Yanks of old would do such a thing, but the top line starters would cost far too much and the “back end” guys like Aaron Harang and Doug Davis aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. So what to do? I have a suggestion. There’s a guy in the Yankees bullpen right now that has been performing very well. A guy with starting experience. A guy whose production, while a plus, could be easily replaced by a guy like Joba, who we’ve all seen been shut-down out of the ‘pen.
That guy is Phil Coke. So far this season, Coke has been a quality reliever for the Yanks. After some early struggles, he’s settled down to the tune of a 3.67 ERA, a sub 1 WHIP, and K/BB ratio of 34/14. He has not been dominant by any stretch and has seemingly struggled in recent appearances, but has been by no means dreadful. By the same token, he has been far from “invaluable.” As my buddy Doug reminded me today, Coke has never started a game for the “big club”, but has started 77 games in the Yankees minor league system. He was far from “untouchable” as a minor league starter, but was impressive enough that he had been touted as a future part of the Yankees rotation until the team required a left handed reliever. The guy has good, solid stuff and has pitched over 550 innings all total in his professional career. Plus, a Joba/Coke switch allows you to get Chamberlain into the bullpen, where we know he can be dominant (look to his pre-midge 2007 season for proof) without sacrificing Aceves or Hughes. The prospect of an Aceves/Hughes/Joba/Rivera bullpen is quite tantalizing,especially when you consider that Damaso Marte is on his way back to the club. You also do not need to lease prospects like Austin Jackson, Jesus Montero, Zach McAllister etc. to get a guy like Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners. Washburn has been near-elite this season, but posts a career postseason ERA of 4.91 and for his career against the Red Sox, he is under .500 with a plus 4 earned run average. Many doubt his ability to pitch against the AL’s best and his performances against the Yanks and Angels this season seem to prove that.
I’m not saying that Phil Coke will slide into the rotation and be the second coming of Whitey Ford. But he does provide a “safe”, cost-free option when the magical innings limit is reached by Mr. Chamberlain. The Yanks would probably still have to go out and get a low rent starter (the aforementioned Harang or Davis, perhaps Ian Snell of Pittsburgh who has been lights-out since his demotion due to depression) for the stretch run or to be a postseason fourth starter. The best plan would be to say “Joba Rules be damned! This man is a starter!” But if the Bombers decide to send Joba to the ‘pen, my advice to Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner boys is to order up a Coke. You know what they say…Things go better with Coke.
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