Only one game, against a slumping offense, but Rasner's major league debut was a success. This was a young pitcher who was pretty good for us last year before the injury and dominated in Triple A this year. His pitches are far from electric, but he could ffit in nicely as the #4. Meanwhile, there is talk of Kei Igawa coming up to be the #5. I'm hoping he can put last year's bumps and bruises behind him and hold down the back of the rotation for us, because Kennedy could use some time in the minors to improve his confidence as well as his mechanics, and Hughes is out through July with injuries.
Rasner did throw a good game today, as he usually does. He's aggressive in the strike zone, doesn't having any outstanding stuff, but can easily beat weaker offensive attacks like Seattle. Like most pitchers, all he has to do is keep the ball down to be successful.
As for Kei, he once again proved in Spring Training this year that he can't throw strikes consistently, so that fifth start, when we need it, should be an adventure every time. At least it'll insure work for the bullpen.
It was nice to see a Yankee pitcher, other than Wang, pitch well and leave the game on a high note. Then to have the bull pen to finish it off without making me a frustated wreck was great.
Now that Ian Kennedy is on his way back to the minors, it might just be Kei Igawa time back in the Bronx. And after the first month performances by Hughes and Kennedy, Darrell Rasner and Igawa can't be any worse. I like the change, that is until Phil Hughes comes back in July. I've had very little confidence in Kennedy since last year.
Anyway, it was great to see the boys sweep the Mariners after the tough series against Detroit. Cleveland's next, let's hope that they keep it up.
i agree igawa is key even if bullpen role.a lefty comin out the pen dont hurt either.
these guys are gonna gel very young stud pitchers we dont want to ruin for us to go all the way with this young staff would be one of the best stories in the history of baseball.We're the Yankees though we win titles!
This spring, Darrell Rasner couldn't even crack his way into the conversation for fifth starter (nor did he deserve to, posting an 8.64 ERA). After starting the season in Scranton and lighting up opponents, he earned a call up from Triple-A to see if he could help out the struggling back of the rotation. Now it looks like the Yanks may have found the answer they were looking for. Rasner is certainly making the most of his chances, having already given the Yanks more than either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy this season. His two wins in two starts are exactly two more than that young duo has combined for this season.
[Update: Reader darkesmoke set us straight -- that 8.64 ERA was before Rasner settled down this spring. He finished the spring with a 5.02 ERA and left us with the general feeling that he'd be the long man out of the pen if the Yanks wanted one.]
Ed Price feels Rasner seems poised to address the back of the rotation problem. George King isn't ready to annoint Rasner as the next Aaron Small just yet.
Rasner pitched great yesterday, and he'll probably be a starter as long as he continues his solid starts. However, for the fifth spot, its obvious that Kei Igawa can't stay there, so what do you do? Call up Kennedy and hope he's better? Call up someone else? Sign Boomer?
Tons of choices..hopefully we don't have to rely on the last one
