Who starts for the Yankees?

June 23, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

There has been plenty of debate this week on who picks up the extra start for the New York Yankees. The extra start is part of a double-header this Friday against the New York Mets. There have been quite a few names mentioned for this start. They include Ian Kennedy, Alan Horne, Sidney Ponson, Kei Igawa, Alfredo Aceves and Jeff Karstens. Manager Joe Girardi has narrowed his list, which includes Ponson at the top.

“He’s one of the candidates [for Friday],” said Girardi, who added Alan Horne, Jeff Karstens Jeff Karstens and Kei Igawa also are under consideration for the start.

After this weekend, Ponson is the most likely candidate. He made a start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday which would make Friday his normal rest start. In his start the Yankees limited him to 78 pitches as he had not thrown in game scenario in about two weeks. He went 4 innings giving up 2 runs only 1 earned, walking 3. Not over powering but convincing enough to put him in the mix, especially when you consider he hasn’t had game action in about two weeks. One would hope that it’s not him having a flashback to his last time pitching in Yankees pinstripes.

The person who could be most affected by this is Dan Giese. Giese was pretty impressive in his first start against the Cincinnati Reds. Going 6 and 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs, none earned (although they were scored off his own error). Regardless he pitched well enough to earn another start or two, which he will get this weekend. He needs to be solid again, and hope Ponson doesn’t pitch as good as he does. If Ponson does, the Yankees will most likely waste no time plugging him in the rotation, ugh. I’m all about giving people second chances, but Ponson is one person I hoped the Yankees never revisited.

In other Yankees news regarding the Mets series, Joba Chamberlain will not be making a start against the Mets. The team toyed with the idea of moving up his start to Tuesday to make him available. The idea makes perfect sense as Tuesday would be a normal rest day for Joba, and then he’d be available to pitch Sunday. Girardi went against the idea thou and decided it was best for him to leave the rotation as is, who can argue with how good the team is playing and most of all pitching right now.

Interested in heading to Yankees Stadium and watch the Bronx Bombers close out the cathedral?? Here’s your chance to get tickets.

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