WHY FREDDY GARCIA DESERVES A ROTATION SPOT

(Photo: Getty)
If you think about it, Freddy Garcia has no business being part of the Yankees rotation. He was found on the Off-season Free agent scrap heap and Cashman got him cheap and hyped up this veteran experience as someone who may be able to compete for a starting role, but ultimately, he would be a long man in the bullpen and hopefully help the Yankees win.

If you remember, Garcia at the time wanted a starting role, but speaking in true Yankee fashion, putting his team first, he chose to do “whatever they wanted” him to do. Well, when you are a team player, sometimes good things happen. Freddy Garcia pitched his heart out this spring and suddenly he earned a 5^th spot in the rotation. I wrote WHY FREDDY'S ON A MISSION back in March.

All season he’s used his true veteran talent to really shut down the rivals and he’s been much better than expected and it’s all because of confidence and him reinventing himself on the mound. He’s mixing up his pitches well and really just proving why he’s there. He grinds it out every game and keeps the Yankees in it. The Yankee offense in return get him run support, hence, his record, 10-7, a 3.16 ERA in 122.1 innings pitched. Not too shabby.

Now, There are rotation question marks and I feel as though I write about this everyday, and you know what? I do. Yes, CC is our number 1 guy and with Ivan Nova clearly emerging as a young leader himself, but what comes next? Phil Hughes clearly looks like he’s back and you have to assume the Yankees will give him a spot. That leaves us with a struggling AJ Burnett and a broken down Bartolo Colon.

• AJ Burnett: AJ is having a helluva time trying to get his head straight right now and lately, not even Yoda Rothschild can fix him. He's moving down in the rotation, and maybe out of it.

• Bartolo Colon: A once dominant Colon has slowly deteriorating before our eyes. Colon looks tired, he doesn’t look as polished as he once did. Tonight he went 6.1 innings, allowed 8 hits and 5 runs...not good. Yes, he’s contributed wonferfully earlier in the year, but we’re not at the finish line yet. Currently Colon’s season looks like this: 8-7 with a 4.19 ERA and 124.1 innings pitched. He also has 107 strikeouts. (These numbers don't reflect tonight's game.)
  

• Freddy Garcia: My money’s on this guy for a starting spot for sure. As I stated, he’s proven himself and never given up on himself or the team. While he’s willing to do anything the Yankees need, it would be unfair to move him out of the rotation. I call him the anchor because I believe having him as the last pitcher in a big series could be valuable.

So, with those three candidates competing for spots, I would predict Yankee brass would move Bartolo Colon to the bullpen. Honestly, while AJ Burnett needs like a logical bullpen move, I still don’t see the Yankees doing it. Why? Because it seems like AJ couldn’t provide a reliable appearance out of the pen. Colon on the other hand, is more like a robot… automatic. Colon’s happy to be here, willing to do anything and you get to rest him more in the pen and allow him to pitch every day or every other day for 2 or 3 innings if needed. Plus, you get to rest the rest of the bullpen on the days he would come in. Also, he’s your guy when Burnett blows it early on his turn in the rotation.

Bottom line, moving Garcia out of the rotation is unfair. Garcia is still ticking, not breaking down and happy to be pitching in the major leagues. If anyone deserves to stick around in the Yankees gang of 5, it’s The Chief, for sure. That's how I see it anyway.

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