WHAT WOULD YOUR ROTATION BE?

If I needed to put together a starting rotation with the arms we have right now, to me, it would be relatively simple, yet, there are still question marks we need to discuss.

CC Monster: The guy is just a true ace. What can you say, in three years, Sabathia has been apart of a World Championship in 2009 where he was just plain dominant, and has a record of 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA as a New York Yankee. Every season he’s been with us, he’s been considered for the CY Young Award. If that’s not a leader in your eyes, lay off the crack pipe… he’s not only great, he’s epic.

Michael Pineda: I know. He just got here, he’s 22 and we have no idea how he’ll react in Yankee Stadium. This is all true, but based on what he did in Seattle, you need to give the guy some respect. There is definitely an upside to Pineda, there is also a downside, but we can handle that as it happens. I believe Pineda in the 2 hole can get our New York Yankees 18 wins easy, but it will all depend on the biggest concern, will he hit that wall like many are predicting in the second half. Well, we’ll have to see. Also, be sure to read WHY PINEDA HAS ACE POTENTIAL...A SABERMETRIC VIEW.

Ivan Nova: Yeah, I went there. I moved Nova to the 3^rd spot because of experience. I know, why does Pineda get #2 and Nova doesn’t? Simply this… there is a ton of hype about Pineda. This decision is also based on my gut and I believe that in any three game series, we sweep with these three guys. Seriously though, my only minor concern about Nova is the innings increase from 2010 (42 IP) to 2011 (165.1 IP). No one is really talking about it, although I feel like Tom Verducci is constantly sitting next to me, nudging me a bit. Verducci practically predicted Phil Hughes, could the Verducci effect, screw with Nova too? We will have to wait and see.

Hiroki Kuroda or AJ Burnett: I’m here to make a bold statement. Write this down… Burnett needs to compete for the 4^th spot against Hiroki Kuroda. No one likes what I just said, but I said it just the same. Burnett may be a head case, but he’s our head case and the guy deserves a shot just like everyone. Don’t you remember when Carl Pavano started for us on Opening day (HERE)? That guy sure as hell didn’t deserve it, but when his back was against the wall, he was a Yankee and he did it and for that moment, we liked him. Burnett’s come up big when we needed him in the playoffs, we can’t forget that and sure, he shits the bed right around August, but he needs to be given a shot to compete against pinstriped newbie, Kuroda. Kuroda on the other hand, we know what we’re going to get, a back of the rotation guy who while he got his ERA down to 3 in LA, it’s a whole new ballgame in the Bronx. He needs to stay consistent and not get killed in our ballpark, after all, Dodger Stadium is not the Bronx, that’s for sure.

Freddy Garcia or Phil Hughes: Garcia proved he’s still got it and Phil Hughes needs to prove to the world that he’s back. I want to see that 18 game winner again, we all do. I have often said that Hughes should be our long man out of the pen, but we can’t forget that that was the role initially reserved for Freddy Garcia, read HERE. Garcia needed a job at the time he suggested he play that role, but then became our anchor as our 5^th inning guy. I’d like to give Garcia the 5^th spot, but Hughes deserves to compete, especially because he’s our Golden Boy.

So what would your rotation be? Comment and give us your list.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.