CONCERNED YET ABOUT YANKEES STARTING PITCHING?

Source: AP

I love all of the banter about shortstops and left fielders swirling around the 2023 Yankees. Infield and outfield depth, impressive rookies pounding the ball and laughable Aaron Hicks nonsense have filled my social media feeds and likely yours as well. But what I am actually most concerned about is Yankee starting pitching or lack of it. I have been underwhelmed by the Yankee rotation so far this spring and guess what, if we don't get that buttoned up, it doesn't matter who the starting shortstop is.

Exhibit 1—Wednesday afternoon slugfest: Luis Severino gives up four earned runs against the Phillies raising ERA to 10.64 in Grapefruit League play.

Exhibit 2—Friday night lights: Domingo German gives up four homeruns against the Tigers

Exhibit 3—Saturday afternoon: Nestor Cortes is not so nasty in his outing against the Toronto Blue Jays giving up home runs to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Whit Merrifield. Analysts calling the game said it looked like they were hitting off a tee.

Source: AP

I point out these three games because we are nearing the end of Spring Training and other than Gerrit Cole, the Yankee starting rotation does not have a look and feel of a championship one. Now, I realize that as I write this, it is early. But I wish I had the faith in pitching that I have in the rookie position players.

"Last time Severino pitched, allowing two home runs against the Tigers in Lakeland, he admitted that his slider “sucks.” On Wednesday, Severino’s slider was better, but his fastball command faltered," reported NJ.com. Severino does not look himself and hasn't for some time. His control has been off and he does not have that swagger that he needs to have to be confident and impactful. Severino is a guy the Yankees will need to lean on especially that Carlos Rodon is on the IL at least until May and Frankie Montas will be out most of season.

"The best starting rotations are the ones when you have a deep talented staff, and every day, yesterday’s starter hands the ball off and the competitive spirit to his teammate and says, ‘Now top that.’ If you can get a collection of talented pitchers that have that type of capability and makeup, that’s when some magical things have a chance to happen,” reported MLB.com. Yea, the Yankees don't seem to have what Aaron Boone was preaching right before pitchers and catchers reported in February.

So now what? How will the Yankees best their competition with the current rotation? As Forbes points out, "The health of those three starters will mean a great deal to the fortunes of the Yankees." Those three starters are collectively: Montas, Severino and Cortes. You can throw Rodon into the mix as well because we have seen nothing from him but the outing nightmare he had before being shut down. 

I think I make a good case for concern for Yankee pitching and if I had the opportunity to ask our manager what he is doing to plan for this, I absolutely would put him in the hot seat. The Yankees will go no further into the postseason as they have done in years past, let alone make the postseason, unless they are preparing their bullpen for the inevitable—low innings for starting pitching that is not quite ready for prime time. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof