With
the New York Yankees signing of Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka
their rotation became a lot better and deeper. The 25-year-old right
hander comes off a historic season in Japan that saw him go 24-0 with a
1.27 ERA and a microscopic 0.94 WHIP. While those stats were generated
against a league regarded to be of a Triple-A level, scouts universally
agree that Tanaka has the “stuff” to be a star in MLB.
For our Yankees, his addition was a priority this offseason.
Ironically,
by adding Tanaka the team almost assures itself a starting five whose
names all end with “A”. The coincidence provides the group with a new
moniker.
Without further ado, we give you the New York Yankees “A-Team”:
CC SabathiA – The Yankees “ace” had perhaps the worst season of his career in
2013. He posted the highest ERA (4.78) and allowed the most earned runs
(112) in the league. He entered that campaign having lost weight and
it appeared with that came a loss in velocity.
As
fangraphs shows,
Sabathia’s fastball lost, on average, over 1 mph in 2013. The 91.3 mph
average was the lowest of his career for that pitch. As if to
compensate, his use of the changeup and cutter pitches both increased in
2013 (again, shown by fangraphs).
Will that trend continue?
We don’t think so. CC is a year removed from offseason elbow surgery in late 2012, and if
recent reports and photos
of the left-hander are any indication, Sabathia has aggressively worked
on his physique. Without losing weight (according to Sabathia), he
has been on a weight training program that has made him stronger. It is
noticeable and should translate to a better performance on the mound.
Look for Sabathia to re-establish himself as one of the premiere pitchers in the American League.
Masahiro TanakA –
The right-handed hurler comes to the Yankees with much fanfare. As the
most sought-after free agent this offseason, Tanaka has much to live up
to in 2014. Numerous teams made their pitch to him, but none matched
the Yankees’ offer ($155 million over 7 years) and none could stand on
the rich history and tradition that only the Bombers have. Also
helping with the decision was former World Series hero
Hideki Matsui who joined Brian Cashman in his presentation.
So what does Tanaka bring to the table?
“He
has three pitches that deserve 60 or better grades on the 20-80
scouting scale. There’s the fastball that reaches the mid-90s, a
vanishing splitter and a slider that gives away from right-handed
hitters.”
The
Yankees made sure to do their homework on Tanaka before offering him a
contract. They had been watching him pitch since 2007 and used
11 different scouting evaluations
in concluding that they needed him in pinstripes. Those evaluations
ran the gamut from his physical talents to his intensity to how he
conducted himself on and off the field. All were positive.
Even
though he has yet to throw a pitch in MLB, Masahiro Tanaka will make a
difference to the Yankees staff in 2014. In addition to his
high-ceiling potential, he shares the same goal as his teammates and
Yankees’ fans -
To win a World Championship.
Hiroki KurodA –Before
a late season swoon, Hiroki Kuroda was being mentioned among CY Young
contenders for 2013. As Sabathia struggled, Kuroda raised his game and
through July 31st was 10 – 6 with a 2.38 ERA. He may have
tired in August and September, but his value to the rotation was
unequalled last season.
He
has been a model of consistency for the Yankees; making 65 starts and
pitching 221 innings over his two seasons with the club. As a Yankee,
he is 27 – 24 with a 3.31 ERA and a stellar 1.16 WHIP. Where others
struggled with control, Kuroda walked just 43 batters in his 32 starts.
At
home in Yankee Stadium, the right-hander had a 2.35 ERA and held
opponents to a .216 batting average and only twice did he go less than
five innings.
He has provided stability in a rotation characterized by its erratic performances.
By
re-signing the 38-year-old, the team ensures a reliable anchor to hold
on to during turbulent times over the course of a season, as well as
gives them a leg up on opponents’ number three starters.
Ivan NovA
– It has been a roller coaster ride for Ivan Nova over the past three
seasons with the Yankees. After exploding onto the scene as a full-time
starter in 2011 (16 – 4 record and 3.70 ERA), Nova stumbled in 2012
finishing 12 – 8 with a 5.02 ERA. That season he yielded 28 home runs
and required a trip to the minor leagues.
2013
became a rebirth of the Yankees’ “Super Nova” as he went 9 – 6 with the
lowest ERA (3.10) and WHIP (1.285) of his short career. As if feeding
off the success Kuroda experienced during the summer, in 10 starts from
July 5th to August 31st Nova went 6 – 2 with an incredible 2.06 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.
The young pitcher had finally found his groove, and by doing so ensured a spot in this year’s rotation.
If
Nova continues to build off last season’s strong second half, he’ll
give the Yankees one of the best front four pitchers in all of
baseball.
His ceiling is high,
and at age 27 is now entering his prime seasons. Look for more
consistency while Ivan Nova continues to establish himself as a vital
cog in the Yankees rotation.
Michael PinedA – While the first four of the Yankees’ starting five are all but etched
in stone, the fifth spot is expected to go to the winner of a spring
competition that will include Michael Pineda, David Phelps and Adam
Warren.
All three have their pluses and minuses.
Where
Phelps has the most experience, and
Warren has a strong end to 2013 to
put on his resume, it is Pineda that holds the most promise.
Brought
to the Bronx in a trade that saw prospect
Jesus Montero go to Seattle
in January of 2012, Pineda was slated to be part of the rotation coming
out of spring training. Those plans derailed when he suffered a torn
labrum just prior to breaking camp. The injury and subsequent rehab
from surgery have meant two lost seasons for the acquisition.
While many lament the deal altogether, there is still hope where Pineda is concerned.
First, he is young. His one full successful season
with the Mariners was done as a 22-year-old. That season he went 9 –
10 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.099 WHIP. He struck out 173 and walked 55 in
a little over 171 innings of work.
Now, at 25 and coming off two years of little work, he still has his prime seasons ahead of him.
Second, as
reported on NJ.COM,
the Yankees coaches and GM Brian Cashman are pleased with what they’ve
seen in Pineda’s rehab. They are in agreement that the young
right-hander can contribute at the Major League level, and Cashman has
indicated that Pineda would get the chance to prove himself.
We believe that he won’t disappoint.
The
Yankees saw something special in Pineda when they decided to trade
their top-rated prospect (Montero) for him. Their patience with his
recovery is only further indication that they’d love for him to be in
the rotation when the team moves back into the Bronx.
So,
there you have it; the 2014 version of the Yankees’ “A-Team”. It is a
nice blend of experience (Kuroda and Sabathia) and youth (Nova, Pineda,
Tanaka). Its strength lies in the depth of talent and promise for the
future, and it represents a marked improvement over its predecessor.
There are plenty of reasons for Yankees fans to be excited about the upcoming season and at the top is our
“A-Team”.
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1
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