Spring Training - The Starters

40-Man Roster Players:

• Andrew Brackman (injured)
• Joba Chamberlain
• Phil Hughes
• Kei Igawa
• Jeff Karstens
• Ian Kennedy
• Jeffrey Marquez
• Mike Mussina
• Carl Pavano (injured)
• Andy Pettitte
• Humberto Sanchez (injured)
• Chien-Ming Wang

Non-Roster Invitees:

• Alan Horne
• Daniel McCutchen
• Darrell Rasner

As I said yesterday, there's a lot more going on with the pitchers than the catchers this spring. While the majority of the intrigue will be in the bullpen, there's still some questions to be answered in the rotation. The top three spots are, of course, set with Wang, Pettitte and Hughes. The fourth spot is ostensibly Mussina's, and he won't lose the job in Tampa, but considering how awful he was in the second half of the season, he'll be on a short leash come April.

The big question for now, however, is whether Joba Chamberlain is in the rotation or the bullpen. Hank Steinbrenner has said unequivically that Chamberlain is a starter, and I've got no doubt that that's where his future lies, but I don't think he's ready for a full season as a major league starter. Last year he threw 116 innings, most of them in the minor leagues, where he never had to struggle. If he starts all season for the Yankees, his workload will increase by at least half. That would be a terrible risk to take on the health of a very valuable player. Both Chamberlain and the Yankees would be much better served if he started the year in the bullpen and moved into the rotation a few months into the season. In the meantime, Ian Kennedy can take the final spot in the rotation.

While Chamberlain and Kennedy seem to be the only serious candidates for the fifth starter's job, that doesn't mean you should ignore the rest of the starters. If the Yankees learned anything in 2007, it's that there's no telling how many pitchers you're going to end up needing. Jeff Karstens figures to be the first one called upon in an emergency, but strong spring performances by Kei Igawa (who the Yankees have invested a lot of money in) or prospects Alan Horne and Jeffrey Marquez could put one of them at the front of the line.

Of course no matter who ends up taking the mound, I'm certain Carl Pavano will step up and pull his hamstring.

A lack of options

I wrote last night that I'd take a look at who might fill in for Roger Clemens on Tuesday as he serves out his suspension. It turns out that there really is only one option for the Yankees; Jeff Karstens. Ideally they could call up Ian Kennedy, but he's not on the 40 man roster. As for guys who are on the 40 man, Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright have both needed to go back down to Double A, while Matt DeSalvo and Kei Igawa will have pitched too recently to be ready for Tuesday. Considering how Karstens has pitched lately, I'm hoping for rain.

On the subject of Igawa, it looks like he may not be a part of the Yankees by the time Tuesday comes along anyway. The Padres put in a waiver claim last night, and the Yankees now have until Tuesday (two business days after the Padres made the claim) to either work out a trade or take Igawa off waivers. I, for one, don't really see the Padres willing to trade away anyone worth giving up on Igawa. He is, after all, still a lefty with good stuff that comes at an affordable price. Of course my read on the situation may be wrong, and if Cashman can somehow get his hands on a good reliever, I'm all for it.