Yankees: Four (More) Takeaways From Spring Training

The Starters Are Enough To Get The Team Started

Starting pitching was never expected to be the main strength of the Yankees team in 2017. But for the most part, the projected starting five are holding their own. and it appears that they’ll at least be able to get the Yankees through the first three months of the season

Everything, of course, is predicated on health and injuries. But right now, there is no immediate need to go to Plan B.

And it appears that they’ll at least be able to get the Yankees through the first three months of the season and into the All-Star break and the ensuing trade deadline when the team can assess its chances as a contender better, and make moves accordingly.

Everything, of course, is predicated on health and injuries. But right now, there is no immediate need to go to Plan B.

The Yankees appear to be giving Mashiro Tanaka complete control of his Spring Training regimen Tanaka’s been doing this for a long time, and he can be trusted to know when to kick it up a notch.

In a limited sample, Tanaka has started two games pitching a total of five innings, striking out six, and allowing no runs. He’s a stud and therefore the mainstay of the Yankees staff this season.

CC Sabathia has already announced his hopes to play again in 2018. And whether or not he does, his proclamation, after all these years, sends a signal indicating that he’s (personally) far from done. And the fact that he’s not quite looking forward to retiring means that the fire is still burning in CC.

In the end, but not this season, his arm will have to fall off while he’s pitching for the Yankees before they pull that uniform off him.

Michael Pineda continues to be Michael Pineda, a complete and total enigma. He’s made two starts thus far and, predictably, one has been outstanding and other so-so at best.

The Yankees will give him fifteen starts come hell or high water and then make a determination what to do with him. With impending free agency after this season, he could become a valuable trade for the Yankees in July, when a team in the hunt for the Playoffs hires him as a rental with the hope of catching lightning in a bottle.

As for the rest, Luis Cessa was held back from the start yesterday, but he’s been competent, if not spectacular, and has a 1.00 WHIP for the spring.

Luis Severino made two quick starts before he took a bow and went off to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic tournament.

Because he has a tendency to be erratic from start to start, Severino is someone to be watched closely and, at the very least, he hasn’t done anything to warrant his removal from the rotation.

Chad Green has appeared in three games and has a rather alarming WHIP of 1.94. But again, he’s the man and he’ll get the starts. At least for now.

If the Yankees need to go to Plan B, there is a wealth of talent to choose from, beginning with Chance Adams, Brian Mitchell, and Justus Sheffield, all of who look like they’re ready to get major league hitters out on a consistent basis.

A darkhorse candidate also emerged yesterday when the Yankees reversed course and announced that James Kaprielian would pitch in 5-6 days in a Spring Training game.