The Season: 2008

[DoubleX]

The regular season is upon us and as has been the case the past few years, we'll have a thread here to capture our conversations and observations about the season as the season progresses.

It should be a fun year, perhaps with a much different feeling than in recent years as the team will have an infusion of youth that it will look upon for major contributions, as well as a new, and likely more energetic manager. There's also the little fact that it's the last year in the most hallowed ballpark in the game.

So let the discourse commence.

[Mike27]

After watching that National/Brave game, it really put me in the mood for baseball. I can't wait for tomorrow's game. There's so many questions and what-if's this year, it's almost a guaranteed exciting year. I'm sure it's going to be wierd not seeing Torre just chilling in the dugout, but Girardi should keep things interesting.

[DoubleX]

Apparently Cano is batting 6th today, ahead of Posada (7th) and Matsui (8th). I think that's kind of interesting. I'm pretty sure Torre would have kept Cano at the bottom of the lineup.

[duckydps]

I am sitting here in class and so ready to leave so I can go get ready to watch the game and get this season started! I don't post much, but I look forward to reading everyone's thoughts as the season goes along!

Go Yankees!

[TonyStarks]

Finally....Opening Day...has come back!

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Apparently Cano is batting 6th today, ahead of Posada (7th) and Matsui (8th). I think that's kind of interesting. I'm pretty sure Torre would have kept Cano at the bottom of the lineup.

Yes, and Matsui 5th or 6th.

[Mattingly]

The game may be delayed. Supposedly set for 1:05pm, but this could start 30+ minutes late. If on time, then the gray skies wouldn't be so bad. Check the weather reports in NYC (zip code = 10458, and NYC weather is officially based in Central Park).

[DoubleX]

No game today. I think they could have to it in. The weather isn't that bad and the rain has pretty much stopped. The radar shows that everything has passed. There might be a drizzle or mist at times, but I think they could have played through it. The forecast isn't much better for tomorrow night as it looks like more of the same, so they might as well have tried to get it in today, especially considering that lots of fans probably had to take off from work or school and may have shelled out a ton of money to make it today.

[sanket]

So far I'm pretty disapointed that Andy Pettitte is on the DL so early. He's an aging guy who has suffered a few setbacks this offseason/spring training so it really doesn't look like a great sign.

I'm also going to pray to the Lord that Mike Mussina keeps his ERA under 9.00. That offense is going to bail him out of a LOT of games this spring. I say spring because I'm willing to bet that he won't be in the rotation by June/July.

I'm also glad that Brian Bruney made the roster. The guy would have been a straight up monster late in 2007 if Joe Torre didn't abuse him early.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

So far I'm pretty disapointed that Andy Pettitte is on the DL so early. He's an aging guy who has suffered a few setbacks this offseason/spring training so it really doesn't look like a great sign.

I'm also going to pray to the Lord that Mike Mussina keeps his ERA under 9.00. That offense is going to bail him out of a LOT of games this spring. I say spring because I'm willing to bet that he won't be in the rotation by June/July.

I'm also glad that Brian Bruney made the roster. The guy would have been a straight up monster late in 2007 if Joe Torre didn't abuse him early.

I fear that somehow the pitching will implode this year. I don't fear for Hughes and Kennedy, they will do fine. But like you said, Moose and Pettitte are the ones I am worrying about. And what do we have to replace them? Igawa, please no. Karstens? When all this happens, the Yankees will be forced to move Joba to the starting rotation sooner than they want.

[sanket]

I fear that somehow the pitching will implode this year. I don't fear for Hughes and Kennedy, they will do fine. But like you said, Moose and Pettitte are the ones I am worrying about. And what do we have to replace them? Igawa, please no. Karstens? When all this happens, the Yankees will be forced to move Joba to the starting rotation sooner than they want.

If I'm Girardi once Mussina is shreded and Pettitte is constantly hurt missing every other start, I'd go first to Rasner. He's a solid pitcher that can defiently give us a quality start almost everytime out (and it doesn't take much to have a quality start with the offense he has behind him). When I say quality start, I'm talking six innings of three to four run ball - five at the max. I'm sure we can score 5-7 runs every single time out so we don't need guys to be absolutley perfect.

If we've got more holes, I'd go to Joba Chamberlain after Rasner. The thing about Joba is that you don't want to bring him up as a starter too late. I'm not too excited about him being thrown into the rotation in August/September because it doesn't give him enough time to get ready. I'm thinking at about the all star break... Mussina should be long gone by then.

I'm 99% sure that Wang, Kennedy, and Hughes will hold up. I'm glad we have two solid back up options in Rasner and Chamberlain but after that I'm not too sure. I think Igawa has potential but I don't know if he's ready just yet... he's going to be a real mystery until he really takes the mound. With Karstens, I don't see the light at the end of the tunnell. I'd write him in as a reliever midseason when one of our guys goes down. He can be pretty solid if he can get us 3-6 outs every other night. Igawa might take that same role but there's just something I really like about him.

[Mission 27]

I don't agree that Mussina and Pettitte are able to be written off like that. Pettitte had a GREAT year last year, and for some reason (prolly the fact he's pitched so consistently for so many years already) I think Mussina will hold up as a #4/5

[sanket]

I don't agree that Mussina and Pettitte are able to be written off like that. Pettitte had a GREAT year last year, and for some reason (prolly the fact he's pitched so consistently for so many years already) I think Mussina will hold up as a #4/5

I didn't write Pettitte off. I know he's a great pitcher, he was our co-MVP last year with A-Rod but the fact that he's been hurt so much this spring is really coming off as a bad sign towards me. If he can pitch lights out again then great. I know for a fact Mussina can't. If he was so consistant he wouldn't have been such a disaster last season. He's got no velocity on his pitches, no movement, no change of speeds, he's washed up. He's done, if it were up to me he'd be in the bullpen to start the season off and Darrell Rasner would be in the 5th spot.

[Mission 27]

No movement?

Pettitte doesn't have to be that good. We aren't expecting him to be. But he's going to be like .5 on the ERA worse which is still good enough. Esp considering Wang is gonna dominate

[Evangelion]

I don't agree that Mussina and Pettitte are able to be written off like that. Pettitte had a GREAT year last year, and for some reason (prolly the fact he's pitched so consistently for so many years already) I think Mussina will hold up as a #4/5

Pettitte was great in 05 with the Houston. Not last year. Allowing more hits than innings pitch, a WHIP of 1.43 and a ERA at 4.05 isn't great. It's solid and good for a number two and three pitcher, but far from great. I'm aware, I'm picking at the word choice you made. Pettitte was a consistent fixture in a rotation that dealt with injures, but that wouldn't make him great. That would make him dependable.

Pettitte and Mussina are old. One dealing with injures and other declining with declining abilities. I won't write them off, but I won't have high expectations with these players. If you believe Pettitte going to be "GREAT", then you'll be disappointed.