Side note, Joba needs to be given another shot at starting in 2010… not Hughes. With Lackey in the mix, Hughes can spend another year in the pen. Unlike Hughes, Joba has shown the confidence to throw all 4 of his pitches at the major league level. On the other hand, despite scouting reports, we have yet to witness Hughes throw anything but a fastball/curve combo. Gone are the changeup, slider and cutter that Hughes supposedly had in the minors. And Hughes isn’t filthy enough to survive as a starter, as a 2-pitch pitcher.

1. CC
2. AJ
3. Andy
4. Lackey
5. Joba
6. Wang as spot starter

Sure in theory Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Joba and Hughes/others could work but do you want to rely on it? Can you really go with a 3 man rotation in the playoffs again? That plan barley held together and only did because we never saw a game 7.

What if Pettitte gets hurt? He is another year older and has had injury problems in the past, if he goes down what is the rotation? Sabathia, Burnett, Joba, Hughes and Mitre? No thank you! Not to mention Hughes innings limit towards the end of the year you could end up with Sabathia, Burnett, Joba, Mitre and Gaudin… Do you want that?

What if AJ gets hurt or isn’t as good as he was this year (which was a 4 ERA as is) and Andy is hurt then you have 1 starting pitcher you can trust in CC and 1 pitcher can’t win this division… We need to sign or trade for at least 1 veteran starter to give more depth to the rotation.

Matsui has the much better bat and is the better DH choice (which both are) you can’t hardly say well at least Damon plays the field because he can’t play the field well… I mean David Ortiz can play first but why would you let him? I know Damon isn’t that bad at LF as Poppy is at first but still.

The only player available for cheap on a short term contract is Mike Cameron who even though he turns 37 next year he would still provide much better defense in LF than Damon ever could and his 20 HRs and .250 batting average in the end will be more valuable than Damon (they both hit 24 HRs this year) because of the defensive gap between the two.

Bottom line is I’d just hate to lose his bat. I’d bring him back over Matsui because he can at least play the field. Also what else is out there that doesn’t require a long term contract? If Cashman can work a trade for a younger outfielder with a decent bat and keep Matsui to DH then I’m fine with letting Damon go. We shall see tho.

Lackey costs way to much money for what he offers, you would be much better just signing low this year because you will get more value out of signing a bunch of players to fill the holes we have than overpaying for one starter.

Also that number 4 starter won number 27 for us if you didn’t watch and did so on short rest…

The loser shouldn’t be in the pen he should start his season in Scranton… Either Joba loses and he needs the minor leagues because he won’t have an innings limit there is no excuse if he doesn’t preform, and there is no reason making him a 93-96 MPH bullpen piece. If Hughes loses out (which I would expect) then you send him to the minors to help check his innings like Tampa did with Price last year.

I’m sure the Sox will reload, and that will cause a lot of rabid yankee fans to seek Cashmans blood for just sitting back after winning a world series. But honestly for me, as long as they field a competitive team next year, and they of course will, the Yankees are playing with house money. I’d like to see them win again, but if not I’m not going to act irrationally. The win this year erased all the 2004 demons and I am completely at peace as a yankee fan. Although I say this as long as boston doesn’t win.

So as much as I do like Lackey, there is a lot of risk involved. Let’s see if Joba or Hughes can rise to the challenge, and if not, perhaps we can target some of the big young FA down the road (King Felix, Justin Upton, etc) instead of tying up our money now on 30 year olds like Lackey and Holliday.