Yankees Going with Kennedy, Should You?

August 30, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Rob McCarthy
Edited by Ryan Dodson

The ominous cloud that has been hovering over the head of New York Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina has finally opened up and rained down the looming negative media that was sure to plague the struggling pitcher. Mussina is experiencing what is by far his worst season of his 17-year career. On the year, he is 8-10 with 76 strikeouts, a 5.53 ERA and an atrocious 1.49 WHIP in 123 2/3 innings. But, the most jaw-dropping statistic that runs parallel with his cosmic fall from grace is the .313 batting average that opponents are hitting off of him in 2007.

The evidence is quite incriminating for Mussina this year. Since the All-Star break, Mussina has gone 4-4 with 27 strikeouts, an astronomical 7.09 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings. Not to mention, opponents' bats have blown up against the 38-year-old veteran while posting a scary .365 batting average. 

The stormy weather really intensified over his last three starts against the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels and the Tigers once again. In those three games combined, Mussina surrendered 25 hits and 19 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings, which led to a gargantuan ERA of 17.69.

With the Yankees poised to enter September five games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, and neck and neck with the Seattle Mariners for the one and only Wild Card spot, something had to give. 

With the pressure coming from the presidential suite high above Yankee Stadium, Yankees manager Joe Torre came to the conclusion that he was to skip Mussina's next scheduled start against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The ironic twist is that Mussina is 16-7 with 148 strikeouts, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 187 2/3 innings over his lengthy career against Tampa Bay.

The man chosen to replace Mussina against the Devil Rays is none other than the New York Yankees' 2006 first-round pick (21st overall) Ian Kennedy. On the season, Kennedy is 12-3 with 163 strikeouts, a 1.91 ERA and has limited opponents to a .182 batting average in 146 1/3 innings between the Single-A Tampa Yankees, Double-A Trenton Thunder and Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Kennedy is being called up from Scranton Wilkes-Barre, where the 22-year-old went 1-1 with 34 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. The bottom line is his stuff is nothing like Yankees relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain's. 

Kennedy's major weakness is his stamina, for instance, in his six starts for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, he has never gone more than six innings in a game. However, Kennedy is a major talent; he throws a four-seam fastball that does need work, a very polished changeup, a mid-80s slider and a knee-buckling curveball. In addition, Kennedy's command is far beyond his years, and ironically it resembles the pinpoint accuracy that the man he is replacing used to consistently display. But, at this point in the year, all he may provide you with is a few solid starts, some strikeouts and an implosion or two.

Word out of New York is that Mussina may get another chance. But, at this point in the season, and with the Yankees' sketchy pitching situation, Kennedy should remain on the roster for the remainder of the season. He is a must-have in American League-Only formats and should be picked up in keeper leagues immediately. Because with the Yankees' youth movement apparently in full throttle, Kennedy should be in the rotation for the 2008 season, especially if he is able to convert some of his minor league success to the majors.

His 2007 impact in mixed-league formats will be that of a pin-drop, meaning he really isn't worth a roster spot. There are far better options available, and if you do need his services, you're most likely at the bottom of the pack anyways, and you have nothing to lose. So, if you have the itch or are a Yankee fan, Kennedy is a widely available arm.

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Rob McCarthy
Rob has been with KFFL since 2007.

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