The Yankees are more than likely going to start CC Sabathia on Opening Day this season like they have every season since they acquired him in 2009, but they shouldn't. Hiroki Kuroda should start Opening Day for the Yankees for a plethora of reasons, reasons I will touch in here in this article.
The Yankees really balance out their starting rotation by starting CC Sabathia, especially if Vidal Nuno wins the fifth starting rotation spot this spring. With CC in the top spot and Nuno in the last spot we would run into running consecutive lefties out there in some series. With Kuroda starting game one we could split up the lefties in Nuno and Sabathia and keep teams off balance.
There has also been talk of splitting up Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka due to their similar pitching mechanics and stuff, it makes sense. Batters get more and more comfortable the more they see a pitcher, even if it's a similar and comparable pitcher. Splitting up Kuroda and Tanaka with CC in the middle really keeps the batters guessing and makes it harder to prepare for these three in a series.
Oh and your best pitcher should start on Opening Day, it's a prestigious thing, and that is Kuroda. It has been Kuroda for two seasons now and it will be for a third season in 2014. CC struggled in 2013, got out pitched in 2012, and looks like he may struggle again in 2014. His velocity is down and he is experimenting with a new pitch, Kuroda is the rock and the solid piece you want at the top of the rotation. It won't happen but it should, make it happen Cash.
I agree that Kuroda is by far the more effective pitcher than CC right now. Hopefully CC can learn to pitch with less velocity, but that will more than likely take some time. My problem with pitching Kuroda #1 is limiting his innings to prevent another break down.
ReplyDeleteI thought about that and almost mentioned a six man rotation but didn't wanna get killed, lol.
DeleteI also thought of limiting Kuroda to 7 IP per start max but that doesn't scream ace.
So in closing... I don't know. lol.
Daniel/Jeff...
DeleteIs there a better time to try a six man rotation than now?
1--CC has to learn how to pitch all over again.
2--Kuroda has to have less innings.
3--Tank is not use to going every five days.
4--Nova can adapt...youth is nice.
5--Nuno is the same.
6--Pineda would hold up better as the sixth guy.
I understand why they won't do it, the same reasons they gave for not wanting to go to the 5 man rotation. One less man in the BP, I picked Nuno because he is a Lefty...it could very well be Phelps!
Truth be told, a 5 man rotation is the way to go as of now!
I would change the rotation to; Kuroda, CC, Tank, Nova and Nuno or Pineda.
Another one gone to the winds of Nobel Prize comments, from yours truly!
ReplyDelete