Looking Ahead: New York Yankees 2010 Starting Rotation

A good portion of the success of the 2009 Yankees comes from the team’s starting rotation. A weak point last year, the rotation was bolstered by the additions of C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Along with returning starters Andy Pettitte, Chien Ming Wang, and Joba Chamberlain, C.C. and A.J. have returned the Yankees to a state of strong pitching. For next year, I’d say three fifths of the rotation is an absolute lock. Those three? Sabathia, Burnett, and Chamberlain. The questions marks are Andy Pettitte and, unfortunately, Phil Hughes. I say that Hughes is unfortunately a question mark not because I don’t want him to start, but because I have this lingering doubt in the back of my mind that he won’t start the season in the rotation and will end up doing an ‘08-Joba that could hinder his growth. However, I do generally have faith in Cashman and Girardi to make the right call and put Hughes in the fifth starter’s spot for 2010, regardless of who he&...