Individual Player Grades: The Pitchers

Chien-Ming Wang- Despite missing the first month of the season with a hamstring injury, Chien-Ming Wang still managed to win 19 games for the second consecutive year and with a little better luck he could have easily recorded his first career 20 win season. Wang finished the year at 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA, a near carbon copy of his 2006 season in which he finished second in the CY Young voting. Wang won’t finish that high in the voting this season with superior competition, but a second straight highly successful season should ease the Yankees worries that 2006 could have been a fluke and they should now know that they can count on Wang as their ace for years to come. Wang should be receiving a long term contract extension from the Yankees any time now and his substantial raise from $489,500 in 2007 will be well deserved.
Grade- A-

Andy Pettitte- Andy Pettitte’s return to the Bronx should be seen as an unmitigated success, especially when one remembers back to April when Pettitte was the lone fixture in a Yankees rotation in flux with injuries and indecision. Pettitte got off to a fantastic start to the season, sporting an ERA under 3 as late as June 14th, but was plagued with poor run support for the early part of the season as he only had a 4-4 record at that point. Pettitte finished the year 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA, but his ERA should have been lower if he were not knocked around for 9 runs in 5 innings on a meaningless game in the second to last game of the season. Pettitte still had a fine season and the Yankees would welcome him back should he decide to pitch another season and pick up his player option for the 2008 season.
Grade- B+

Roger Clemens- The Rocket’s return to the Bronx made its share of headlines, but Clemens actual return to the mound may have paled in comparison to its build up. Clemens pedestrian 6-6 record and 4.18 ERA hardly seem to be worth a pro rated $28 million, but its also important to remember that the Yankees really began to take off when Clemens arrived and his mentoring to the young pitchers helps make up for his somewhat mediocre pitching. Clemens battled a myriad of injuries this season, ranging from a fatigued groin, foot, hamstring, and elbow problems, but that should be expected from a 45 year old pitcher. The 2007 season seems almost certain to be Clemens last now that his performance is starting to substantially drop off and his body is breaking down, but Roger Clemens is certainly hard to predict and another mid season return in 2008 can not be ruled out. If Clemens delivers in the post season, then I’m sure the Yankees will think he’s worth every penny of that pro rated $28 million.
Grade- C+

Mike Mussina- After a stellar 2006 season in which he went 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA, the wheels came off on Mike Mussina’s 2007 campaign. Not even in his wildest dreams did Mussina envision himself being exiled from the Yankees rotation at any point in time, but sure enough Mussina was yanked from the rotation in favor of rookie Ian Kennedy. Moose did eventually regain his spot and pitched quite effectively for the most part after doing so, going 3-0 with a 3.35 ERA after being reinstated in the rotation and regaining Joe Torre’s trust. He even pitched himself back into the plans for the post season rotation. Mussina’s overall line of 11-10 with a 5.15 ERA is still not what the Yankees wanted after signing him to a 2 year deal this offseason and he’ll still likely have to battle for a rotation spot next season if he’s not traded or out right released.
Grade- D+

Phil Hughes- The long awaited debut of the Yankees phenom Phil Hughes finally happened this season with mixed results. Hughes looked awful at times but brilliant at others. Many will remember Hughes masterpiece against the Texas Rangers in his second career start when he was taken out of a no hitter in the 7th inning due to injury. Hughes overall line is 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA and Hughes was on a roll to finish the season and its questionable on whether he should have been in the Yankees post season rotation over Mike Mussina. These were my thoughts earlier on Hughes pitching but in brief his velocity is down and his pitching is more of a finesse style then the power pitcher he was touted as in the minors. I expect Hughes to break out and possibly be the Yankees most effective starter next season, but Hughes still had a respectable debut this season.
Grade- B-

Kei Igawa- I would not even bother listing him but with the Yankees paying a $26 million posting fee for him plus his 5 year, $20 million contract I really have no choice but to grade Igawa. To say Igawa’s signing would was a disaster would be an understatement, as Igawa was awful for the Yankees this season going 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA and being banished to the minor leagues. The Yankees are still on the hook for Igawa for 4 more years which makes it even worse, but he appears likely to be traded this off season, most likely to San Diego who has expressed interest in him. The only thing that will save him from an F is his 6 shut out inning relief performance against Boston earlier this season.
Grade- F+

Carl Pavano- Remember him, the Yankees opening day starter in 2007? Most Yankee fans would like not to, but his four year, $39.95 million contract can not be forgotten as the Yankees are still on the hook for Pavano for one more season. Pavano underwent Tommy John Surgery back in June and will be out for the first half of the 2008 season, as if it really matters. Pavano will not pitch for the Yankees again and his signing will go down as one of the worst in Yankees history. He was 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA before being shelved for good.
Grade- F

Joba Chamberlain- The converted minor league starter to reliever, Joba Chamberlain took the league by storm as a rookie. The flame throwing right hander went 2-0 with a 0.38 and 34 K’s in 24 innings. Joba’s 98 mph+ fastball and devastating slider have been the cause for his instant success as a reliever, but his plus curveball and changeup are going to waste in the pen and still show that his future should belong in the rotation. Chamberlain’s future is as bright as can be regardless of where he ends up and this small sampling is enough to make Yankee fans salivate.
Grade- A

Luis Vizcaino- Vizcaino’s numbers make him look like a starter, he was 8-2 with a 4.30 in 75.1 innings. But he was just an overused bullpen arm with a lot of vulture wins. Vizcaino was a reliable setup man for Torre throughout most of the season after struggling in April, but he’s miscast as an eighth inning setup man and better off used in the 6th or 7th inning. At a decent price he could be brought back for next season (he’s a free agent), but Brian Cashman will have to find someone better for the eighth inning if Joba Chamberlain does indeed re-enter the starting rotation.
Grade- B-

Kyle Farnsworth- When Farnsworth was inked to a 3 year, $17 million deal prior to the 2005 season he was expected to take Tom Gordon’s role as Mariano Rivera’s top setup man. That hasn’t worked out, as Farnsworth posted a 4.80 ERA in 60 innings and never really found a role on the team. Farnsworth has proved that he can not pitch more then an inning at a time or on back to back days and remain effective, so the brittle right hander has proven almost useless in the Yankees pen. Combined with Farnsworth’s bashing of the organization mid-season it was a surprise Farnsworth was even still on the team after the trade deadline. It would again be a surprise if he was still on the team next season.
Grade- D-

Mariano Rivera- These were my previous thoughts on Mariano Rivera but the great Yankee closer may not have had his best season but he’s still better then 99% of the closers out there and remains among the elite. Rivera had 30 saves and a 3.15 ERA, the first year in which his ERA was over 3 since his rookie season in 1995. The Yankees should still consider themselves lucky to have the best there ever was at the closer position and should re-sign him to a 2 year, $20 million or so contract this off season while they groom a replacement.
Grade- B+