Pineda and Kuroda Add Spice to Rotation, But Recipe for Success Still Unwritten

Added by Elizabeth DiPietro on January 25, 2012.

The Yankees’ previously quiet offseason has begun to thunder like a  4 train rumbling into the station.

The acquisition of pitchers Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda has provided the Yankees with an embarrassment of riches in the pitching rotation. The situation is more of a puzzle than a problem, as the Yankees will need to figure out where to place the two newcomers among familiar faces like A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia, and Ivan Nova.

The dilemma is similar to the one faced by manager Joe Girardi during the second half of the 2011 season, after Hughes returned from a disabled list stint and Nova had stepped up his game into the number two spot behind ace CC Sabathia. At the time Girardi made use of a six-man rotation, but starting a season in that fashion doesn’t seem feasible. And a seven-man rotation is simply ridiculous.

So what’s a manager, especially the amiable Girardi who hates to offend, to do? The first thing to consider is what Pineda and Kuroda can bring to the table that may have been lacking last year. Pineda, acquired in last week’s trade with the Mariners that sent Jesus Montero to the west coast, is a hard-throwing right-hander about to begin his second major-league season. That alone was ample reason for the Yanks to covet Pineda, since they have caught a lot of flack in the past for acquiring washed-up 30-somethings past their prime.

Probably Pineda’s most impressive stat is his BAA. Overall, batters hit a miniscule .211 off him. Lefties hit .237 while righties hit a pathetic .184, a major league low last season. That’s a world of difference from Burnett’s BAA versus right-handed batters, which was .264 last season. Similarly, lefties hit .312 off Hughes last year.

Pineda gave up only 133 hits in 171 innings in his rookie season. Naysayers shouldn’t scorn his 9-10 record; his 3.74 ERA suggests he lacked run support from Seattle’s anemic lineup. He averaged a little over one strikeout per inning. Furthermore, Pineda appears excited to continue his young career as a Yankee and honored to play among the likes of Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira.

Yankee fans may know less about Kuroda, since he hails from the National League. The Yankees signed him as a free agent from the Dodgers. At 36, Kuroda is much more experienced than Pineda. He too sports a respectable career ERA (3.45) despite his sub-.500 win-loss record (41-46). The Yankees seem to think his veteran presence will be a good fit for their rotation. His calm demeanor and good control could be a welcome change of pace from the erratic Hughes and wild Burnett.

The logical decision would be to have Hughes start his season in the bullpen. He has had success in that role in the past, whereas all the other names in question are strictly starters. Pineda was clearly obtained in response to the fact that the Yankees didn’t have a “sure thing” starter after Sabathia, but there is speculation that Kuroda may usurp the second starter spot due to his experience and poise.

According to this scenario, the rotation would shape up as Sabathia, Kuroda, Pineda, Nova, and Garcia or Burnett. Rumors are still circulating that the Yankees are attempting to find a dumping ground for the beleaguered Burnett, even if they have to eat several million dollars of his bloated contract.

With spring training quickly approaching, decisions must be made. Sabathia has already been named opening day starter, to no one’s surprise. But what transpires after that will no doubt spark debate.

It may take a while for the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place, but hey: Too much pitching is better than no pitching at all.