The rotation will be good if Joba and Hughes are in the bullpen, the best selection for the end of the rotation would be Chad Gaudin who showed why at the end of the season, he was highly effective, at times dominant. He would be another change of pace from the power guys...Vasquez, CC Sabbathia, and A.J. Burnett. Pettitte used to be able to do both, now he has a powered up innining or two each game, but is at his best making hitters swing and miss or mis-hit by changing pace and location. His cut fastball off his fastball, curve has become an out pitch now, and the cut fastball gets weak ground balls. Gaudin has a similar mix. He is low 90's fastball with great location, his breaking ball and change get swings and misses. He uses location on all of his pitches to get ground ball double plays, his control and smarts are his best tools. It would be a good mix- Power lefty(Sabbathia)- Pettitte- Power righty( Burnett)- Gaudin- power righty(Vazquez)- then back to CC. In a three game set the worst the Yanks will offer is Gaudin- Vazquez- Sabbathia-- their worst four- Gaudin- Sabbathia- Pettitte- and Burnett...they will have a chance to win or stay in the games against any staff in the AL, the best of which is Boston- Beckett, Matsusaka-Lester- Lackey. With Gaudin against Beckett, the Yanks would figure to stay in the game- on an average day they should get 4 runs against Beckett and Papelbon and Bard. Sergio Mitre and Kei Igawa will be depth- each might surprise with effectiveness after a year of arm strengthening last season. Mitre showed he can be very good.
The bullpen: Robertson, Aceves, Marte, Joba, and Hughes would have an answer for 6th, 7th & 8th inning questions, and Joba can close. Mark Melancon figures prominently this season along with Robertson and Marte. If Melancon is ready for a role, he can turn an excellent bullpen into an elite one in the game. Mariano Rivera, might be better this year than last, more velocity late in the season, he too had a year of arm strengthening...Oh Man!
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