Look, don't get me wrong, Brian Cashman has done a good job for the Yankees as GM since 1998, if he hadn't he would be gone by now. But, there is one major flaw that Cashman has and that's his inability to develop elite starting pitching through the system.Before we look at some pitchers that were drafted and developed in the Cashman era ask yourself this question: Since Andy Pettitte, how many starting pitchers have the Yankees built through their system and have become elite? Answer: Not very many, in fact, none. So, let's look at some of the top starting pitching prospects the Yankees have had.
(Photo: Getty)Joba Chamberlain: In 2008 Joba was ranked #3 overall in the Baseball America Top 100 prospect list after a 0.38 ERA in 19 games. Joba was ahead of current aces on that list from Clayton Kershaw, David Price, and Clay Buchholz, so obviously, everyone around baseball believed he would be an elite starter. But, the Yankees had bullpen issues in 2007, so he needed to come up and be a reliever. In 2008, he continued as a reliever, then transitioned to a starter, then went back to a reliever all in one season. In 2009, he was a starter for the entire year, and then shifted to the bullpen going into the postseason, and he's been a reliever ever since. Now, he's currently on the shelf due to Tommy John surgery earlier this season. In his career, Chamberlain has started 43 games and has a 12-7 record with a 4.18 ERA, not exactly “ace” like.
As a reliever he has an 8-6 record in 150 career outings with a 3.03 ERA. Clearly he's a better reliever, and flip flopping back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen has screwed up his development as an elite starting pitcher. Believe me, Cashman didn't want Chamberlain to be a seventh or eighth inning pitcher considering he was the #3 prospect in 2008. You can read that prospect list HERE.
(Photo: Getty)Phil Hughes: Like Chamberlain, Phil Hughes had to be rushed to the majors because of pitching issues. He came up in May 2007 because the Yankees needed a starter and he pitched pretty well for a 21 year old, going 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA. In 2008 he was terrible, going 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA. In 2009, he was a starter for the first part of the season going 3-2 with a 5.45 ERA. Just like 2007 and 2008, the Yankees had bullpen issues, and he was used there instead of being sent down to AAA to continue his development. However, he flourished in the bullpen going 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA. That's nice, but for the #4 ranked prospect in the 2007 Baseball America's top prospect list, I'm sure Cashman thought he'd be like aces Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Clay Buchholz, and Ubaldo Jimenez who Phil was ahead of that year. Sure Hughes went 18-8 last season, with his first career All-Star game, but he fizzled out in the second half going 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA. We all know about his issues this season with an ERA over 13.00 in three starts to begin the season before going on the DL with a dead arm and shoulder inflammation.. Since his return from the DL his velocity hasn't come back, and he's 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA.
Others: Here's some names you that most of you don't know that were top starting pitching prospects for the Yanks:
(In Photo: Ryan Bradley)Ryan Bradley #25 in 1999
Adrian Hernandez #66 in 2001
Brandon Claussen #37 in 2002
There wasn't even a top 100 pitching prospect until Phil Hughes in 2006 when he was ranked 39th that year. You can read the entire list HERE.
(Photo: New York Daily News)Currently the Yankees have two starting pitching prospects in the 2011 Baseball America Top 50 prospect list with Manny Banuelos at #13 and Dellin Betances at #26. We'll see soon enough if Banuelos and Betances can meet expectations, but based on the last 13 years I wouldn't be surprised if both of them didn't meet those expectations.
--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer
--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor
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