The Bronx Block

Poll Results: Ian Kennedy

By Eric Haskell | May 16th, 2008

Here are the results of our poll on the recall of Ian Kennedy.

Yeah, he earned it - 13 votes (16%)
No, he needed to prove himself over a longer period of time - 15 votes (19%)
It’s not ideal, but it’s better than another Kei Igawa start - 53 votes (65%)

Well, the winner is pretty clear. Only 16% believed that Kennedy’s one outstanding start had earned him the promotion. The rest of you believed that he had not earned it, or that he could have used at least an extra start or two. However, most of you agreed that after Kei Igawa’s disastrous start, the Yankees simply had no choice and had to call up Ian Kennedy whether he was ready or not.

Last night validated this opinion. Ian Kennedy certainly did not shut down the Rays as he had the AAA hitters. In fact he allowed a run in all but one of his five innings. However, he did show improvement in terms of holding it together when things started to go badly.

That was most clearly evident in the third inning when he allowed the first three batters to reach base, loading them up with nobody out. Two of those batters had reached on free passes - a walk and a HBP - and it was starting to look like Kennedy was going to fall apart as he had so many times in the first month of the season. However, after a visit to the mound, he really managed to clamp things down. He allowed a sac fly to Carl Crawford before getting BJ Upton to ground out and striking out Carlos Pena swinging.

Perhaps most impressive though, was that the walk and HBP were the only ones he allowed in the game. It is also notable that despite allowing a run in every inning but one, he didn’t allow the game to get away in any of them, with the two-run fourth being the only multi-run inning.

I think we all can agree now, that while Ian Kennedy probably could have used another start or two at AAA, he showed some signs of improvement and was certainly better than anything Kei Igawa would have offered.

Our next poll comes courtesy of Mets manager Willie Randolph who clearly has mixed feelings for Interleague play.

“I think interleague play has worn out its welcome for me,” Randolph said. “I think we should get back to playing in our division and playing in our league. But it’s a nice change. It’s six games, and it gets a little bit chaotic when it happens. But I think it’s good for the fans.”

So the question is, what do you think of Interleague baseball?

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6 Responses to “Poll Results: Ian Kennedy”

Brad K says:

May 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

The only thing the poll proves is that IPK was the lesser of two evils. I wonder how fans will react when we are having this discussion in August or September? What we are looking at is 3rd or 4th place finish in the AL East. If Mussina could pitch against the Rays all the time then maybe he gives us some stability, but lets face it, there are more bad starts then good left. Pettite is older and looks tired. That leaves Wang at the top of the rotation with no clear cut answers for the 4th and 5th spots. Rasner? Maybe but I’m not so sure how he will look after a few trips through the league.

Time to face the truth. Cashman really blew it here. He gambled the farm on the farm and he will lose. What you see with IPK is what you are going to get. Same goes for Hughes although with his injury problems he is starting to look a lot like Mark Prior. Yanks are in a real hole here. Unless we concede the season Joba will not have a chance to move into the rotation and we will be in the same boat next year. Go after CC? Maybe but I don’t see him as the same caliper as Santana.
Eric Haskell says:

May 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Brad - We won’t really know whether it was a good deal for a few years. We’ll have this discussion again when Johan Santana is 34-35 years old and making $20+ million and Hughes and Kennedy are in their prime. Until then, let’s have some patience.
BILL says:

May 16th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

I can’t believe Igawa was ever a professional pitcher in Japan. He must have won some contest over in Japan (Enter to win a spot in the Yankees rotation!) Even Irabu was never this bad. Somebody fooled the Yankees about Igawa. Its very early with IPK and Hughes to wave the white flag. They’re very young. Keep in mind Toronto has been patient over the past 3 years with their young pitchers (Marcum, Dusty McGowan etc) as other teams have and now they’re good. Same with Shields on Tampa Bay, and Baltimore’s pitcher Cabrera.
Pete c. says:

May 16th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Inter-league play bites the big one. With an unbalanced schedule and playing the NL we don’t get to see enough AL teams.
gerry says:

May 16th, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Once again, Kennedy was brought up too soon. Needing a pitcher is not a good reason, as there are decent MiLB and trade options available, and the Yankees need these guys for the long term.

This doesn’t seem to be the time to talk about landing CC or pulling Joba from the rotation. It is time to get a decent, inning eating, pro pitcher who will give the offense a chance to do its thing, and hold the line until Hughes, Kennedy, Joba are ready for the rotation. Such an acquisition could be quickly and easily accomplished.

And if the Yanks tire of the developmental time-line of these talented rookies, send ‘em to the Red Sox. We would allow them to mature, and then clean some clocks.
Mike S. says:

May 17th, 2008 at 10:16 am

You don’t have to make an acquisition yet, rush a youngster, trade a prospect who’ll come back and burn you in the future or throw a ton of $$$ at David Wells or Freddy Garcia.

How about giving Dan Giese a start? See what he has. He wasn’t supposed to be a starter, but when Alan Horne got injured, he went into SWB’s rotation. He’s gone 3-2, 0.87 as a starter in seven starts. He can’t do better than he has. He has been superb.

Granted he is 31 and hasn’t started much in his whole minor league career. Granted he has 8 games and 9 1/3 IP of major league experience. Kennedy, Hughes and Igawa combined are 0-8, 9.22. Think Giese might do better than that? It wouldn’t take much, would it?

If Ian bombs again, give Giese a spot start. It can’t hurt. Maybe he does ok and you DON’T have to throw money at someone, make a deal, etc. Who knows. Aaron Small 2005 revisited. If Giese does ok, give him another start. Go start x start with him.

Giese isn’t on the 40-man. Room would have to be made for him, but what could it hurt? The guy just threw a 7-inning shutout last night. There are other pitchers, like Small, who came out of nowhere and had a good year after many years as a journeyman. Maybe the Yanks can catch lightning in a bottle.

After 0-8, 9.22…what can it hurt?