SEVEN

and counting. That's how many good to excellent starts in a row the Yankees much maligned and thoroughly depleted rotation has delivered. With better fielding and better (or less) work from Farnsworth, they could be 9-3 right now. Can it last? Maybe not. But it is just as likely that the rotation can improve both because of the injuries and in the ordinary course of things. So many injuries force the Yankees to try out a smattering of differnet young talent. One or two of them might just turn out to be upgrades over Mussina, who may be done in my view, or Pavano, who may be permanently unable to stay off the DL. Karstens was pretty good last year and great in spring training. I've been eagerly anticipating his return. Wright was decent tonight and since the big knock on him is woeful inexperience, continued improvement does not seem an unreasonable possibility. I've never thought too much of Rasner and while I've hoped for his success, I haven't really expected it on a sustained basis. But Wang is coming back, Pettite looks like he's all the way back to prime form, and I continue to believe Igawa will be a solid contributor. The makings may be there for a rotation that can succeed admirably given the potency of the offense through the regular season. There is little if any power in the starting staff, which means the fielding will have to improve, but even if they don't scare anybody (and that's what all the experts say), they may well win without doing so.

Even if this hopeful scenario pans out however the post-season is another matter. Powere pitching rules in October, which is why Maddux-Glavine brought just one ring to Atlanta despite Smoltz's heroics. If the Yankees big three were Clemens, Wang, Pettite, then a WC would seem a real possibility, especially given this bullpen. Otherwise Hughes will have to be ready sometime before September if the Yankees are not to play soft-toss in the playoffs (presuming, just for the sake of argument, they can get there).

Final note: Matsuzka is no Martinez (see earlier post) but the Sox sure hit (or don't hit) behind him as if he is. With all the talk about how bad the Yankees rotation is, Dice-K has more losses than anyone in it.