It’s a pretty safe bet Wang will be there barring injury.

Joba has an impact arm, so he’s one of the guys they’re going to want to have pitching October baseball. Even if they don’t make the postseason, they have to PLAN to make it, which means 150 IP in the regular season is maximum, and it’s possible 140 IP is more like it. They’re not going to want to go too much past that since he only pitched 100 innings last year.

How to do that? Enter Hughes. Now that it appears Pettitte is on the way back, they have another innings eater, and that may be one of Pettitte’s most significant contributions in ’09, even if he’s only league average, although I think he’ll be better. We could be looking at something like: CC, 34 starts, 230 IP; Pettitte, 32, 210; Wang, 32, 200; AJ, 28, 175 IP (you have to plan on some time off for him); and Joba 25, 140 IP. That means here’s probably about 10-15 starts the Yankees will need from a sixth starter, and that person is most likely Hughes, perhaps with IPK picking up a few depending on timing. Hughes will start the season in AAA, but will become more important as the season progresses, and as the Yankees prepare for him being in the rotation full-time in 2010.

If things play out the way the Yankees want, they could enter October baseball with three young power arms starting games: CC, AJ and Joba. That’s something they’ve missed in recent years. And if Hughes looks good down the stretch, it could be that either Pettitte or Wang won’t get much opportunity to start in October.

Manny ain’t coming to the Bronx. Besides, isn’t it going to be more fun watching him in LA when he decides he isn’t happy with whatever he ends up signing for?

BTW, that Pettitte guy is a shrewd bargainer isn’t he? lol.

FWIW, my take is that Torre’s comments were directed at some pretty easy, multi-millionaire nut-job, “bigger than the game” targets, not the hardworking, quiet, “play the game right” guys. That’s a point that makes a difference to me. To use a crude phrase, Torre wasn’t kicking any cripples here.

For example, A-Rod has drawn so much attention to himself over the years, with The Contract, strippers, Madonna, the opt out and Boras, that it’s comical to suggest that Torre has stepped out of bounds by commenting on this guy. A-Rod, more than anyone else, made himself larger than life and subject to comment.

Giambi testified in the BALCO grand jury, apologized without apologizing and fell apart physically – again, an outrageous situation and thus fair game. Ditto Pavano, another outrageous case, a slacker for all time.

As for Manny, who gives a rat’s tail whether this makes him difficult to manage? Could it really be any harder to get this guy to respect anyone or anything? If nothing else, Manny is all about the money and would respect Torre for cashing in, no?

The only Yankee fans who will enjoy the book are those who have a pre-determined dislike for the folks Torre talks about in it.

If you do, its prize winning stuff.

If you are like me, a “what goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room” kind of person, you are disappointed that Torre is so bitter he feels the need to sellout.

Either way, it beats talking about Pettitte and Sheets until spring training begins! lol

#6 would be funny but I’d rather see Manny wear #6 than Arod as he wouldn’t do that IMO. He’s better off just moving on.