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Young Pitchers Comforting To Yanks

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

TAMPA - Twenty-four hours before Yankee hitters arrived for their first formal batting session of spring training, Hank Steinbrenner took his cuts.

The senior vice president of the Yankees said the team's surplus of talented young pitchers could stamp New York as the club to beat for the foreseeable future.

"With all the good young arms we've got in the majors and the minors, I think we're going to be a power for 10 years," Steinbrenner said Tuesday after watching New York's hurlers warm up at Legends Field. "We're one of the four or five teams in the American League that can win it. I don't want to trash the National League, but the AL is very strong and everybody knows it. Starting next year or the year after, we may be the favorites every year."

Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and the remainder of New York's powerful lineup is scheduled to take inaugural batting practice today as the Yankees begin preparations for the Feb. 29 exhibition opener against the University of South Florida.

The presence of Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy as potential mainstays in the rotation provides the Yankees with a comfort level as they attempt to dethrone the Red Sox as World Series champions.

Steinbrenner confirmed that Chamberlain may begin the regular season in the bullpen as Mariano Rivera's primary setup man, but there are big plans for the 22-year-old right-hander with the wicked 98-mph fastball.

"I think Manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland are thinking of starting him in the bullpen because we have to build up Chamberlain's innings," Steinbrenner said. "Baseball history is littered with 22- and 23-year-old pitchers that were thrown into the mix as full-time starters who had arm trouble and never pitched again.

"We don't want that for our guys. Eventually, everybody in the organization agrees Joba is going to be a starter."

The Yanks were in offseason talks for Johan Santana, but they wouldn't meet Minnesota's demands for several young arms before the two-time Cy Young Award winner was traded to the cross-town Mets.

Steinbrenner scoffed at any speculation money was a key factor.

"We already have the highest payroll, by far the highest payroll," he said. "At some point, you've got to say this is getting to be enough. It was a tough decision. I don't know if it was the right decision ... we'll see. I do know that with the young pitchers we've got, we're very comfortable, even for this year.

"And by the end of the year, we could see two of the three - or even all three - firing on all cylinders. If that happens going into the playoffs, we can be pretty tough."

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