Nobody beats the Viz--Not even an Arbitrator.

This is a wonderful article by ESPN about Andy Pettitte accepting arbitration and thus officially officially coming back to the New York Yankees.

However, the more important part of the article is among the last lines, where it states that Luis Vizcaino has declined arbitration.

This does not leave us with any reliably good arms in the bullpen aside from Mo Rivera.

While I am 100% behind a rotation of young starters, especially ones as talented as Ian, Joba and Phil, if we go into the season with them as a crucial part of our rotation and without a bullpen to back it up, it is worrying, even for an optimist.

Young pitchers are going to falter on occasion. It's why we call them growing pains. The Yankees need to have a plan ready to implement when this happens--it could just not just save a game, but a season as well.


Now, I am sure Brian Cashman has something up his sleeve. He already traded Tyler Clippard for Jonathan Albaladejo, and I'm sure there's more where that came from. However, as we saw with Johan Santana, nothing is definite and until something is announced as official, you have to plan as if it isn't happening.


I've made no secret about thinking that the bullpen is our biggest issue for '08, and I am reiterating it here.



Also, guys, gals, trans and undecideds (since it seems we've got some of each), we need a name for Ian, Joba and Phil!

A) The Trinity
B) The Big Three
C) The Three Musketeers
D) _______ your own suggestion


Most votes win and that is henceforth how the three will be referred to on this blog.