Again, I feel the need to bring up Chien-Ming Wang.

I mean, what is there to say anymore?

We're talking about "starting pitching" as if it's 20 years ago. 

Then we start talking about all the pitchers from 20 years ago:

"The Yankees haven’t had enough starting pitching for years and years. You can go all the way back to 2004, and remember that when it was all on the line for them against the Red Sox in Game 7, they had to start Kevin Brown, who had become a bust-out case by then, and then follow him with Javy Vazquez (whom they even brought back to the team in 2010)."

You could go all the way back to 2004 ... or you could stop living in the past. 

I mean, a Javy Vazquez career retrospective sheds little light on the first 13 games of 2020, wouldn't you say?

 

"You know how that worked out."

The 2004 ALCS?

Not sure how that worked out.

Can you please explain it for the 10,000th time? Since it was the highlight of your life?

Even David Ortiz is over it by now.

"When Randy Johnson became a Yankee, he absolutely did win 17 games twice. The second time he did, his earned run average was a smooth 5.00. It is always worth remembering that the last great starting pitcher the Yankees signed and developed was Andy Pettitte."

Pettitte was a PED cheat and you always forget the greatness of Chien-Ming Wang. I understand why you forgot ... why everyone forgets ... but it was only a stupid injury which derailed his career after 2 1/2 years of 46-15 flat-out greatness.

It's too early to crown Severino, but same thing. They might have a flash in the pan, but they might have a champ.

 

 As for 2020, I totally trust Cole, Tanaka, Paxton, and Montgomery.

Montgomery had one bad game, Paxton has to get his velocity back up. If Paxton can't get his velocity back up, then it's a problem.

Happ is garbage, the Yankees should banish him and start Green or Loaisiga instead.

 

More importantly, the 2020 Yankees don't have to outpitch the 1998 Yankees or the 1970 Orioles or the 2004 Yankees. They just have to beat the other 2020 teams.

With the steroid ball and no DH, good luck finding a team with a reliable starting staff.

If the Yankees play sharp defense and their stellar bullpen holds, they are going to cruise, and Lupica knows it.

 

"Starting pitching."

Chapman goes on the DL and Britton steps right in with 5 saves in 5 save opportunities.

Half the relief staff has an ERA of 0.00, the other half under 2.00.

Sorry, that's the way baseball is played in 2020.

If Happ can get through a mere 4 innings, I'll take it, and the Yankees are going to win a lot of games.