Rasner Has Stunk, but Girardi Says He Will Get Another Start

From Peter Abraham:

The standards to remain a starting pitcher for the Yankees are not very high.

Darrell Rasner is 1-7 with a 6.28 ERA in his last eight starts. But manager Joe Girardi praised the right-hander's competitiveness and said he would remain in the rotation.

"We need big starts out of him. We've got to find a way to get him going and find a way to get him some runs," Girardi said yesterday after the Red Sox beat the Yankees 6-4. "The plan is for him to start."

Rasner (4-7) allowed six runs on 10 hits and three walks in five innings in his first appearance against Boston. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, he had a quick second inning. But Boston scored three runs in the third and three more in the fifth.

With eight games in the next nine days, the Yankees will need all five of their starters before the All-Star break. If general manager Brian Cashman overrules Girardi, one option could be right-hander Jeff Karstens. He has given up three runs in his last three starts for Triple-A Scranton.

By the looks of the schedule it looks like Rasner will start against the Pirates, who crushed him the last time he faced them. I would start someone else, but this is the route the Yanks want to take.

This has to be Rasner's last chance. He's been bad for a little over a month now, and it's time to try someone else. The Yankees should be happy with the few wins they got from Rasner and move on.