Eiland: No Leader In The 5th Starter Race

Bill Madden may believe that 3.2 spring training innings is enough time to judge a pitcher, but it's good to see that the Yankees themselves are a bit more level-headed. Here's more from Mark Feinsand:

“I don’t think anyone has pulled ahead,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “Ace has thrown the ball extremely well, but as of right now, if we had to pick, we really couldn’t pick one. They haven’t been out there long enough.”

Eiland reiterated the point Joe Girardi made the other day, saying that the pitchers - namely Hughes and Chamberlain - won’t be evaluated on the things they’re being instructed to work on. So if Hughes gives up all his homers on chanegups, it’s unlikely to hurt him in the competition. That’s bad news for the two guys throwing up one zero after another on the scoreboard.

“When you say results, it’s not just numbers,” Eiland said. “It’s the quality of each pitch, working ahead in the count, first-pitch strikes, stuff, command. How economical are they? Are the outs hard-hit? You can go out and pitch a few innings, give up lasers all over the field but walk away up no hits and no runs. That doesn’t mean you made a lot of good pitches.”

Most realize that nothing has been decided, but it seems that every appearance Joba and Hughes make there are fans and members of the media who are ready to come to some decision. This really should stop. There are three weeks left in spring training, let's see what happens and when it's all said and done the Yankees will have their fifth starter.