The Beginning or the End?

The Yanks rebounded with a well-earned win over Boston last night on the back of Johnny Damon's 7th-inning two-run shot. Andy Pettite picked up his 12th win and continued his role as stopper, pitching 7 innings and allowing only 3 runs on 6 hits.

This late-August win over the Sox feels different, though, than it has in years past. The team is in a hole this time. It was only two weeks ago that they had struggled back to within 4 games of the East-leading Sox, but the recent 2-5 road trip dropped them back down to 8.

So the team finds itself at a cross-roads this week. To the left: the division leading Red Sox, who maintain a 7 game lead over the Yanks. Also, Seattle's mighty bats and the Detroit Tigers, who just finished walloping the Yanks at Comerica. There are still 30 games left, but the division seems out of reach and the Wild Card is certainly not in the bag.

To the right, however, are three potential unlikely heroes for the Yanks. First, the Joba Chamberlain phenomenon. This kid has 17 Ks through 10 innings, allowing no runs, and an energy that seems to infect both the crowd and the dugout.

Second, Phil Hughs has been a little shaky since coming back from hamstring and ankle injuries. But his fastball is getting back to where it needs to be. A strong start from Hughs on Friday v. TB could go a long way towards setting the table for a post-season starting gig. And we know that he's capable of pitching well in big games.

Finally, Ian Kennedy, the Yanks' top 2006 draft pick. The Yanks announced yesterday that they're bringing Kennedy up from the minors to fill in for Moose for a start or two. Contrary to some what some rumors have suggested, Mussina is not being moved to the bullpen, but will just throw on the side for a few days. The team wants to re-evaluate him after three atrocious starts. Torre: "It's just something we're going to try and see what it looks like." Ominous-sounding, but I think we can expect to see the 17-year (100-63) veteran back on the mound soon. In the meantime, the fast-tracking of Kennedy is more evidence that the Yanks have switched paradigms. Where they once (recently) relied solely on experienced (maybe too experienced) veterans, they're now showing alot of confidence in the young guys. Lesson learned, I guess.

Whether the Kennedy move works out, and whether Chamberlain and Hughs can deliver, remains to be seen. But I think the rest of the season depends on the performance of these three rooks: will they ignite some kind of a spark? Will they be able to rejuvenate a weakening pitching staff? If so, the playoffs may well be within sight (especially in light of Seattle's four-game losing streak). If not, the playoffs look a little less likely. But hey, we might be starting the '08 season with Pettite, Wang, Hughs, Chamberlain and Kennedy.

Great match-up tonight: 16 game winner Josh Beckett vs. his childhood hero Roger Clemens. This photo was taken in 1984. Beckett was four years old.