I'm going to take for granted that Dan Giese's career as a starter for the Yanks won't last too long. He could prove me wrong, and I hope he does, but sooner or later, the Yanks are going to look elsewhere to fill the 5th spot in the rotation.
I'm not talking about trades, that's a long ways away. I'm talking about internal options. In fact, I would bet money that at some point, Brian Cashman et al are going to be huddled around a table somewhere making one excruciatingly tough decision:
Do we call up Kei Igawa or Sidney Ponson to make a spot start?
Yes, the Yankees
signed the rotund Aruban to a minor-league deal today, and I don't think the move was made to bolster Scranton's chances in the International League. It will be a tough decision, to be sure. Ponson lacks discipline, Igawa lacks everything. My guess, we see both of them make a start before the season is over.
Ian Kennedy, please hurry back.
Ponson: 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA.
This isn't a tough decision for me. Those are numbers Igawa could only dream of. Low-risk, high-reward.
Think about it. I could tell you Igawa is starting against Babe Ruth's corpse and you'd still contemplate who has the advantage. Just ask yourself:
When you see Igawa is starting, how often do you not think... 'Well this is probably a loss.' With Ponson there's at least a CHANCE; he has been effective.