The Yankees have made quite a few changes during the offseason and the starting pitching rotation still has questions. Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright are gone and Pettitte is back along with Japanese newcomer Kei Igawa. This basically leaves the no. 5 starter job to the four headed monster of Pavano, Karstens, Henn and the phenom Philip Hughes.

My opinion is that you start the season with a Pavano, Karstens or Henn since they have had major league experience and since this is a no. 5 starting position, the Yankees will be going up against a rather weak no. 5 from the other team. With the Yankees potential for scoring a huge number of runs they could afford to have a so-so pitcher in the five slot.

However, Joe Torre's leash on this position should be very short. After a month or two of mediocrity, Hughes should be summoned to the Bronx. If he is close to the hype, he should get the chance he deserves. Look at the Tigers and how they gave guys like Bonderman, Robertson and Verlander a chance at very young ages. Bonderman is only 23 or 24 years of age and already has 4 major league seasons under his belt. Remember what the young Tigers staff did to our Murderers' Row lineup.

With Spring Training set to begin on February 15, I hope Torre and the Yankee brass take a long and hard look at Hughes and we get to see him in the Bronx with something more than a cup of coffee for 2007.