Analyzing the New York Yankees' World Series Chances in Their Starting Pitching

The New York Yankees have baseball's highest payroll as it tops $200 million. The strange thing is, that even with the new addition of Johnny Damon, the Yanks really haven't even added payroll. The question on everybody's mind is. Will the Yankees finally win the World Series they have been chasing since their pennant in 2001? 

Last year the Yankees were a mess. They had pitcing problems, lots of them. Even with the addition of Randy Johnson, the Yanks looked like they might not make their first playoffs in years. They had no bullpen and their starting pitching which was supposed to be good last year was in shambles. Almost all of their starters got hurt. The Yankees spent $7 million a year on Jaret Wright who was amazing with the Braves but was awful with the Yanks last year. He played only a few games before an injury took him down for most of last season and he was unable to pitch in the postseason. When he did start he gave up a ton of runs and was a disaster. 

Carl Pavano who the Yankees outbid every single team for, thinking he was their ace of the future, spent $10 million on him only to see him give up a ton of runs with an ERA over 4 and he too went down with an injury for most of the season. 

Getting to Randy Johnson, he was just OK in his first year with the Yankees. He got off to a terrible start but finished the second half of the year strong posted a good ERA and win-loss record. However, he was horrible in the palyoffs. In his only start against the Angels, he was pulled after 3 innnings of work when he gave up 5 runs in a must win playoff game. He was booed off the mound in Yankee stadium.  

Their fourth supposed starter was supposed to be the reliable Mike Mussina. He too has a very expensive contract and an option for next year that most likely won't be picked up. He was just mediocre the entire season and never really seemed to have a spectacular start like in past years and his overall win loss record was near .500 and his ERA was over 4. In the playoffs he was ok, giving up a couple of runs and tried to keep the yankees in the game to win it.