Joe Girardi: Mad Scientist

As if trying to announce to the world, "This ain't Torre's team no more!" (boy, he uses bad grammar) Joe Girardi has raised eyebrows in Kansas City tonight by pulling Ian Kennedy from his scheduled start a mere 15 minutes before game time.

The official reasoning behind the move is that a forecast of rain could have wreaked havoc on young, impressionable, Mr. Kennedy, and the braintrust did not feel comfortable starting him up and abruptly pulling the plug. (Note: before the first inning concluded a downpour ensued, proving that meteorologists are actually right sometimes.)

Girardi's answer to a lack of a starting pitcher? Throw the whole bullpen out there! As of this writing, Brian Bruney, Billy Traber, and Kyle Farnsworth (the only one to give up a run thus far, of course) have already pitched, and we're only in the 5th inning. Now, while I understand the concern for the Kool-Aid Brigade (although I still say that if they belong on the club then they should be treated like everybody else), blowing up the entire 'pen over the course of one game with the Royals seems suspect. Remember, this is the same team that couldn't buy an out from their relief corp by the end of '07...and Brian Bruney was lights-out for the first-half of last year, too.

There does seem to be a method to our new Joe's madness, however. Being the sleuth that I am, I am betting the house that the "Kennedy assassination" (too soon?) has been committed due to the fact that Girardi doesn't want Phil Hughes pitching in Fenway. See, now, Kennedy can pitch the finale in K.C. tomorrow, leaving Andy Pettitte, Chin Mien-Wang, and Mike Mussina to pitch the Boston series this weekend. Note the above are all "seasoned" starters, which (in theory) improves the Yankees chances of beating the Sawx.

Seems a bit desperate, the whole devastating-the-bullpen-so-Hughes- and-Kennedy-don't-have their-fragile-psyches-shattered thing, but if the Yankees sweep in Boston (or simply win the series) we'll be hearing all about the genius of Girardi.

Now, about this Kansas City game...

EDIT: Ian Kennedy has entered the game in the 6th inning, trailing 2-0. What in holy fucking hell is going on?! Please, please, please, Baseball God(s), don't make Joe Girardi one of those bat-shit insane managers who thinks that they're cutting edge because they "don't go by the book."
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