Kennedy Sharp in Puerto Rico

Peter Abraham updates Ian Kennedy's winter progress:

Ian Kennedy must have not gotten the news that he’s washed up at the age of 24. He

threw a three-hit shutout

in Puerto Rico last night. Facing first-place Arecibo, Kennedy scattered three singles, walked one and struck out seven. The complete game dropped his ERA to 1.57 this winter. I’m not saying he’s Cy Young. Or even Matt Young. But Kennedy is too young and too talented to proclaim him no help to the Yankees.

I don't know that anyone has said that Kennedy is washed up or unable to help the Yankees.  I think the gist has been that the arrogant, non-strike throwing Ian Kennedy that showed up in 2008 is unable to help the Yankees.  If strike-throwing humbled by my failure Ian Kennedy shows up in 2009 and impresses in spring training, I think the Yankees would love to have him in the rotation. Kennedy has a few factors against him this year:

1. He's always been second banana to Philip Hughes and now third banana to Joba.  As long as Hughes is struggling and battles injuries and Kennedy somehow manages to look worse, he will not be counted on for much.

2. The Yankees are doing a 180 from last year where they practically anointed Kennedy the fifth starter before spring training began.  The Yankees don't have a great track record in developing starters at the major league level (Pettitte and Wang are the only two I can think of over the last 14 years), and this type of roller coaster impatience is why.  It's not often the sure thing actually becomes an ace and the Yankees have never been patient enough to let a starter struggle through a few seasons to work out the kinks.  It's put up or shut up almost out of the gate.

Could Kennedy be in the rotation in 2009?  Sure.  Am I going to put a lot of stock in his ERA in Puerto Rico over the winter?  It's encouraging but there's still a lot of work to do.