29-year old righty starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang is off to the worst start of the season for a starting pitcher in recent memory. He has started 3 games this season for the Yankees and he is 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA and a 4.83 WHIP. Wang has allowed a stunning 23 hits and has walked 6 batters in only 6 innings this season! It’s likely that the Yankees will make up some injury to put Wang on the D.L. if he doesn’t improve soon. Of course, they could call it whiplash! 22-year old righty Phil Hughes and 24-year old righty Ian Kennedy are both off to great starts in the minors and one of them might get a chance to replace Wang in the near future. Hughes has started 2 games in AAA-ball and he is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He is the more likely of the two pitchers to be recalled because of Kennedy’s struggles with the Yanks last season. Kennedy has started 2 games in AAA-ball also and he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. The Yankees can’t afford to show much more patience with Wang if he doesn’t start pitching better soon.

The Yankees demoted 24-year old righty reliever Anthony Claggett after he got destroyed by the Cleveland Indians in his major league debut over the weekend. He pitched 1 2/3 innings in that game and he allowed 9 hits (2 homers), 8 earned runs and he walked 2 batters. The Yankees have recalled their #29 rated prospect according to Baseball America in 26-year old righty Steven Jackson. Jackson has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. In his previous five minor league seasons Jackson pitched in 145 games (66 starts) in which he was 27-29 with 7 saves, a 4.31 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Don’t expect miracles out of Jackson.

The New York Yankees have placed starting RF Xavier Nady on the 15-day disabled list with a major elbow injury that could require Tommy John Surgery. Nady has played in 7 games for the Yanks this season and he is 8 for 28 (.286 avg, .739 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 2 RBIs. The Yankees will replace Nady in the starting lineup with the super hot swinging Nick Swisher. Swisher has played in 11 games for the Yankees this season and he is 13 for 35 (.371 avg, 1.377 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 11 RBIs. Swisher is more than capable of replacing Nady so the Yankees are still in good shape. The Yankees have recalled 25-year old lefty swinging Juan Miranda to replace Nady on the active roster. He is the Yankees #20 prospect according to Baseball America heading into the 2009 season. Miranda was off to a hot start this season in AAA playing in 8 games in which he was 13 for 36 (.361 avg, 1.092 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers and 13 RBIs. He could thrive with the Yankees if forced into regular playing time.

The Yankees have designated 31-year old righty starter/reliever Dan Giese for assignment. Giese pitched in 20 games (3 starts) for the Yankees last year and he was 1-3 with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 28 games (3 starts) in his major league career and he is 1-5 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Some team will likely snap up Giese but it wouldn’t have made sense for the Yanks to keep him on the 40-man roster this season.

UPDATE: The Oakland A’s have claimed Giese off of waivers. He will have a better chance to pitch there than he would have with the Yankees.

Just looking at the Yankees’ roster you would think that 95 wins is a mortal lock. But, the Red Sox and Rays will have a lot to say about that. Not only those teams but the Blue Jays can’t beat anyone at any time. With Joe Girardi calling the shots and A-Rod missing at least the first month of the season you have to be leaning towards the under with the Yankees in 2009.