TAMPA – Generation Trey aced a college exam. Now it’s time to see if it can handle big-league hitters as easily as it did University of South Florida’s bats yesterday at Legends Field.
Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes – the nucleus of a neophyte staff that Hank Steinbrenner predicts will morph the Yankees into a pitching powerhouse for the next decade – toyed with USF hitters on the way to an 11-4 victory in front of 10,482 in the Yankees’ first exhibition.
“To the fans it’s pretty cool,” Kennedy said of watching each member of Generation Trey work in the same game. “To us, it’s no big deal.”
Who knows where the young right arms take the Yankees? But outside their youth, there is another common thread: The major leagues don’t overwhelm them.
Though Chamberlain didn’t have to sweat possibly being dealt to the Twins for Johan Santana during the winter, Kennedy and Hughes heard their names daily. And when Santana went to the Mets, Kennedy and Hughes were relieved. Now, they have to reward the Yankees for sticking with them.
“The organization deserves the credit for letting them play and develop,” said Derek Jeter, a product of the Yankee system.
South Florida isn’t the Red Sox or Tigers. There was no David Ortiz or Gary Sheffield. But Generation Trey had to begin the 2008 season somewhere.
Chamberlain, who was given the start even though he is being groomed as Mariano Rivera’s setup man, retired all six hitters he faced, fanning two. Kennedy, who is being counted on as the fourth or fifth starter, worked two scoreless innings and gave up a single. In one inning, Hughes faced three batters, didn’t give up a hit and whiffed two.
“It’s great for the organization,” manager Joe Girardi said of the rapid rise of Generation Trey. “It’s great for the scouts and the development people, how quickly they have moved. The organization should be proud.”
Chamberlain, who was converted from a starter to reliever in the middle of last summer, forgot the particulars of his pre-game routine. The 22-year-old arrived without his earphones and music and had them delivered to the ballpark. Other than that, everything went smoothly for Chamberlain during his first game action since a two-inning stint in Game 3 of last year’s ALDS against the Indians.
“Hopefully, it’s the last time we all pitch in a game together,” Chamberlain said.
The best aspect of Chamberlain’s stint was when he followed a shaky change-up with a good one.
“That shows you he made an adjustment and that’s important,” Girardi said.
Kennedy’s quest for perfection carried him to the majors quickly. So when the 23-year-old wasn’t able to get South Florida hitters into pitchers’ counts it irritated him.
“These guys swing the bats and it looks like they get their hacks,” Kennedy said. “I tried to get ahead and I didn’t and I wasn’t pleased. I was pushing the ball and not getting on top.”
Hughes, whose calm personality the emotional Chamberlain would like to tap into, was happy with his fastball and not about so-so his curveball.
“We are the first wave of guys who all came up over the years,” said the 21-year-old Hughes, who is slotted in behind Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte in the rotation.