Ian Kennedy didn’t have a good pitching line in his second debut for the Yankees, allowing five hits and five earned runs in five innings against Tampa. Despite the numbers, however, Kennedy needs to stay in the Yankees rotation the rest of the year. No more demotions!

Most media outlets hammered Kennedy’s performance, but his appearance was much better than the final numbers. The biggest knock on Kennedy during his first six starts this year was his control problems, as he walked 20 batters in just under 24 innings. The efficiency he had shown during his brief professional career was missing, but during Thursday’s outing Kennedy walked only one in five innings. Kennedy said, “Tonight I only had one walk and that was after battling 3-2. That was the main thing I was having trouble with, and I think I am going in the right direction.”

I completely agree.

Control issues are usually the primary reason a young pitcher, in fact ANY pitcher, has bad outings. It is the first thing a young hurler needs to get acquainted with when pitching in the major leagues. There are new umpires with tighter strike zones and their preconceived notions, better hitters who have “earned the respect” of these umpires, plus much more scrutiny from multiple layers of media. All three of these factors can make or break a young pitcher.

Ian Kennedy appears to have improved upon the control issue. He threw strikes against Tampa but gave up some big hits. The next step is to begin having command WITHIN the strike zone. The double and one homer he allowed yesterday both came in the fourth inning – after two were out and the bases were empty. The homer was on a two strike hanging slider. These types of mistakes will be improved upon with more experience – that is, MAJOR LEAGUE experience.

There is absolutely no reason Ian Kennedy should be sent down to the minor leagues again this season. Kennedy should be given those 25 starts remaining in the 5th spot of the Yankees rotation.

Why? Because of the trade that never happened.

When Brian Cashman declined to include Ian Kennedy into the Johan Santana for Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera deal, he likely knew he was not getting a World Series title this season – he was keeping his young pitchers so the Yankees can be better in 2009 and beyond.

The 2008 season is becoming known as the year of the young hurler. Look at some of the talent under age 28 having success this year:

• Edinson Volquez (24) and Johnny Cueto (22) in Cincinnati
• Zach Greinke (25) and Luke Hochevar (24) in Kansas City
• Scott Olsen (24) in Florida
• Edwin Jackson (24) and Andy Sonnanstine (24) in Tampa Bay
• Jesse Litsch (23) and Shaun Marcum (26) in Toronto
• John Danks (23) and Gavin Floyd (25) for the White Sox
• Ervin Santana (25) and Joe Saunders (27) in Los Angeles for the Angels.

All of these pitchers have emerged this year as top flight starting pitchers. What all these hurlers have in common is that have gone through terrible seasons in the majors when they first came up. For example, Volquez is 7-1 with a Bob Gibson like 1.33 ERA this season, but two years ago, at age 22, he made eight starts and went 1-6 with a 7.29 ERA. Greinke is currently 5-1 with a 2.18 ERA but staggered through a 5-17 season three years ago at age 21.

Before a recent blow up against the Angels, Sonnanstine (6-1 in 9 starts) had won four straight starts, including a complete game three-hit shutout against the White Sox. On Friday night, Sonnanstine went eight strong, beating the Cardinals 3-1. Last season, however, Sonnanstine was bombed (hit hard, not drunk) in 12 of his 22 starts and his ERA was 6.35 after his unlucky 13th start.

And this phenomenon does not end with just the current crop of youngsters. Last night Brandon Webb became the fifth starting pitcher to win his first nine starts and is now 9-0 with a 2.56 ERA. He is the definitive front runner for the NL Cy Young award after finishing second last year and winning the award in 2006. Just four years ago, he was 7-16 in 35 starts. At no time did Arizona think of removing Webb from the rotation. Future HOFers Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine and even Greg Maddux got pounded their first seasons in the majors.

But what I read on the blogs and hear on talk radio is that Kennedy does not have the electric stuff of a Tim Lincecum or Zach Greinke and doesn’t amount to more than a Quadruple A pitcher – one that is great in Triple A but can’t quite cut it in the big show. What the track record suggests, though, is that young pitchers need a year (or two) to become what is expected of them. They need to “take their lumps” for a while in the majors so they can learn the hitters and earn the respect of the umpires. There are only four current veteran pitchers, Atlanta’s Tim Hudson, Houston’s Roy Oswalt, NewYork's Andy Pettitte and Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia, who have been great in the majors since their first seasons - all others have had growing pains. For the non-Mensa members; that means only 2.7% of today’s 150 starting pitchers have not gone though these “growing pains.”

Brian Cashman knows that if the Yankees don’t make the playoffs this season because of their reliance on young pitching he may be out of a job, but the franchise will likely be better in 2009 and beyond. It is quite possible that Kennedy could be next year’s Andy Sonnanstine or Edinson Volquez, but only if he is allowed to finish this season in the Yankees rotation.