The Japanese Babe Ruth could mean a godsend: The six-man Yankee rotation

The Yankiverse is so hot for Shohei Otani that John Sterling is surely, as we speak, auditioning homer-hollers in his shower. "Oh my, Shohei! Otani's uncanny!" Imagine this: In one swoop, we add a shutdown pitcher/solid DH to the Judge/Didi/Sanchez/Bird lineup and win the AL East by - NO, NO, NO! I CAN'T DO THIS. My brain just went Aaron Hernandez. Too good to be true. Won't happen. He'll tweak a gonad. He'll sign elsewhere. His boat will sink. He'll get bitten by a raccoon. FORGET THIS, EVERYBODY, NOW... FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! 

Remember Yoan Moncada? Sure you do. HE was going to sign with us, wasn't he? Everybody said so. Done deal. Then, one day, Boston outbid us - that's when we started calling Hal "Food Stamps" - while we talked of Zolio Almonte. Later, they converted him into Chris Sale. Remember how the Yankees later blamed Felix "the Gardner" Lopez, Jessica's ex? It didn't matter. We blew it then, we'll blow it now. Somebody will use the wrong fork, offend him, and he'll run to Milwaukee. Don't get your hopes up, just because Cooperstown Cashman friended him on Facebook. Think of Yoan Moncada and steel yourself for the oncoming pain. DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF HOPE! SHOW DISCIPLINE, DAMMIT! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WE - IN ANY WAY - IMAGINE ONE SCINTILLA OF THIS FELLOW - THE JAPANESE BABE RUTH - EVER APPEARING IN PINSTRIPES. 

IT. WON'T. HAPPEN! 

But - then again, Gee Willikers, Mr. Wizard! - what if it does! Think this...

If we sign this guy, we could implement the kind of generational breakthrough that alters the future of the game. Yes, I'm talking about the six-man rotation. Stay with me here, because this require deep thought. In Japan, pitchers go roughly once a week. When they come to America, they must change their routines. Sometimes, it works; sometimes, no. But Otani will be an outlier: He'd DH for us on selected off-days. Thus, we could run him ragged by cramming into the regular five-man rotation. 

The answer: Go six. First, it would help Masahiro Tanaka, who has done better with extra rest. (In 2016, the difference at one stretch was dramatic: a 5.33 ERA on four days rest, and a 1.70 ERA on five or more.) 

Severino? He's a bulldog, for sure, but the guy just threw 193 innings - one year after throwing 71. We need to safeguard our investment. We cannot afford to run him up to 220 next year. 

CC? Well, assuming he returns, he must change his ways. He's used to four days, and it might be a problem. But at his age, a reduced load has to help. It's not as if the guy has made it through a full season recently without hitting the DL. It makes sense.

Jordan Montgomery is too young to be defined by a four-day routine. 

Sonny Gray? He might see conniptions. My earnest response: Who gives a lick? Chance Adams and Justin Sheffield - or some looming Trentonian - could take his slot anyway.

And baby makes six! Moreover, it would give Otani more at bats between starts. I figure he can rest on days after starts, or maybe before. It's a crap shoot, depending on how he does. 

Listen: Otani could save our young arms through an extended season - hell, through the wonder years of their careers. It can set us up for the post-season that ends on Halloween rather than October 4. The Yankees could find themselves with a huge elemental advantage, and serve as the vanguard of a fundamental change in modern baseball. 

Unless we blow it. Which, of course, will happen. YOANNNN MONNNNCADA! SLOOOOOWLY I TURN... STEP BY STEP, I CREPT UP TO HIM...