Kennedy Will Have to Earn His Way Back

According to Joe Girardi via Pete Abraham, Ian Kennedy will not definitely return to the rotation once he becomes fully healthy. IPK was actually activated from the DL yesterday, and sent to High A Tampa. He pitched well in his start there, and may make another before heading to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Although the back end of the rotation doesn't look so great right now, this is the right way to handle it. Kennedy was horrible while he was healthy, and has to prove that he can pitch well enough to get big league hitters out before he gets called up. I think that this will happen, and he may not be in the minors too much longer, with Giese/Ponson as the fifth starter.