Yesterday we saw why Joba Chamberlain is a reliever
I think we saw evidence yesterday that Joba Chamberlain right now is a better pitcher as a reliever than a starter. Yes, I know - we're talking about spring training statistics here, and yesterday he dominated two A-ball hitters and one Double-A guy. I understand that.
But Joba himself admitted he was more aggressive yesterday than he had been as a starter. It's not a conscious thing, he said. Just that as a starter, it's in the back of your mind you want to go deep in the game. So maybe you won't give your early inning fastball everything you've got.
Yesterday, Joba unleashed everything, and the result were fastballs close to 100 miles per hour and a slider that had a crazy dip, just like last year. Joba said that was the best slider he's thrown all spring. Coincidence?
Yes, Joba will be a starter sometime in the future. But for right now, for 2008, I think he's right where he belongs. Worry about the future another day.
Thoughts?
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Comments (7)
I think people are reading too much into yesterday's performance.
The guy dominated the minors like nobody's business last year with the same nasty slider and fastball that he had as a reliever with the Yanks.
I’m fine with Joba starting the season in the pen as long as they stick with the long term plan by moving him to the rotation in the second half. Leaving him in the pen all season will retard his development as a starter because he won’t be mixing in his third and fourth pitches very much.
Joba needs to throw 140 -150 IP this year so that he’ll be ready to become a full time starter next season. If he sticks to the pen and throws just 70 - 80 IP, this team will be in the very same predicament next year with a very strict innings cap on him. That just doesn’t make sense.
The Yanks’ starting pitching needs to get significantly better in October if they want to get back to the World Series. A Joba/Mo one-two punch could be the greatest combo in the history of the game but it will hardly matter how dominant they are if the starters are incapable of handing them a lead against playoff teams.
I’m willing to watch this team take a hit this season because his long term value is the greatest as a starter.
Joba belongs in the bullpen for now... most reliable guy in there.
1-2 punch with Joba and Mo and it turns it (most of the time) into a 7 inning game. It reminds me of the late 90's dynasty with Rivera and Wettland
so what if he sucks as a starter and the pen sucks then what?? you back at zero. If he feels like the reliever role is suited for him then be it
Big,
The thing about the late 90's teams was the fact that they were still in the game in the 7th inning. Of late, they've been blown out because they have starters who have not performed well at all. It's great to have a one-two punch of Joba and Mo, but we won't see them if the Yanks are trailing by 6 runs in the 7th inning.
Heck, the only time we needed them last October after Pettitte pitched a masterpiece, Joba blew it. I don't really care for the bug excuse either as the other team played under the same conditions.
All I'm saying is there is still a lot left to prove and the starting pitching of late (this spring) hasn't eased my worried mind. For now, if Joba feels most effective as a reliever, I'm all for it but the rotation needs to be addressed. That's why I think getting Sabathia next year is very important.
If he fails as a starter down the road, put him back in the pen. But he should get that opportunity to prove himself before this team limits him to the 8th inning.
Let's not forget that the Mo/Wettleland combo was one season. As soon as Mo proved to be the more dominant pitcher, they let Wettleland walk.
The team then focused on stacking the rotation with innings-eaters like Wells, El Duque, and Clemens (in the Wells trade) and a dynasty was born.
Starting pitching is the name of the game.
This needs to be a VERY short term assignment, because not only will too long in the pen set back Joba's mastery of his 3rd and 4th pitches, it will keep him from adding innings in the required progression of about thirty a year, meaning a year's delay in his development into a full-fledged starter.
The thing about the late 90's teams was the fact that they were still in the game in the 7th inning. Of late, they've been blown out because they have starters who have not performed well at all. It's great to have a one-two punch of Joba and Mo, but we won't see them if the Yanks are trailing by 6 runs in the 7th inning.
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This is exactly my point, Jim. Well done.