DEBATE: In advance of Super Tuesday, who will win more games this season - Joba Chamberlain or Pedro Martinez?
Tomorrow night Joba Chamberlain makes his major-league debut as a starter for the Yankees in the Bronx and Pedro Martinez returns to the Mets in San Francisco.
Who will win more games this season?
ANTHONY: Pedro’s got one more run in him
From this point, Joba Chamberlain will win more games over the life of his career than Pedro Martinez. But not this season.
While Joba’s figuring out how to be a starter and taking the lumps he didn’t take as a one-inning guy, Pedro will be dazzling the National League with his stuff and smarts. Pedro will win more games in 2008 than Joba – by a wide margin.
Remember, Pedro’s arm is healthy and has had a year and a half off. The man is motivated a) to show he can still do it and b) by the need to score one last contract.
Neither pitcher is going to do very deep in games, and the Mets’ bullpen is better than the Yankees’ (yes, I know the Yankees have Mariano, but how are they going to get through innings 6-8 without Joba? Kyle Farnsworth? ‘Nuff said.)
Plus, the Mets are the better team and are going to finish with the better record. And they play in the National League. Pedro can flip 80-mile per hour fastballs at the eight and nine hitters for easy outs. Joba will need to use all of his energy to get through five innings.
I’ll take Joba starting next season. Just not this one.
JIM: Joba is the no-brainer choice here
My vote for Joba is more a vote AGAINST Pedro.
Here's the thing to remember about Pedro - he's coming off rotator-cuff surgery, which has all but been a death sentence for pitchers' careers. Do a Google search for rotator-cuff surgery and pitchers and see what you find. Most pitchers have barely pitched successfully after that surgery. Jimmy Key had one good year. Ramon Martinez was never the same. Neither was Bret Saberhagen, Tony Armas Jr., Wilson Alvarez, John Rocker and Steve Karsay.
Yada, yada, yada.
Now can Pedro prove me wrong? Prove history wrong? Of course he can. Obviously no one ever expected him to post the kind of Hall of Fame numbers he did with that slim body of his. But don't go expecting him to be your No. 2 behind Johan. I think right now you can only expect five innings out of Pedro, and you have to give him an extra day or two off every chance he gets.
As for Joba, maybe he's a stud starter, maybe not. But I have faith he will pitch the rest of 2008. I can't say the same for Pedro. So my vote goes to Joba winning more games...
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Comments (17)
If Pedro stays healthy, then he has my vote. If not - Joba has that win.
Way to go out on a limb, Nick
Joba will win more games than Pedro, Joba will give the Yankees a solid start and give them a chance to win everytime he goes out on the mound. He will get his bumps and bruises along the way but will ultimately, he will be strong and build up his confidence each and every start. Whom will help from 6-8 before Mariano? that answer is up to Joe, but I would guess we shall see more of Edwar Ramiriez whom has been spectacular and once Brian Bruney comes back from injury he will go into that bridge to Mariano role as well. As for Farnsworth, despite a couple of let downs this season, working under Joe Giardi this season has improved Kyles game, he is actually better than his numbers show. Prediction: Yankees improve by allstar game and have a stronger second half, but will it be enough to make the playoffs this season, my guess is, they have to have a second half like they had last season to make the wild card. Otherwise its 2009 in the new stadium with alot of new faces and a very young pitching staff with a few core veterans.
As for Pedro, Mets better hope he can give more than 5 innings, as there pen is alot shakier than the Yankees. Also the other thing they better hope is that he stays healthy for a minute to help that team out. If Martinez has anything left, he could be the pitcher to put the team on his back and carry them for a few months at least. Otherwise he will not be the savior that the Mets fans are hoping for. Prediction: Mets will finish 2nd or possibly even 3rd place and not make the playoffs. Reason: Mets just don't have what it takes to win the big show. Lets not forget they have the oldest team in baseball (average) on paper. Good Luck!
Signed:
Rob
New York City
I'm a met fan but i think its a no-brainer, give Joba two warmup starts and he'll be a really solid starter. I agree with the fact that the Mets bullpen is a little stronger right now, but I think Joba, a young, smart pitcher will find his way into the 7th pretty often and minimize a bullpen ruining his quality starts. Pedro might throw 5 1-hit innings, but to ask a bullpen to throw 4 shutout innings to get hiim a win everytime he pitches may be asking a lot. Either way, i'm psyched to see both these guys, one at the start of something special, the other at the end of trying to show he can still be dominant. Tuesday has potential to be a great day for NY baseball, and its unfortunate we haven't had those days as much as we used to.
I'm a big Met fan but I have to say Joba will win more games than Pedro even if its just one. I give Pedro 1/3 of an inning before he is back on the DL.
First, Anthony, recall the debate over Joba as starter versus set-up man. You've now conceded the lack of middle relief for the Yankees. That's why this is a debatable idea in the first place.
Nice to see you come around. :)
Joba's going to find starting a challenge, because batters are going to see him several times, and he will have to control his emotions if he's to conserve his energy. But the Yankees can overcome Joba's erors, whereas Pedro's always going to struggle to win, so it's Joba, but neither will win as many games as some people hope they will. My over/under on Pedro plus Joba wins as starter? 14.
First of all lets see what happens to Joba after throwing 95-100 mph after 2 innings. Second lets see how Major League Baseball Players adjust to him after seeing him three times a game versus once a series. As far as Joba winning more games in his career than Pedro...I don't think so. Before we vote for Joba to go to the HOF lets see him actually perform. Pedro not only got hurt on the second day of the season but he also got knocked around in the couple of innings before that. I hope Pedro can win 10 games this year. If he does that then he will have a few more wins than Joba this year. VOTE FOR PEDRO...
While many pitchers have not come back very well from rotator cuff surgery, there have been some successes, such as future HOF's Curt Schilling and Trevor Hoffman. I think Pedro gives the Mets a boost and wins about 8 to 10 games. Joba will "bug" out and win 5 or 6 because of the limit on his innings.
I understand what your point is Brooks, but I guess what I mean to say is that if Joba gets that arm strong enough to pitch 8 innings, he only needs 1 guy to step up and pitch a solid inning of reflief before handing it to his HOF closer Rivera. however, when pedro pitches, he may have a great 5 innings, but to say that every time he pitches that his bullpen will get 12 outs for him asks an awful lot (especially if your asking heilman to get those outs for you). one would hope Pedro can get 6 solid per outing, but even as a big met fan, i have to wonder if thats possible.
Cy Young -- That's true, both Schilling and Hoffman had rotator-cuff surgery and succeeded afterwards. But they were much, much younger when they had the surgery than Pedro.
Joba for sure. Pedro's arm is literally going to fall off of his body.
Rueful Rieber, you are either a Mets fan or a crack head.
Pedro will not even win half the games Joba does.
And if you recall, Joba was originally a starter.
How did you get a job a Newsday?
Oh that's right, it's owned by Murdoch.
I'm a Yankee fan, but Pedro will win more games than Joba this year. Pedro is a proven winner and Joba has not yet made a major league start. Look no further the Kennedy and Hughes this year. Both have been disasters.
Neil: Murdoch wanted to buy Newsday, but pulled out. Cablevision bought Newsday.
Pedro is just what the Mets need right now. With El Duque scheduled to return soon along with Moises Alou, if the Mets can stay healthy, Pedro will without a doubt win more games then Joba. He was solid in the few games he played last season and this spring he was on par with what was expected of him. Now that he doesn't have to be the ace of the staff he can relax and just do what he does best (have fun in the dugout and pitch). I think the Mets will have a real chance at going back to the World Series.
This is coming from a Yankees fan who thinks that Joba will be one of the future stars of the Yankees.
Jobba Wobba will be LUCKY to win 5 games.
And that will ONLY happen if he can get 4 starts Vs. KC & Seattle.
Pedro got 3 wins in one month last year with the Mets gigantic collapse.
Plenty of time left in the season for Pedro to win between 8 - 11 games!
Jobba Wobba will panic at the first buzz of a gnat!
JOBA ROCKS and will get 6 to 10 wins while pedro will get 1 to 2 wins with the METS aka the little league team