It may just be me, but I feel like I have seen this before. A young, home-grown, phenom reliever is converted from a starter to set up for an aging All-Star caliber closer.
Sounds a little like 1996, doesn’t it?
While I am by no means ready to push Mariano out the door, there is no denying that this future Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest closer of all time—while still one of the best in the league—is nearing the end.
Last season, he had the highest ERA of his career as a closer (3.15), even though his strikeouts were the third highest of his career.
With the likelihood being that Rivera will retire after his current contract expires in 2011, it is never too early to start grooming his replacement—and the Yankees shouldn’t have to look too far. While I am not quite ready to anoint Joba as the second coming, his pure “stuff” speaks for itself.
Armed with a fastball that can reach triple digits and a slider that can be unhittable, he is what every GM envisions when looking for a closer: a power arm, with two-plus pitches that can dominate and strike out any batter at any time.
While Joba could be an All-Star caliber starting pitcher, he has already shown how dominant he is as a reliever.
Even though the sample is small, there is no questioning the results he achieved in 2007. To find a pitcher who had the same success at the beginning of his career on the Yankees (15 1/3 scoreless innings to start his career), you have to go back to the ’06 season.
That’s 1906.
Just like in 1997 when the Yankees let John Wettland go and handed the reigns over to a young Mariano, the scenario in 2011 could play out in an eerily similar fashion.
If history does in fact repeat itself, all the Yankees and their fans can expect is 10-plus years with the most dominant closer in all of baseball.
The Yankees' organization and supporters should embrace this possibility with open arms.
2 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan Barry about 1 year ago
Check out his minor league stats and you'll be sold on his ability as a starter. Plus the kid has a nasty curve that I don't even think he threw last year plus a changeup thats at least league average. Mariano became a closer because he didn't have all the tools necessary to be a good starter. Joba has the tools to be a phenom starter and starters are accepted as being more valuable. Do you want another Mariano or the next Johan Santana? Championships aren't built around closers, closers help, don't get me wrong, but starters win them.
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Chris Legiadre about 1 year ago
I am not doubting his ability to potentially be a great starting pitcher at the major league level, but after watching him as a starting pitcher this spring training, and I watched every game, I am still not sold on his curveball or change-up.
As for your question about whether I would rather have the next Johan Santana or the next Mariano, as a former starting pitcher, I would much rather have the next Mariano. Knowing that the other team has a lights out closer at the end of the game, puts more pressure on them during the earlier innings knowing that they have to score early to have a shot. Plus, the Yankees have young starting pitching in place and on the way. Currently in the majors they have Wang (28), Hughes (21), Kennedy (23) who could be one of the best 1-2-3's in the league for the next 10+ years. They also have Karstens and Rasner in the minors who can be serviceable number 4 and 5 starters down the line. Having a lights out 8th and 9th inning combo like Rivera and Wettland like in 96, allows you to win championships without superstar starters. The Yankees starters that year were Jimmy Key, David Cone, Kenny Rogers, and a young Andy Pettite. No real superstars there.
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