We have all heard about how Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are destined to become the New York Yankees Big Three, comparable to the Oakland Athletics trio of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito of the late 1990's.
However, I fear that we may never see the Yankees Big Three. The Yankees have stated that Chamberlain is on a strict innings limit about 175 including the playoffs, which is their main motivation for putting him in the bullpen. The Yankees goal is to build up Chamberlain's arm strength so in 2009 he can pitch 200 or more innings. There could be a big problem in doing this, however.
The Yankees have placed Chamberlain as the main setup man in the bullpen with the intention of moving him into the rotation come mid-season. In my opinion, this will never happen.
We all know we can expect good seasons from Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes will most likely stay in the rotation regardless of how he pitches. The wild cards are Ian Kennedy and Mike Mussina. If Mussina rebounds to his 2006 form and Kennedy starts reaching his potential, then who do they pull from the rotation?
True, they could go with a six man rotation, but Wang has stated that he likes his routine between starts and adding another pitcher will disrupt that.
Another possible problem arises in how Chamberlain pitches out of the bullpen. If Chamberlain translates the two fantastic months he had last season over half of the 2008 season and the rotation is solid would the Yankees really want to mess with what they have going and move Chamberlain into the rotation? I highly doubt it.
If Chamberlain ends up spending the entire season in the bullpen, that would probably put him at 100 innings pitched maximum. If he only pitches 100 innings how many innings can we expect him to pitch in 2009? Definitely not 200 or more.
It is in the Yankees best interest for the present and future that they put him in the rotation. If that means going with a six man rotation and skipping a starter so Wang can pitch every five days, do it.
There's no need to worry about the bullpen. By moving Chamberlain to the rotation you do lose your setup man but there is a plethora of pitchers in the minor leagues who are capable of filling bullpen spots and possibly developing into setup men.
I truly hope that they move Chamberlain into the rotation, there is no doubt in my mind that if he were to eventually succeed Mariano Rivera, then he would be a tremendous success, but so much of his immense talent would be wasted.
For the sake of the Yankees, Chamberlain belongs in the rotation.
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Timothy Davis about 1 year ago
I agree that Chamberlain belongs in the rotation and he will, no doubt, be there because Mussina will not rebound and be forced into the bullpen. All the signs are there: his knucklecurve (his out pitch) doesn't have the bite it used to, he looks tired already, and he's 90 years old. It's sad because Mussina used to dominate, but when it's your time, it's your time...
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tim randle about 1 year ago
its sad that Moose never got a 20 win season...thanks for the memories Mike!
ON THE OTHER HAND...(please show me a one-handed economist!) the other MO isnt getting any younger either. We need a dominant closer. I dont know if Joba has what it takes, but he sure looks better than Edwar Ramirez or Kyle Farnsworth or Andrew Brackman (who?). The Red Sox would be true idiots to take Paps out of the pen...I think Joba may need to throw some long relief, maybe make some spot starts for innings and experience, but I (who am I anyway??) see the attitude that a closer needs.
Just get him a decent bug repellant for pete's sake...
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David McDermott about 1 year ago
I agree...the obvious risk is that Joba makes it impossible for teams to score on the Yankees in the 8th inning (and he's off to a helluva start by the way) then management doesn't want to risk moving him into the rotation because he's already doing so good. Like most, if not all teams in the majors the Yankees don't have all that much talent in the pen (other than Rivera) so when you find somebody that can dominate it's awfully hard to remove them from that situation just to *see* if they will make a good starter.
Let's not forget that right now Joba's arsenal really points him to a relief role. He has a 100 MPH fasball and a wicked slider. Sure he is *working* on other pitches to be more of a complete guy but who knows how successful that will be? Some guys just never develop great change-ups. If he remains a 2 trick horse then he is much better off as the heir to the closer's spot.
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David McDermott about 1 year ago
PS that picture should be stricken from the record.
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CIARRA JETER about 1 year ago
SEE I THINK JOBA IS A GREAT PITCHER ... FOR SUCH A YOUNG GUY HE HAS A LOT OF POTANTIAL AND SOME GREAT TALENT! AND HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT STARTER ... HE HAS A REALLY NICE FASTBALL AND A NICE CHANGE UP SP MAYBE JOE GIRARDI SHOULD CONSIDER PUTTING HIM IN THE ROTATION HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES HE IS A GREAT YOUNG PITCHER!
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Kerry Klug about 1 year ago
I'm gonna have to agree with Tim's other hand on this one. Mo can still currently get the job done, but dents are beginning to show in his formerly untouchable armor. With Joba pitching in the high 90s with his fastball, high 70s with his curve and somewhere in the 80s with his slider he could be the next lights-out closer for the Yankees. For now the Yankees have enough serviceable (and I use that term VERY loosely) starters [Pettite, Hughes, Kennedy, Mussina, Wang, Pavano, (ugh) and maybe Igawa (double ugh)] that they could do to leave Joba in the pen and groom him to replace the pushing 40 Rivera.
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Jay about 1 year ago
God do I love Joba! Aside from his absolutely electric stuff he's got an awesome energy and charisma about him! He wants to win. I love him in the set-up man role and I will love him even more as a dominant closer once Mo inevitabley succuums to age.
While the Yankees rotation does have those two huge question marks, I think in the longterm the Yankees need to remember that they will need a GOOD (aka NOT Farnsworth who makes me cringe or any of those other B- relievers in our bullpen who make even a 7-2 lead seem scary) closer soon.
Hopefully in time Ian Kennedy will pitch to his potential and maybe in the seasons to come the Yankees will need to aquire an established starter.
My final say: KEEP JOBA AS A RELIEVER!!
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