How soon we forget. New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay more than once during Saturday’s game said Joba Chamberlain's transition to the rotation was "an experiment," and "something the Yankees haven't tried before."
It may not be something the current Yankee coaching staff has attempted, but this is certainly not a new concept.
Until a generation ago it was common to break pitchers in as middle relievers. Chuck Finley did it. So did Jimmy Key. Pedro Martinez did too. Many young pitchers were brought up to get their feet wet in the middle innings.
Granted, it wasn’t as common to make the switch during the season, but it certainly happened often.
Curt Schilling made a Joba type switch in 1992. After 16 relief appearances, his last a 42 pitch effort, Schilling went on to make 26 starts, completing ten.
In fact, the man sitting next to Kay in the broadcast booth, former MLB pitcher David Cone, began his career in the pen.
“When I broke in,” Cone told Kay, “I broke in as a middle reliever. It’s a great way to break in as a starter because you can monitor them better.”
In 1988, Cone started off spending all of April in middle relief, throwing 66 pitches in his last appearance before being shifted to the rotation.
In his first start on May 3rd of '88, Cone threw 114 pitches in a complete-game shutout. He never made another relief appearance that year.
Cone started 27 games, threw three more shutouts, threw under 100 pitches just four times, and went 18-3 as a starter.
During his career, he was the guy World Series-caliber teams wanted starting for them.
Although Joe Girardi never caught Cone as a reliever, he has been around this type of switch before.
In 1992 Girardi was the starting catcher when Jim Bulllinger was called up to the Chicago Cubs at the end of May. He remained there for 30 appearances until being summoned to the rotation in mid-August, and made nine starts the rest of the way.
The next year, Girardi was the catcher when Willie Blair started the year as a reliever, making 20 appearances. In the tune-up for his first start, Blair needed just six pitches to complete one inning. Four days later, he threw 127 pitches over nine innings of one run ball. He started 17 more games.
Many are of the opinion that Joba should stay in the bullpen. They believe success lies in moving from starter to reliever but not the other direction.
History tells a different story.
However you slice it, starting pitchers are more valuable than relievers, even in this age of specialized bullpen roles. Starters can make more of an impact as they can potentially shut down the opposition for an entire game.
Joba wants to start. The Yankees want him to start. He spent all of his baseball career as a starter except last year. Joba is a starter who broke in as a reliever and now is the time for him to get his shot at the Yankee rotation.
Don't forget, as Cone put it, "If it doesn't work out you can always move him back."
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4 months ago
Great article. I couldn't agree more with it. Those that can, start. The last Yankee home grown, "dominant ace" (not Pettitte) was Guidy. I would have said Rags, but Guidry stayed longer, and won WSC's. Not in the pen either. It is old school country ball. Exactly right. And hopefully this kid stays as long as Lightnin did, with even more success.
4 months ago
Great article, you got my pick of the day.
4 months ago
Joba's got this on lock he will be a good starting pitcher something like Josh Beckett and hopefully he can be just as clutch in the playoffs
4 months ago
Being a Mid Relief is different then being potentially a successor to the greatest closer of all time. Its very important to have a great closer like Mo. The yanks would not have won 4 championships with out Mo.
Read here for more on why I think leaving Joba in the BP as a future Closer is very important.
http://pasiksright.blogspot.com/2008/04/you-have-to-be-idiot.html
from 4 months ago
Those that can, start. Mo came up with Texas as a short stop. Who knew? Though I would think, if the set up role is that important, that maybe RASNER could fill the 8th inning worries. Or maybe a trade could be in the near future. Little Ramirez is lights out too. Who knew? If Joba wants to make money, then he will want to be a starter. The last top ace made 24.5 mill, the best closer made 15. Wonder why? If one were to have "shoulder fatigue" as a starter, then he may end up in the pen, like Papelbon. If a pitcher can not throw more than 3 innings, guess where they go? Like Mo, they too go to the pen.
4 months ago
While I do differ slightly in opinion with you, I think you wrote a great article with compelling arguments. You got my pick f the day.
4 months ago
The only reason the decision to move Joba into the rotation is one of Yankee History. If he's to close for the Evil Empire, young Sith Chamberlain must be tutored by the Emperor. You know, how Mariano was mentored by Wetteland.........
from 4 months ago
I don't think Joba's role is in question by anyone. The Red Nation may be a little nervous about it, as well they should be. Joba, Pettitte, Wang, Rasner, Moose? I would be nervous too. It IS a Yankee Universe after all.
from 4 months ago
This should be a good Yankees pitchers role
Joba, Pettitte, Wang, Rasner, Moose
and edwar ramirez as 8 inning man
and maybe kennedy some times, he always pitch a goof first inning
if he can do that he migh as well trow a good 8th inning
from 4 months ago
Most people now seem to think it's normal to stick a young guy with a great arm in the closer's role. That's not true and it's not history!! The beloved Papelbon was being groomed as a starter too, wasn't he? His arm didn't have the same pop and he sustained too much fatigue (i think, i'm not an expert on him) so they moved him to the pen. The seesaw battle between the Yanks/Sox doesn't mean the Yanks have to answer Pap by putting Joba in the pen too. If he can hack it as a starter, that's where he belongs. If not, he has plenty of time to be shown the force by Mo.
4 months ago
I think yesterday proved that even if a starter has a great game like rasner and is pulled in the 6th, you still need RP who can get to the closer and obviously veras and hawkins proved they are not reliable with their 2ip 5er performance.
from 4 months ago
What if Rasner takes the "set up role?" Or Hughes, when back. Ramirez...has anyone scored off of him this year yet? Or a trade could be in the near future
from 4 months ago
I thought the same thing. Why are you so eager to keep Joba in the bullpen? For 2 1/2 years later when Mo leaves? Come on, maximize him now if he can hold up. Hughes and Kennedy have been terrible!! Move him into the rotation, as most believe, starter to reliever is more sucessful, so move Kennedy there, because he has the lowest upside as a starter of the three.
4 months ago
I thought the same thing. Why are you so eager to keep Joba in the bullpen? For 2 1/2 years later when Mo leaves? Come on, maximize him now if he can hold up. Hughes and Kennedy have been terrible!! Move him into the rotation, as most believe, starter to reliever is more sucessful, so move Kennedy there, because he has the lowest upside as a starter of the three.
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