Kitty

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

nyjyrk

I hope they stick to the plan and don't ruin his arm by overworking it out of the pen. They need to designate someone to eventually take over for Mo, specifically Ross Ohlendorf or Edwar Ramirez.

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My Trivia Game

Outlaw43

With all due respect, just thinking about the idea of Edwar Ramirez taking over for Mo is going to give me a panic attack. Edwar's a gimmick middle innings guy who will only be effective until big league hitters get more tape on him and figure out his changeup.

I think that Joba should be put in the bullpen for a couple of reasons. 75 games is more valuable than 30 games (less actually because Joba will be capped at 150 innings next year.) The Yankees have a definite need in the bullpen and Joba's shown that he can fill it--the value of a dominant setup man (and dominating closer, a role that I hope Chamberlain will eventually fill) is wildly underrated. To prove that, check out the digging that Nick Kendall at Bugs & Cranks did on Cincinatti last year:
But even past that, I'm not convinced that Joba will be as dominating a starter as he was a reliever. He's shown that he has a great four seam fastball and a plus slider, but that's pretty much it. You need more than two good pitches to be a #1 starter, even if they are great pitches.

Either way Joba will be an incredibly valuable part of the Yankees staff next season, but I definitely believe that he is more valuable to them out of the pen.

m1i2k9e

Yes he only showed two pitches last year because that is what you do out of the bullpen. How many relievers do you know that throw four pitches. According to scouting he has 3 plus major league pitches i.e. curve, fastball, slider, and his changeup is league average and still in developmental stages. However, this will be a controversy that will never be resolved until he is put in either role long term and succeeds for the simple fact that there are those who say what good is a closer if you can't get to him with your starters, and others that say what good is a starter if you can't finish the games. So like you said, he will most definately be a valueble piece in the Yankee cog no matter the time of game he pitches, it's just impossible to positively determine where he is more valuable. What a problem to have

David_Ortiz

For the future who knows, but for now I think the Yankees should not be starting Chamberlain. Who's going to serve as the set up guy now? Kyle Farnsworth? Nice...

m1i2k9e

So you take our 2-3 starter and make him a setup man next year? Where's the logic in that. We just got LaTroy Hawkins and still have promising youth in the minor league system; not to say that they'll be as dependable, but I think he's better off getting his feet wet starting this year than next.

David_Ortiz

Chamberlain COULD BE a 2-3 starter by next year (and later on an ace), but I don't think you can count on that. Hawkins isn't that great a pitcher.

m1i2k9e

I agree he's not that great of a pitch but do you really want to have what you stated as a POTENTIAL (i agree he still has a lot to prove) ace back and forth from bullpen to starting or would you rather let him get into a grove as a starter. I just think you need to pick one or the other, not one now and the other later. Also while it's true Hawkins isn't that great, he still had a better year than Vizcaino in Coors Field, so he's not that bad either.

David_Ortiz

Yeah, spending the bulk of his time facing the offense-starved teams of the NL West.

As for Chamberlain i'm not saying move him back and forth throughout his career. I say the Yankees should still keep him in their bullpen, because he was a pretty dominant set-up man last season. The Yankees are getting a little old and their window to win (providing they don't go out and splurge on more free agents) is getting short. Just keep Chamberlain in the role he's proven he can handle. For now.

m1i2k9e

I don't understand what you're saying. In one breath you state "I say the Yankees should still keep him in their bullpen, because he was pretty dominant as a set-up man last season" but then you end the statement you say "Just keep Chamberlai in the role he's proven he can handle. FOR NOW." That's insinuating that you would still juggle him. Also I don't understand what you mean by their window is closing seeing as how they have a YOUTH movement. Hanging onto promising young players that are not only prospects but are proving that they can succeed at this level. I.e. Cano, Melky (albeit not in the same level of player but solid nonetheless), Hughes, Joba, Kennedy. Oh and we still have the greatest closer for 3 more years (yet to be determined his level of play over those years), and the best player in the game for 10. Lest we forget Giambi is gone after next year so freed up salary and a younger player still, and we have a prospect over 10 years younger than Abreau waiting to take over within two years or so. So I don't understand this closing window you speak of.