Amidst the debates surrounding Joba Chamberlain’s role with the Yankees next season, fans, bloggers and analysts alike seem to be forgetting a very logical option that could appease both parties and help strengthen the Yankees pitching staff.It’s easy to understand each side of the Chamberlain argument. Those in favor of using Joba in the pen envision a strong Yankee relief corps that will help make tight games a seven-inning contest. They feel that 60-70 appearances would influence the overall record more than the 150 innings Joba would likely record as a starter, plus he would be groomed as the heir to Mariano Rivera.Meanwhile, those in favor of using Joba in the rotation see an ace in the making and the potential for an incredibly deep Yankee rotation now, and in the future. They don’t want to see Chamberlain’s talent wasted in a relief role, and they want to maximize his development as soon as possible.Both arguments are quite sound, but logic dictates that Chamberlain would be better suited for the rotation, even if it does weaken the bullpen. A pitching prospect with his potential and stuff belongs in the rotation, mainly because a league average relievers (4.47 ERA) are a dime a dozen; or in this case, $11 million a year.Enter Mike Mussina.Yankee fans watched as Moose’s effectiveness quickly diminish during the 2007 season. His fastball no longer hovered around the high 80s, and his breaking stuff seemed flat.His endurance also became a major issue. Mussina averaged 5.6 innings per start last season, signifying a drop in the six inning average he posted from 2004-2006. Out of his 27 starts, Mussina only went more than six innings seven times.Interestingly, Mussina averaged a 3.37 ERA in the first two innings of his first 20 starts, but after throwing 111 innings, he hit a wall. In his next seven starts, Mussina posted a 9.89 ERA during the first two innings.Although examining only the first two innings doesn’t really indicate that he’d make an efficient bullpen arm, his deflating endurance suggests that Mussina is now better suited as a reliever.On the surface, the move would lower Mussina’s chances of an injury and keep him fresh; but it could also increase the velocity of his fastball. Many starters encounter a slight increase in velocity after shifting to the pen, simply because they no longer have to pace themselves for six innings.Given the context of the situation, Moose would have little to whine about. A successful move to the bullpen and stellar numbers during the season would surely help him get another contract, thus extending his career. It’ll also leave Yankee fans with a good taste in their mouth: Mussina sacrificing his needs and (or) wants for the good of the team, and the good of the future.With three young pitchers in the rotation, and each limited to a certain number of innings, the Yankees will need a legitimate inning-eating reliever. One that can post 90 innings, make a spot start, or throw two innings in a tight game.The key to this move is killing several birds with one giant stone. The transition would keep Moose fresh, and his durability would no longer be a major concern. He’d help create a stronger bullpen while allowing the Three Musketeers to start, and they would in turn help create a stronger rotation. Meanwhile, an extra roster spot would be opened up for a bench player.Theoretically, moving Chamberlain to the pen would decrease his overall value, but movingMussina to the pen would also increase his.Either way, the hard part would probably be approaching Mussina with the idea.
What Do you think????????
7 comments:
OK I AGREE & DISAGREE...
THE WHOLE MOOSE IDEA IS GREAT, IT MAKES SENSE IT COULD WORK VERY WELL.
HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH JOBA AS A STARTER IS I DONT HAVE SOLID PROOF THAT HE WILL BE AS GOOD A STARTER AS HE WAS RELIEVER. LAST YEAR HE SHOWED THAT WHEN HE WORKED AGAINST THE "JOBA RULES" HE WASNT AS DOMINANT AS HE WAS WHEN HE KEPT TO THEM. IF HE IS MOVED TO A STARTER HIS STUFF WILL NOT BE AS GOOD BECAUSE OF STAMINA IF YOU MAY CALL IT.
THIS LEADS TO MY NEXT POINT.
I KNOW THE YANKS COULD BE GREAT WITH THE ROTATION THEY HAVE, THIS, AS PER HANK'S EVALUATION.
I THINK THO THAT IF WE GOT SANTANA (EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT SOO CRAZY ABOUT GIVING UP A YOUNG AND UPCOMING STAR) THAT WOULD SOLIDIFY THE ROTATION LEAVING ROOM TO PLAY WITH JOBA. IF JOBA WORKS AS A STARTER THEN I DONT SEE WHY THE YANKEES WONT BE 100 OR MORE GAME WINNERS BETWEEN SANATA WANG AND JOBA BUT IF IT DOESNT WORK OUT THEY COULD PUT HIM BACK INTO THE BULLPEN AND USE HIM AS THE HEIR TO RIVERA.
TECHNICALLY, YOU COULD DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING SANTANA AND WORKING THIS THE SAME WAY EXCEPT BANKING ON THE FACT THAT PHILIP HUGHES WILL BECOME A SANTANA THIS SEASON. BUT THATS THE DANGER. IF HUGHES DOES NOT BECOME A SANTANA FOR THE YANKS THIS SEASON OR AT LEAST PRETTY CLOSE TO IT THEN THE YANKS COULD BE LEFT WITH WANG AS THE ACE (AGAIN-WHICH DIDNT PROVE TO BE MUCH OF ONE LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER) AND HUGHES AS A DECENT PITCHER WITH JOBA AS NOTHING BUT A REGULAR PITCHER AND IN THIS CASE I CAN SEE THE YANKEES MAYBE WINNING 80 GAMES.
BASICALLY, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH MYSELF FOR EARLIER SAYING IN A DIFFERENT POST, NOT TO GET SANTANA AND GIVE AWAY YOUTH. THIS IS BECAUSE IF YOU DONT GET SANTANA AND ALL ELSE FAILS, WHETHER IT BE WITH HUGHES NOT BEING THE NEXT ROCKET AS EVERYONE PREDICTED, OR JOBA JUST BEING A ONE TWO INNING GUY THAT HE PROVED TO BE LAST SEASON, THEN YOU ARE ONLY LEFT WITH ONE QUALITY STARTER IN WANG AND AS I SAID AFTER LAST OCTOBER I WOULDNT BE SO CONFIDENT WITH HIM AS THE ACE AGAIN THIS SEASON.
wow, this moose to the pen thing really sounds good. But i don't understand why you link it with joba chamberlin.
If joba pitches well in spring as a starter, then great- he helps the rotation.
But even if they decide to use him in the eight, I'd still rather see moose in the pen anyway. I'm fine with Wang, Pettite, Hughes, kennedy and Ohlendorf.
I DO NOT WANT MOOSE STARTING A SINGLE GAME IN 2008.
I'd rather give the 5 spot to a kid.
I suffered through too many mussina games last year- every freakin game I went to he pitched!
mariano in the 9th & Joba in the 8th is probably the best 1-2 punch aside from saito- Broxton of LA.
Oh, and I know i've said this before, but watch out for Albaladeju- he's a good one.
what is max n doing up at 1235 am
to see a pissed off mets fan write go to
metsfever.blogspot.com
and check out "Im sick of it"
I agree with Max N. Mussina does not belong in the rotation. I am willing to live and learn with the young kids as they take their bumps and bruises because it all goes to a good cause (their development and they are probably gonna be better than Moose too).
In reality, it is not happening!!
We all know Mike Mussina. There is no way in hell that he will take one for the good of the team.
He is set in his ways, he is one of the most fickle and stubborn players in the game. G-d forbid he strays from his daily routine. He is a creature of habit.
Good luck getting him to change at this point.
A big question he may ask himself is not only does he want to change is career routine, but what will it cost him in monetary value??
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
As a starter he may get a 1 or 2 year contract and be able to make 4-8 million per year plus incentives for innings pitched.
As a reliever he may get a 1 or 2 year contract and be able to make 3-5 million plus incentives???
Also, does he think he can get 300 wins?? He has 250.
My gut feeling is that he will not want to be in the bullpen. Maybe with a new regime, Girardi will affect him, or Cashman plead with him...I don't know.
cut him
instead of $12 million for moose Put the money into player development and scouting in different countries. we can sign 50 poor teenagers with that money.
Maybe one of them will be the next Vlad Guerrero or Pedro Martinez
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