Comments on: Yanks may have an “Ace” for the 5th spot http://theblogthatruthbuilt.com/2010/03/16/yanks-may-have-an-ace-for-the-5th-spot/ Just another Fanball Blogs weblog Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:37:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Craig Williams http://theblogthatruthbuilt.com/2010/03/16/yanks-may-have-an-ace-for-the-5th-spot/#comment-42 Craig Williams Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:33:45 +0000 http://theblogthatruthbuilt.com/?p=455#comment-42 How do you figure that there is enough evidence to support the idea that a 24 year old with under 300 innings of MLB experience permanently belongs in the bullpen? I can certainly understand the "win-now" culture around the Yankees and the fan base, but we can't let that trick us into thinking that Joba belongs in the bullpen - not yet at least. At some point, maybe he will end up in the bullpen for any number of reasons. Who knows? For now though, the Yankees NEED to develop him as a starting pitcher. That goes for Hughes as well. Young pitchers in their prime are not easy to come by, and if we are going to keep pace with the rest of our division - including the O's - we are going to need to develop our share of guys. That statement may sound a bit silly considering our league leading payroll, but teams are developing their starting pitchers and locking them up relatively early in their careers. Guys like Josh Johnson, Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez and others are not going to be available for the Yankees on the FA market in the short term. Therefore, we need to develop our own version(s) of those guys. Thankfully, we've got two guys who could develop into the type of pitchers capable of anchoring a rotation. This is why Phil Hughes AND Joba Chamberlain need to be - and ultimately will be - groomed and treated as starting pitchers. How do you figure that there is enough evidence to support the idea that a 24 year old with under 300 innings of MLB experience permanently belongs in the bullpen? I can certainly understand the “win-now” culture around the Yankees and the fan base, but we can’t let that trick us into thinking that Joba belongs in the bullpen – not yet at least. At some point, maybe he will end up in the bullpen for any number of reasons. Who knows? For now though, the Yankees NEED to develop him as a starting pitcher. That goes for Hughes as well. Young pitchers in their prime are not easy to come by, and if we are going to keep pace with the rest of our division – including the O’s – we are going to need to develop our share of guys. That statement may sound a bit silly considering our league leading payroll, but teams are developing their starting pitchers and locking them up relatively early in their careers. Guys like Josh Johnson, Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez and others are not going to be available for the Yankees on the FA market in the short term. Therefore, we need to develop our own version(s) of those guys. Thankfully, we’ve got two guys who could develop into the type of pitchers capable of anchoring a rotation. This is why Phil Hughes AND Joba Chamberlain need to be – and ultimately will be – groomed and treated as starting pitchers.

]]> By: Dave http://theblogthatruthbuilt.com/2010/03/16/yanks-may-have-an-ace-for-the-5th-spot/#comment-41 Dave Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:13:05 +0000 http://theblogthatruthbuilt.com/?p=455#comment-41 The Yanks have enough evidence that indicates Joba's best role is in the pen as the heir apparent to Mariano. To me, Hughes is the no brainer for the No. 5 spot (given his mental makeup and repertoire of pitches). Aceves' best value is in long relief or as an injury replacement. The Yankees should settle this now - would rather have Opening Day be a celebration of 2009 than an "NCAA Tournament" argument about who is in and who is out. The Yanks have enough evidence that indicates Joba’s best role is in the pen as the heir apparent to Mariano.

To me, Hughes is the no brainer for the No. 5 spot (given his mental makeup and repertoire of pitches).

Aceves’ best value is in long relief or as an injury replacement.

The Yankees should settle this now – would rather have Opening Day be a celebration of 2009 than an “NCAA Tournament” argument about who is in and who is out.

]]>