This article is too stupid for an intro. The following is from Mike Celizic:
The plan all along had been to use the 22-year-old Chamberlain as a starter, the role in which he excelled as a minor leaguer. But last year he proved to be an exceptional reliever, and in this era of ball, there’s no one more important to a team than a great closer.
Uhhh….what now? A great starting pitcher is more important than a great closer.
The Yankees know that as well as anyone, having had the luxury since 1997 of the services of Mariano Rivera, arguably the greatest closer ever. We spend inordinate amounts of time every year talking about the mighty Yankee offense, but the reason they’ve been in the playoffs every year since 1995 is their closer, first John Wetteland and then Rivera.
The reason the Yankees make the playoffs every year is because of their closer? Are you kidding?
Look, don’t get me wrong, closers are great and I love Mariano as much as the next guy, probably more. But, the pitchers’ job is to prevent runs by getting outs. Mariano is great at preventing runs, but he doesn’t get as many outs/pitch as many innings as a starter because he is a reliever. As a starter, Joba would have the opprotunity to get a lot more outs/pitch a lot more innings and be a lot more valuable to his team.
What’s notable about Rivera is that the Yankees brought him up through their farm system. They’ve gone everywhere for starting pitching and position players, but Rivera has been there year in and year out.
Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Alfonso Soriano, Chien-Ming Wang, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera are all from the Yankee farm system and not named Mariano Rivera.
Last year, as Rivera’s set-up man, Chamberlain pitched 24 innings in 19 games. He gave up just 12 hits and one earned run while striking out 34; his ERA was 0.38. I submit those are better numbers than he would have had as a starter.
I agree, Joba will not have a .38 ERA as a starter. I agree, he will not be the greatest pitcher who ever picked up a ball in his first year of starting at the big league level.
Does he understand that that isn’t saying anything? Of course Joba’s not going to have a .38 ERA as a starter, so what? PECOTA has him for 3.39 ERA with 1.24 WHIP in about 150 IP with 162 K. That’s pretty damn good.
And, those numbers in the PECOTA projection *are* better than Joba’s ‘07 numbers in the pen because a 3.39 ERA in 150 IP is better than a .38 ERA in 24 IP.
It’s the most important job in baseball.
No it isn’t.
The Yankees got a kid who’s showed he can fill it.
A ”kid” who has also showed the very unique skills to ”fill” a more important/impactful position of need.
Leave him there.
No.
