Comments on: Where There is Smoke…

By: PJ

PJ — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:30:20 +0000

Alex,

I love the picture of Yosemite Sam on this game thread from “High Diving Hare!”

“Bring on Fearless Freep!” – Yosemite Sam

: )

By: Raf

Raf — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:22:09 +0000

Jeez, Carlos Zambrano put on quite the show, didn’t he?

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:20:39 +0000

[258] Again, what’s wrong with that? Santana went back and forth over his age-23 and 24 seasons.

[259] The Dodger’s stuck by Billingsley because after splitting 2007 in both roles, he had compiled enough innings to set sail for good as a starter. Because of injury, Joba hasn’t amassed the innings to do that. In other words, the Yankees need Joba to have a season like Billinsley did in 2007.

By: alittleblackegg

alittleblackegg — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:16:43 +0000

[255] True, but my point is that in his age 23 / 24 season, the Dodgers stuck by their kid even though he was a bit raw. Joba is 23 and raw right now, and he’s not heading towards 200 innings pitched – but I think you can’t mess with his routine when he’s still learning.

By: 51cq24

51cq24 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:16:20 +0000

billingsley was a starter, then a reliever, then a starter again. like joba. you’re talking about going back to reliever then back to starter.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:12:06 +0000

[253] Panicked is Pete Abe’s description…I am sure Cashman might describe his reaction differently. More than anything, I think Wang needs confidence and these kinds of stints will do more toward that end than dominating minor leaguers.

By: seamus

seamus — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:11:14 +0000

Despite all the hand wringing, it is pretty awesome that the Yankees after that poor April and with injuries to A-Rod, Wang (of sorts), Posada, Bruney, etc… are in first place and only half game behind Texas for best record in AL. Think about that.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:10:18 +0000

[251] But, they did return him to the pen after he made 16 starts in 2006. Also, by 2008, Billingsley was ready to approach 200 innings, so he COULD be left alone in the rotation. Joba is not yet ready to log that many innings.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:08:22 +0000

[250] Why is what he did in 2007 a problem? Santana for example served in the back and forth hybrod role in BOTH his age 23 and 24 seasons. Also, Billingsley broke in as a starter in 2006 and then became a hybrid in 2007.

By: randym77

randym77 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:03:01 +0000

Pete Abe pointed out that this problem is because the Yankees panicked and activated Wang when Joba was hit by that comebacker on the knee. He’d probably be better off still pitching rehab games in AAA.

I gotta say, I’m underwhelmed at Cashman’s roster management this year.

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:02:54 +0000

Burnett is wearing a shirt that belongs on a cowgirl

By: alittleblackegg

alittleblackegg — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:02:08 +0000

[244] Yeah, but Chad Billingsley was a hybrid RP/SP in 2007, he became a full time SP by the end of the year, and he was a full time starter all 2008. When he was walking 4+ batters a game in early 2008 and getting his head handed to him every time out, the Dodgers didn’t put him BACK into the bullpen, though. He figured things out and ended the year as a legit ace. …Which is what we want Joba to do.

By: 51cq24

51cq24 — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:01:05 +0000

[244] the problem is he already broke in as a reliever and was then put into the rotation. now you’re talking about not just a “hybrid role” but unreliably alternating roles.

By: 51cq24

51cq24 — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:56:34 +0000

[239] joba is their best young player. in a lot of ways, joba is the most important player on the team. while you can’t always just worry about the future, in his case i think it’s a valid consideration. i don’t think it’s the only consideration, but i think it’s enough to tilt the outcome towards the rotation. it’s clear that he wants to start. it’s also undeniably true that an ace starter is more valuable than an ace reliever. i think that joba has done enough to show that he can be an ace starter. some of what he has done was in 2007, when he first came up and was only a reliever (for the team). but the whole idea was that since he was such a dominant starter in the minors, he would likely be a really good reliever. that he was a great reliever doesn’t prove that he can be a dominant starter, but it does fulfill our expectations about him fulfilling that role. now i think he deserves the time to develop into the role he fulfilled so well in the minors. so i do think it’s a punishment (to him since he wants to start and is accustomed to it, and to the team because it could develop an ace) that is largely based on how well he did (along with perceived team needs).
all that said, i could be convinced that he should be a reliever if the goal were to make him a 1970s-type closer who is allowed to pitch multiple innings on consecutive days. then he could fulfill 2 team needs at once.

By: randym77

randym77 — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:54:31 +0000

[243] I think we should probably carry three catchers. Perhaps until Jorgie rides out of town, or moves to 1B. The man is 37, and coming back from his second shoulder surgery. I fear he’s going to struggle to stay healthy.

By: Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO

Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:54:21 +0000

First…Place…I like the sound of that!

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:49:03 +0000

Holy crap, that Blue Jays game is just depressing to consider. Poor bastards.

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:47:19 +0000

[237] I think this is also key. Wang is the bird in the hand here … *ahem*

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:46:56 +0000

[240] Earl Weaver broke in just about every young starter in a hybrid role. More recently, Johan Santana and Chad Billingsley broke in the same way. There are a lot of example out there.

By: seamus

seamus — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:46:06 +0000

[242] woop! totally forgot to celebrate first place! haha damn Wang debate…

So, is the pulse that Cervelli stays? I’m pretty excited about his upside even though I’m 100% confident he has been hitting over his head.