Chamberlain to Start Season in 'Pen?

[BoSox21]

ESPN's Buster Olney said he heard Joba Chamberlain could open next season in the bullpen in an effort to limit his innings total for the season.

If the Yankees don't think Chamberlain is ready to throw 200 innings, then two months in the pen, followed by a move to the rotation, might be just the thing to see that he's strong in September and October. Still, it'd also be a good way to get him hurt if they don't handle the move back to the rotation correctly. For what little it's worth, the Yankees have said all winter that they're planning on starting Chamberlain off in the rotation next year. If that doesn't happen, Ian Kennedy would likely be the fifth starter.

Rotoworld

[26 to 6]

I guess I can't be completely against this, considering how good he was last year. Although I was curious to see how he did in spring training preparing as a starter. This does make our rotation a little less cramped though.

[example1]

The Yankees seem to be all over the place right now. NewStein and Cash can't agree on whether or not they're willing to move Hughes for Santana? Waffling? Chamberlain is in the pen, no, he's in the rotation. A-Rod? no-A-Rod. A-rod.

For all the shit the Sox FO got the past few years for their various decisions, I can't see how this scenario is any better. Especially with a new manager coming on board.

[26 to 6]

It's not. Hank is a mess. I like his enthusiasm and attitude, but he doesn't know baseball. When Cash negotiated his deal with George, it was included that HE would be the baseball man. I think it's disrespectful of Hank towards not only Ca$h, but George as well. In the article I posted in the Prior thread yesterday, Hank has a quote in there that's along the lines of "in the end the final decision will be mine, i'm the owner" regarding Santana. That erks me. I hope we dont have to witness the 1980's all over again. Hopefully little Stein learned something from Big Stein's mistakes.

[rician blast]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

This does make our rotation a little less cramped though.

Yeah, you guys are loaded with quality starting pitching.

[example1]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

It's not. Hank is a mess. I like his enthusiasm and attitude, but he doesn't know baseball. When Cash negotiated his deal with George, it was included that HE would be the baseball man. I think it's disrespectful of Hank towards not only Ca$h, but George as well. In the article I posted in the Prior thread yesterday, Hank has a quote in there that's along the lines of "in the end the final decision will be mine, i'm the owner" regarding Santana. That erks me. I hope we dont have to witness the 1980's all over again. Hopefully little Stein learned something from Big Stein's mistakes.

To even discuss how one day he and Cashman wake up thinking they want to do the deal, and other days they disagree, and some days he wants it and other days Cashman wants it, and some days they are willing to trade Hughes and others they are not.... totally disorganized.

For all the blustering and complaining people do here talking about specifics of potential deals for the Sox, at least there seems to be someone intelligent running the ship. As far as organizational philosophy goes, Phil Hughes should have some quantifiable value that they are working from. Whether that means they see him as a 20 WinShare pitcher for the next 3 years on average and then 27 on average the few years afterwords, or they see him as much less than that, it really doesn't matter. What is funny from my end is that they appear to have said "Joba Chamberlain is not available for Johan Santana, but Phil Hughes may be." I see their values as the opposite, with Hughes being the guy with the higher upside and Chamberlain being the stopper/reliever/closer of the future. In most cases, the ace SP is more valuable than the RP.

If the Twins were willing to do Santana for Chamberlain and Melky, I would do it right away. In this case, though, it appears that the Yankees are so desperate for a player that the fans can latch onto (despite their huge spending on glorified stars like A-Rod and Abreu, who have little popularity overall) that they have labeled an otherwise tradeable piece, who may never have higher upside, untouchable. Weird.

What matters is that they have some measure by which they consistently guage players and which they use to project the future value of these players.

Hearing that they are just haphazard about what they are willing to offer makes me wonder who is really going on there, and makes me hope that Stein wakes up one of these days and just says "Screw it, I LIKED it when my dad used to assert himself and force Cashman to get big name players... spend whatever it takes, get us Johan Santana". Lord knows that Theo and Co wouldn't do any such thing at this point (or ever, as far as I can tell).

[26 to 6]

Originally Posted by rician blast

Yeah, you guys are loaded with quality starting pitching.

Considering Joba would step in and be the best arm in the bullpem, it allows the 5 rotation spots to go to Wang, Andy, Hughes, Kennedy, Mussina. That way Moose doesn't have to pitch in long relief, a role that I truly believe he would not do well in. I still personally think Kennedy should start the seaosn at AAA, but indications are that he's expected to fill one of the starting spots on the big club. This in turn allows the likes of Igawa, Wright, Rasner, etc. to win over a spot as the long man. Eliminate starting pitching jam, solidify the setup role, give another young guy a shot in the pen. All works out IMO.

Originally Posted by example1

Hearing that they are just haphazard about what they are willing to offer makes me wonder who is really going on there, and makes me hope that Stein wakes up one of these days and just says "Screw it, I LIKED it when my dad used to assert himself and force Cashman to get big name players... spend whatever it takes, get us Johan Santana". Lord knows that Theo and Co wouldn't do any such thing at this point (or ever, as far as I can tell).

That would be a terrible scenario. Hopefully BIG Stein wakes up from his non-existant state and tells Little Stein to easo off the GM, wright checks, and handle business operations. Leave the baseball to Ca$h, Stick, Opp, Newman, etc.

[TheKilo]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

Considering Joba would step in and be the best arm in the bullpem, it allows the 5 rotation spots to go to Wang, Andy, Hughes, Kennedy, Mussina. That way Moose doesn't have to pitch in long relief, a role that I truly believe he would not do well in. I still personally think Kennedy should start the seaosn at AAA, but indications are that he's expected to fill one of the starting spots on the big club. This in turn allows the likes of Igawa, Wright, Rasner, etc. to win over a spot as the long man. Eliminate starting pitching jam, solidify the setup role, give another young guy a shot in the pen. All works out IMO..

That rotation doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of MLB hitters and RSN.

[Soxfan#1]

As a Sox fan, I hope they throw him in the rotation in a sink or swim situation. Sure the guy is intimidating and a great pitcher, but how long can he stay intimidating because it's a huge part of his pitching strategy and he's going to have to go around 6-8 innings a night.

But this would be best for them in my opinion. The only negative is converting his arm to pitch more innings a night.

[26 to 6]

Originally Posted by TheKilo

That rotation doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of MLB hitters and RSN.

It's whatever. That's what we have to work with. I'm trying to be optimistic, how would you like me to feel about the pitching staff?

[YAZMAN]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

It's whatever. That's what we have to work with. I'm trying to be optimistic, how would you like me to feel about the pitching staff?

No offense, but it read like Riv is ghostwriting your posts.

[TheKilo]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

It's whatever. That's what we have to work with. I'm trying to be optimistic, how would you like me to feel about the pitching staff?

Realistic.

[26 to 6]

You don't think, realistically, that a rotation of Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, Moose, Kennedy is pretty solid? Granted it's not the Red Sox rotation, but I think these guys can certainly get the job done. Look at the names in the Rockies rotation last year and look where they took them. You wan't be to be realistic or pessimistic?

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

You don't think, realistically, that a rotation of Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, Moose, Kennedy is pretty solid? Granted it's not the Red Sox rotation, but I think these guys can certainly get the job done. Look at the names in the Rockies rotation last year and look where they took them. You wan't be to be realistic or pessimistic?

It has the potential to be solid, but IMO Moose is cooked. You need the rookies to step up. If I were you, I'd be very concerned about the rotation, because the rookies have not proved that they can take the ball every fifth day and be effective. You are pinning your hopes on the unknown. As a Sox fan I did that for many years. If this guy is good and if this guy comes back from injury and so forth. If you need the "ifs" to happen in order to have a good year, you are in bad shape, because more often than not the question marks don't answer your needs.

[26 to 6]

Despite Buster's report that the Yanks would use Joba in the bullpen, the Yankees still intend to use him as a starter.

rotoworld