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Tensions Brewing In The Bronx Over Joba?
By Rob Abruzzese on June 6th, 2008 12:33 PM |
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The way the Yankees have dealt with moving Joba Chamberlain from the bullpen to the rotation has been widely discussed by the media and the fans alike. In yesterdays Daily News Johnny Damon chimed in as well.
Damon admitted that the move was the best thing for the Yankees in the long-run, but he expressedconcerns the shift could be at the expense of the Bombers short-term plans.
“I just felt like our bullpen was our strength,” Damon said. “I think it still could be, but when you move a guy like that, everyone’s trying to find a role. Everyone’s trying to replace a guy who was possibly the best in that role.”
Damon, who is 34-years-old and looking to win another championship, questioned the move stating it may be costing the Yankees wins.
“We’ve gotta win the games we should win. We didn’t do that on the last road trip. We could have been 5-2. Instead, we went 3-4. That’s a big swing.”
The two games in question were late inning losses against Baltimore and Minnesota last week. Damon thinks having Chamberlain in the pen could have avoided those loses. But manager Joe Girardi thinks differently and he’s letting people know.
“I want to know the games that we’ve sacrificed by doing what we did,” Girardi said. “Everyone is assuming that we would have won that game in Baltimore if we had Joba in the bullpen that night. You’re pretty smart if you know that. Everyone is assuming we would have won the game in Minnesota if we had Joba in the bullpen that night. It doesn’t always work that way.”
“I think people make the assumption that if he’s in the bullpen, you’re going to win every game. That’s not the case.”
It didn’t end there, after yesterday’s game Damon had more words about the situation.
“It’s what we are going to go with, and in the long term I think it will help the team,” Damon said. “In the short term we have to find a way to get the ball to Mariano; it’s as simple as that. Yeah, we could have used (Chamberlain) on the last road trip. No doubt about it. Would we have won those games? Maybe. Maybe not.”
Damon could be right. Maybe the Yankees could have taken at least one of those games the bullpen blew sans Joba. He should look past the short-term of this month and look to the long-term solution of who the number five starter is going to be this season.
Having an eighth inning edge might be big in a few games, but having an edge through the first seven in games where Joba starts could be the difference maker.
Also if Damon is worried about the short-term issues with the team, maybe he shouldn’t be questioning his manager so publicly by calling him out in a major daily newspaper.
There are currently 8 responses to “Tensions Brewing In The Bronx Over Joba?”
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I completely disagree. There are rumblings that many of the veterans – Posada, Giambi, Jeter even – are not on board with this decision. Damon just had the balls to come out and say something. Johnny is spot-on here, and Girardi sounds like a shill trying to explain away those games that the bullpen blew. Hell, look at yesterday’s game: Kyle Farnsworth gets the ‘W’ after doing his best to seal the game for Toronto in the top of the 9th. Absolutely unreal.
I also think your premise at the end is skewed. Didn’t Joba show you the other night that it’s going to be an up and down transition for him? The “long term” for Joba means next year and beyond. It’s unrealistic to expect him to be much better than a 4 or 5 starter. And yes, your setup man is a more valuable commodity right now than your fifth starter.
Ironically, Joba’s biggest contributions might come in the postseason – if the Yanks qualify – when he’s moved back to the bullpen for a run at the world series.
I agree with gozer, Damon showed in his years with the red sox he isnt afraid to question a teams decision. Joba may one day become a starter, but right now he should be setting up that 8th inning role because that is where the yankees need the most help. The long term is a long time from now, its no the end of the season and it may not even be next year. Girardi is a capable manager and will defend his young players just as much as he will defend his veterans if they are criticized. It is interesting to see if Joba acually stays in the roation when Hughes comes back
I think that the best chance the Yankees would have in the playoffs would be to have Joba in the rotation pitching well. If the Yankees even make the playoffs this year a rotation fronted by Pettitte, Mussina, and Wang probably wouldn’t cut it.
Obviously Joba is going to have ups and downs, but hopefully he’ll settle into his role as a starter enough to contribute consistently by August and more importantly by October.
I don’t know, I’m kind of feeling less confident about their chances these days. I figure they can’t keep giving up a guaranteed loss every five days by starting Kennedy, Igawa, or Karstens.
so the joba debate goes into the clubhouse now lol. simply put, the yanks need to make a trade for a reliever. farnsworth is better suited for the 7th. they need an eight inning guy. the post on fuentes was a good one..the yanks should consider him…or call someone up from the minors… mark melacon or jb cox, they are both thought of highly within the organization.
nonetheless damon didnt call out girardi, he just simply questioned the move. no harm in that.
mark melacon or jb cox? please. i heard fans flooding WFAN with calls for Ramirez to be moved to the setup role, then he gets shelled on Tuesday and suddenly the home fans are booing him off the mound. you can’t make it up.
you’re right though, the yanks need fuentes badly. they thought about dealing for the lefty last year, but now that the Rox stink and he’s hitting free agent, he should be more attainable. Then again, a team like the Sox or even the Mets could use an arm like that as well.
and to clarify my thoughts on Joba – I believe he belongs in the rotation, I just don’t agree with the way the Yanks are going about the transition. Joba should be stretching out in the minors, not up here where the games matter. moreover, cashman has really been undone by his own stubbornness. it must have been music to his ears when Girardi came in for his interview talking about how great he thinks Kyle Farnswoth is. A LaTroy Hawkins? Please. Go back in our archives and read what I wrote at the time of the signing. Just a complete joke. If this was the plan all along, the Yanks needed to go out and acquire a big time setup man. They didn’t, and now they’re getting burned.
i dont trust ramirez in big spots just yet. although i did like russ’ stuff. i cant spell his last name to save my life and nor am i googling his name right now lol. he got some big outs last weekend. he throws a sinker n hits 95 on the gun. is this a new ramiro mendoza?? lol
Why the hell did we trade Proctor again? Man, that was dumb.
Because he sucked. And they couldn’t trade Farnsworth and they needed to find a way to clear room for some younger guys. Trust me Proctor was not the answer. I think Ross Ohlendorf is just as good a replacement maybe Edwar Ramirez also.