Joba Rules

This semester I am taking an expository writing class. About a month ago we had an assignment to write a short editorial piece about a controversial topic...it could be about anything we wanted. So, naturally I decide to write mine on Joba-as-a-starter vs. Joba-in-the-'pen. I got it back the other day with a big fat "A" on top, so I figured I would post it here in case there is anybody reading this who thinks Joba should remain in the bullpen. Enjoy:

The Yankees are the most storied and successful sports franchise in history, and their fan base lives and dies by the baseball season. As such, a hot debate topic among fans has become whether or not to allow Joba Chamberlain, their promising 22 year old fireballer, to start or relieve games. In 2007, Joba was called up to the major leagues to solve the team’s bullpen issues, despite his role as a starter in the minor leagues. Joba was placed in the bullpen both to strengthen the reliever corps and to keep his own inning count down. Inning counts are typically in place to ensure that a young pitcher doesn’t blow his arm out by gradually increasing his innings over the early stages of his career.

At the start of the 2008 season, Joba found himself in the bullpen again, but this time he was slowly transitioned back to his natural place in the starting rotation. At this point, Joba still had an inning count restriction on him, and the logic was that by starting him in the bullpen and moving him back to the rotation mid-season, it would serve to keep his total innings lower. After being transitioned back to the rotation, Chamberlain continued to dominate until he was shut down in August for the remainder of the season due to a minor shoulder issue. Coming into the 2009 season, Yankees’ brass must make a decision about Chamberlain. While some insist that he should remain in the bullpen, I strongly disagree. The bullpen-crowd points to a minor shoulder injury Chamberlain endured at the end of the 2008 season, supposedly caused by too many innings. I would like to remind those who feel that way about the mechanic of pitching. Going through a windup and throwing a baseball is one of the most unnatural motions the human body can perform. That being understood, most pitchers find themselves on the disabled list at one point or another, and Chamberlain is no exception. Joba is expected to make a full recovery and be prepared for spring training.

Relief pitchers are generally pitching out of the bullpen for a reason. There might be legitimate long term injury concerns, a lack of arm endurance, or perhaps just a smaller pitch repertoire that limits a pitchers ability to go through a lineup more than once. Joba Chamberlain, however, does not have any long term injury concerns, at least that are presently apparent. Arm endurance isn’t an issue either, as he has shown that he can remain effective late into the game. Even against one of the better lineups in the league, Joba shutdown the Red Sox for seven strong innings, proving his worth late into a game. The typical reliever has 1-3 types of pitches and the typical starter has 3-6 types of pitches. Joba has 4 major league quality pitches, giving him the flexibility that relievers do not have. Oh, and he can consistently make the radar gun display a three-digit number; you can count the other pitchers that can do that on one hand.

Without a doubt, Joba Chamberlain has the talent to become one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, if his career stays on track. If that is true, then wouldn’t you want to have him play as much as possible? Normally a reliever throws about 50-80 innings in a year. A healthy starter will through upwards of 200 innings in a season. So, you tell me: would you rather have someone of Joba’s talent pitch 60 innings a year, or 200? If you said anything other than “Gee, I guess he really should start games”, then you are either wrong or a Red Sox fan.

The Yankees’ bullpen is even now much stronger than it was when Joba was originally called up. Breakout years from Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, and Phil Coke have lessened the need for Joba to pitch out of the bullpen. On top of that, we have the addition of Damaso Marte to the ‘pen and our top closer prospect, Mark Melancon, waiting in the wings. From a necessity standpoint, the Yanks may not even need Chamberlain in the bullpen. At this point, I believe the more pressing area for the team to address in the starting rotation. It is mightily convenient that Joba just happens to be poised to become the future ace of their pitching staff. This seems like an easy problem for me, and a problem that I bet most teams would like to have. Keep Chamberlain in the rotation, for his sake and the team’s sake.

The Arbitration Logic

As you may now know, on Monday the Yankees officially declined to offer arbitration to everyone. That includes Abreu, Pettite, and Pudge Rodriquez. These three seemed to be the most likely to receive arbitration offers, but they did not. Lets take a look at why Brian Cashman decided to pass up the opportunity to net a few more draft picks.

Pudge was the easiest decision. He hit like a backup catcher for his short tenure with the Yanks, and not offering arbitration means that there is no possibility that he can return. Had Pudge accepted, we would have been saddled with him and his eight-figure salary. Good move. An aging catcher that costs a draft pick is a lot less attractive than a catcher that does not, and the last thing they need is a backup catcher that costs more than half the team.

Pettite was a little bit more interesting. With reports that the Dodgers have had conversations with Andy, it seemed that we might offer him arbitration to ensure that he doesn't end up with another team. Worst case scenario and he does sign elsewhere, then we get two draft picks. So why didn't we offer arbitration? Say we do offer arbitration. Pettite accepts, but doesn't want to take a significant pay cut. We go to an arbitration hearing, and all of a sudden we're paying our #4 pitcher $16-$18 million for a year. I know the Yankees have deep pockets, but that is a little ridiculous. No player has ever been awarded less money in an arbitration hearing. My opinion? This is a smart move. The Yanks can still negotiate a one year contract worth somewhere around $10-$12 million for a year with Pettite, and I regard those Dodger reports as nothing more than a message from Pettite's agent that they want to get moving on a deal. Pettite has already said he wants to open the new stadium. At this stage in his career, it doesn't make sense for him to go elsewhere. Unless the Dodgers completely strikeout with Manny, Sabathia, Sheets, Lowe, and all the others, I don't see them possibly offering Pettite more than he'll get from us.

Abreu seemed to be the biggest lock to get an arbitration offer, but did not. Bobby is reportedly looking for a 3-year deal, and it is known that the Mets and the Cubs are both interested. So why not offer him arbitration? He's looking for a multi-year deal anyway. What if Abreu couldn't find the money he wanted on the open market? The economy is, after all, having a surprising effect on the offseason so far. So then Abreu accepts and we're stuck with a defensive liability in right field who will cost another $16-$18 million for a year. That's a lot of money for a player on the decline.

The lack of arbitration offers tells me one thing. The Yankees and Brian Cashman are not taking any chances getting saddled with a player they are ready to move on without, especially for the kind of money involved. It also tells me that they are willing to do what it takes to get CC Sabathia in pinstripes. Cashman wants his payroll to be flexible so he can sign a pitcher or two, and maybe plug some other minor holes. Bad news for the Yanks for not getting any draft picks? Not necessarily...I say its good news, because it shows that we're serious about adding a big ticket free agent. Draft picks are in no way a sure thing. The majority of picks flame out and never make it to the majors anyway. Billy Traber was a first round pick for the Mets a few years ago. Remember him? He got cut from our bullpen before the all-star break. My point is to not get too hung up on picks. Even if we sign Sabathia and lose our first-rounder, we still get another first round pick for our failure to sign Gerrit Cole in last year's draft. So all is not lost. Now we just have to sit back and wait for a signing to get excited about.