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erwin: Back Again. said 04/20, 03:03 PM
Joba Chamberlain will.

Right now he's in the bullpen, but he should be in the Yanks' rotation by the All-Star break. And once he gets there, he should do extremely well.

I understand the Yanks are limiting Joba's innings to about 150 to preserve his arm. But right now, we shouldn't take that into consideration. As Joba gets older and matures, there won't be innings limits anymore.

Joba has some of the most electric stuff in baseball. His fastball is one of the league's best, topping 100 MPH every once in a while. His slider is becoming deadly and is his "out" pitch. The curveball and changeup are progressing strongly and soon he will have a diminant 4-pitch repertoire.

Joba has otherwordly talent and as he matures should become one of the best pitchers in the American League.

Hughes and Kennedy both have bright futures, but Kennedy's fastball only hits 92 MPH and Hughes' curve won't do everything. They need to add another good pitch to their repertoires before I'd consider them the ace of my staff.

Joba is a future ace. He has an extremely bright future and will have the most successful career out of those Yankees pitchers. I have no doubt he'll do well.

erwin: Back Again. said 04/20, 04:40 PM
Hughes has been WAY too inconsistent throughout his career for me to consider him. But even though Joba hasn't started a game yet, I know what I'm gonna get when he jogs out from the bullpen.

You'll get quick outs. Joba will strike batters out with his menacing fastball, or get them off balance with that slider. He's always keeping his team in the game, no matter what.

Hughes has talent. But remember that Texas game? He got injured. I want a pitcher who's durable and can still pitch well.

Hughes has struggled MIGHTILY this year, and I've been having some doubts. Is he REALLY the next big thing? It takes young pitchers ahwile to adjust, but he's struggled more than most other rookies.

You don't think Joba's smart? I do. First, he's not afraid to let hitters make contact. He knows his fielders are behind him and they're gonna do their jobs correctly. But when I see Hughes pitch, at times he tries to do too much. He doesn't want hitters to make contact, he tries to strike everyone out.

erwin: Back Again. said 04/20, 09:09 PM
Joba doesnt only have two pitches. To go along with his fastball and nasty slider, he's got an above-average changeup and a pretty nice curveball. Hughes' best pitch is his curveball, but after that it's decent.

The worst situation Chamberlain was in was the "bugging" in the playoffs against the Cleveland Indians, and that wasn't all his fault. Joba knows a lot better now.

You're stressing smarts as a starter, and I agree they're important. But Hughes still has A LOT to learn, and I think Joba is ahead of him in the learning curve for young players.

Let's face it, Hughes is afraid to have hitters make contact. He is trying to put every pitch right in the strike zone, and hoping the batter will miss. It worked in the minors. It's not gonna cut it in the big leagues. Batters are gonna crush the pitches belt-high and down the heart of the plate.

Joba, even though he has electric stuff that could strike out any hitter, isn't afraid to have hitters make contact. He knows he's got his fielders behind him, and he should use them.