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New Boss wants Joba to start

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With the Yankees off to a 10-10 start, and with two of their young starters struggling, the Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said there was one thing in particular he would like to change: He wants Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees' hard-throwing setup man, to move into the rotation. Steinbrenner said the Yankees were working on easing Chamberlain into the rotation, but he would not be specific on a timetable. The Yankees' brain trust had wanted to limit Chamberlain's innings by having him spend at least part of the season in the bullpen.

New York Times

Joba Chamberlain, AP Joba Chamberlain, AP
April 21, 2008  06:22 AM ET

10 wins after 20 games!!!!!!

You New Yourkers are sadly mistaken if you think the Skankees are going to the post season. They can't do their steroids anymore!!!!

April 21, 2008  06:33 AM ET

On a serious note: How was the outcome with his dad? I never heard. I hope everything is okay.

April 21, 2008  08:21 AM ET

Hank is continuing a long standing Steinbrenner family tradition. Meddling with the baseball side of the Yankees when he should be sticking to the business end

April 21, 2008  08:50 AM ET

Yanks are doing well considering their injuries, pitching and lack of hitting, especially with RISP. They didnt get their 10th win last year until May. It's early yet so there is no need to panic. Joba needs to stay as the setup man. He is more valuable in that role. When Hughes and Kennedy start believing in the stuff they have, instead of trying to nitpick around the plate, they will start winning. Yanks will be there in the end.......

April 21, 2008  09:00 AM ET

With how Hughes and Kennedy are playing, I don't blame Hank.

April 21, 2008  09:19 AM ET

it's funny how every year when the yankees start off bad everybody is saying it's because of injuries , well this year please dont bring up that sorry excuse , they have just been playin poorly and thats about it .
(even though i don't expect them to keep playing poorly for too long)

April 21, 2008  10:04 AM ET

With how Hughes and Kennedy are playing, I don't blame Hank.

hyperRevue | 04/21/08, 09:00 AM
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I don't either. The Yanks biggest problem isn't Hughes or Kennedy, its the lack of hitting. Its been the same story for years, but they are not a good hitting team. They don't take advantage of opportunities, they don't move the runner, they don't run well, etc....Broken record.

If they team could put a few runs on the board for these rookies, I'm sure they would pitch better. But all of the pressure is on them. You can't expect these guys to go out and only give up 3 or less runs each game.

April 21, 2008  10:10 AM ET

As we've all learned from Billy Beane and Michael Lewis, it's a math problem.

The Yanks averaged about six runs/game last year, which will put you at the top of any division almost every year.

They're only scoring 4.25 runs/game this year, which will put you near the bottom of almost any division. Couple that with the fact that they've given up more runs than almost every team in their division, and you've got what you've got.

Mediocre pitching, mediocre hitting. No mystery.

April 21, 2008  10:12 AM ET

The interesting thing is that the Red Sox have given up the MOST runs in the AL East. But, alas, they've also scored the most.

That's been the Yankee formula for years. Unfortunately for the Yankees, it's a better regular season strategy than it is a post season strategy.

April 21, 2008  10:16 AM ET

If you read the whole article there are some funny Hank quotes. He said Mussina needs to learn to pitch like Jamie Moyer. The main thing he does is insinuate that he wanted Santana all along (which he did) and with the way Hughes and Kennedy are throwing he was right. Rubbing it in Cashman's face. Nice!

My favorite quote of his about Joba: "There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with 100 mph fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that." LOL--settle down Hank.

One last thing, it's time to bring Shelly Duncan back up and sit Giambi. He can't hit worth a damn right now.

April 21, 2008  10:23 AM ET

Man, I just looked at Shelly's stats in AAA. .325 AVG, .471 OBP, 1.246 OPS. Time to give the guy some ABs for God's sake.

Also, I can't believe I am saying this but in 4 starts Igawa has a 2.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Also, he has 20 Ks to 4 BBs. Give 'em a spot start to see what he does. I'm sure I'll regret that suggestion though.

April 21, 2008  10:23 AM ET

Saw that...Mussina's so hypersensitive, that'll set him back a month.

Man, he's just like his Dad. The NY press is going to love this guy. You now he's good for a headline when his lips are moving. Not sure if I agree re: Joba...you can make the argument either way. With lousy starting pitching, the setup man becomes even more important. It's a trade either way.

Agree on Giambi...at this point, there's nothing to lose by bringing Duncan back.

April 21, 2008  10:25 AM ET

I think Igawa's stats prove one thing...he's good enough for the minors. There's a whole class of guys who can survive in AAA but just have an inch too little movement or give an inch too much of the zone, and they get killed in the majors.

There's a reason those batters are down there too, you know?

April 21, 2008  10:30 AM ET

it's funny how every year when the yankees start off bad everybody is saying it's because of injuries , well this year please dont bring up that sorry excuse , they have just been playin poorly and thats about it .
(even though i don't expect them to keep playing poorly for too long) Dizzy

People who are bitter usually start of their posts with the word 'FUNNY' Molina, Pettite, Posada, Jeter, Giambi, and now Arod have missed some time in the first 20 games. Injuries happen and affect play whether you think its a valid excuse or not.

April 21, 2008  10:46 AM ET

I hear ya Y64, Igawa just might be as you suggest. A AAA pitcher with a major league contract. However as a point of reference, Igawa's 2007 ERA--6.25. Hughes right now 8.82, Kennedy 9.64. Ugh.

April 21, 2008  10:47 AM ET

No doubt, Hughes and Kennedy have been awful. Let's hope it's just jitters...though I have a hard time with that, as Hughes was fine when he came up last year.

Who knows; pitching is just a crapshoot.

April 21, 2008  10:49 AM ET

Joba needs to continue to be the set up guy because he has that 100mph fastball. Hughes and Kennedy need to get on track, if Joba starts then the yanks lose out on the best and consistent closer they have on the bench.

April 21, 2008  10:50 AM ET

No doubt, Hughes and Kennedy have been awful. Let's hope it's just jitters...though I have a hard time with that, as Hughes was fine when he came up last year.

Who knows; pitching is just a crapshoot.
Yankee64 | 04/21/08, 10:47 AM

Any pitcher (or hitter) that wants to succeed in the bigs needs to make adjustments. The hitters have made their adjustments to these two young pitchers. Now lets see if they can make adjustments too

April 21, 2008  10:53 AM ET

My question is what happened to Hughes fastball? I could of sworn before he got injured against the Rangers last year that he was in the mid-90s. Now they are 90-92. Maybe I am "misrembering" though.

 
April 21, 2008  10:53 AM ET

The offense and defense feed off each other. If the Yanks were scoring more runs and putting games away early, they wouldn't be so desperate for Joba as the 8th inning closer. But with every game close and the rest of the bullpen suspect, you've got to shut it down as soon as you can.

If the bats wake up and we start scoring the 6-7 runs/game that we should, you can relax a bit more late in the game, and consider putting Chamberlain in the starting rotation.

Assuming Mussina doesn't learn how to pitch like Jamie Moyer :).

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