Of All The Sad Things That Have Happened at Yankee Stadium

You know what I find most curious about this whole thing...

How come someone who started a thread about how expensive his Yankees season tickets are always seems to be commenting on what the TV or radio people are saying when he should be at the game, in his expensive season seats?

 

Like to have been a fly on the wall in precious Hank's bedroom, tonight.

 

i was looking forward to seeing joba in the rotation. after tonight, that might have been the worst thing for the team. fuck having the highest fucking payroll in all of baseball. it's past time for the yanks to get young. get moose and pettitte out and bring in some younger guys who know what the fuck they are doing. [/disgruntledyanksfan]

 

What's curious about it. When did I say that I go to every game? I use at least 50 % of my tickets for Clients.

So far this season I've gone even less due to other commitments and the fact that this team is just not that engaging.

The good news - the tickets are partially tax deductable so you in effect are assisting me in paying for them.

 

I'm generally in favor of taking care of young pitchers' arms as much as possible, but why the need to "stretch Joba out" anyway? Wasn't he a starter in the minors and in college?

One year in the bullpen and he's suddenly incapable of throwing more than 62 pitches? I don't get it ...

 

It's not that he's incapable, it's that he hasn't done it in a year. Can't go from a year's worth of 1-inning stints to throwing 90-100 pitches in a start ... then doing it again five days later. And then stepping right in and trying to do it 25 more times this year.

Most starters take the entire month of March, every year, to work their arms up to that kind of schedule. Joba's gotten about 2-3 "extended" relief appearances to build up. That's just dumb. The Yankees really aren't handling this well.

 

Igawa? Geist?

 

Joba began his minor league career as a starter in Single-A and Double-A. But last year, in Triple-A they converted him to a reliever because they needed help in the bullpen. He's been stellar in the setup role that Mariano had before he became the closer. So why move him back to being a starter? It's a move I disagreed with, hopefully the Yankees realize it was a mistake as well.

 

A good reliever's hard to find, Joe, but the fact is: You get 3x as many innings out of a good starter than you do a Hall of Fame reliever.

If the guy can be just as good as a starter, then that's where you want him. If, like Rivera, he's more suited for 1-2 inning domination, use him there. But at least give Joba the chance to prove that he can't be a top-notch starter first, because if he can ... the Yankees are much better off.

(Now, maybe if managers would start using their dominating relievers for more than a mere 70 IP a year ...)

 

In the post-game presser, Girardi was asked why Chamberlain was not sent down to the minors in an effort to stretch out his arm.

Girardi's response was telling. "He's a major leaguer." So, in the Yankees Universe, all that matters what's right for the organization and not the player.

Joba is expected to start on Sunday. His pitch count will be upped to around 85.

 

Much sadder ... for Yankee fans:

 

That's Girardi placating Hank.

What a tangled web we weave . . .