Comments on: So…are they done yet? http://www.yankeeroundtable.com/2008/12/23/soare-they-done-yet/ Celebrating Five Years! Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:32:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JimMc http://www.yankeeroundtable.com/2008/12/23/soare-they-done-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-38320 JimMc Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:07:10 +0000 http://www.yankeeroundtable.com/?p=4557#comment-38320 On the lineup, I like A-Rod batting fourth with Tex third. A-Rod needs no protection. Look at the guys who hit behind him in 2007, when he had the MONSTER of all monster seasons (probably his career year, in fact): depending on the day, it was either a hobbled Giambi (.236 avg / .789 ops) or a semi-hobbled Matsui (.285 avg / .855 ops). Plus, the switch hitting Tex would break up back-to-back righties by slotting him in-between Jeter and A-Rod. On the rotation, I think it's time to bust out the old debate about whether Joba should start or relieve. As Mike T. will attest, I have always said that what you do with Joba depends on the strength of the rotation without him. Assuming they will add Pettitte or a similarly solid starter to go along with CC, Wang and AJ, that's a damn solid rotation. Also notable is that Joba's injuries have come as a starter in the minors and the bigs, but he held up well and was money as a reliever. Some guys can pump 97-mph fastball after 97-mph fastball over the course of 200 innings without getting hurt, but I'm not convinved that Joba is one of those guys. On the other hand, if one or two relivers can really step up and be a dominant bridge to Mo (eg, Bruney, Veras, Marte, Coke, maybe Albaladejo, Sanchez or Melancon), then perhaps the team is best served with Joba in the rotation. But remember, he's the fifth starter if he's in the rotation because he would be limited to about 25 starts. His turn would be skipped once every three weeks, creating a 6-10 day span of time each month when Joba does them no good at all! On the lineup, I like A-Rod batting fourth with Tex third. A-Rod needs no protection. Look at the guys who hit behind him in 2007, when he had the MONSTER of all monster seasons (probably his career year, in fact): depending on the day, it was either a hobbled Giambi (.236 avg / .789 ops) or a semi-hobbled Matsui (.285 avg / .855 ops).

Plus, the switch hitting Tex would break up back-to-back righties by slotting him in-between Jeter and A-Rod.

On the rotation, I think it’s time to bust out the old debate about whether Joba should start or relieve. As Mike T. will attest, I have always said that what you do with Joba depends on the strength of the rotation without him. Assuming they will add Pettitte or a similarly solid starter to go along with CC, Wang and AJ, that’s a damn solid rotation. Also notable is that Joba’s injuries have come as a starter in the minors and the bigs, but he held up well and was money as a reliever. Some guys can pump 97-mph fastball after 97-mph fastball over the course of 200 innings without getting hurt, but I’m not convinved that Joba is one of those guys.

On the other hand, if one or two relivers can really step up and be a dominant bridge to Mo (eg, Bruney, Veras, Marte, Coke, maybe Albaladejo, Sanchez or Melancon), then perhaps the team is best served with Joba in the rotation. But remember, he’s the fifth starter if he’s in the rotation because he would be limited to about 25 starts. His turn would be skipped once every three weeks, creating a 6-10 day span of time each month when Joba does them no good at all!

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