If you could add one player to your team, who would it be:
CC Sabathia or Brad Ziegler?
Picking Brad Ziegler over Sabathia is the equivalent of sending Joba to the bullpen.
Solid relievers can be found anywhere:
Jose Veras, Brian Bruney, and Edwar Ramirez have become solid middle relievers and they were both free agents a few years ago, and signed for nothing. The same with Oakland and Brad Ziegler. The Padres got Cla Meridith and Heath Bell practically for free, basically stealing them from the Red Sox and Padres. The Marlins stole Matt Lindstrom from the Mets.
And it's not like Joba is the only relief option the Yankees have:
Mariano Rivera, Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, and Brian Bruney (assuming no trade) are pretty much the only guaranteed spots next year. Fill in the holes with some combination of Damaso Marte (team option), David Robertson, Phil Coke, Chris Britton, Alferdo Aceves (if they decided to move him to the 'pen), Dan Giese, Humberto Sanchez, Mark Melancon, and some random free agent, and once again, you have an excellent bullpen. Heck, even throw in Chase Wright, Zach Kroenke, and Jhonny Nunez as options.
You need to start Joba first. If he suffers from Mark Prior Syndrome and the Yankees truely believe he won't get hurt at a reliever, fine, I'll buy it. But not now. For now, he is a starter. I believe that Cashman is on the same page - if he isn't, I think the Yankees will need a new G.M.
One more thing: JOBA NEEDS TO THROW IN A WINTER LEAGUE. I don't buy into this, "He needs the whole offseason off." He didn't pitch for a month and needs to make up those innings. Hughes, Kennedy, Sanchez, Bleich, and Brackman are all going, and they were all injured at some point this season. I don't see any difference.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Question for "Joba to Bullpen" Supporters
Posted by Steve S at 9:56 PM
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