Comments on: Pettitte making a move; the plan for Joba

By: randy l

randy l — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:37:22 +0000

you missed the point mel.
forget all the excuses from everyone. the fact is his era is about 3.5. that’s not good.
i don’t care when he gave up the runs. he gave them up. he’s not the same pitcher he was a few years ago. that’s got to be taken into account on how he’s used.less would be better, but not so little he’s rusty. torre is going to have to tread a fine line with rivera.

By: Mr. Vegas

Mr. Vegas — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:48:35 +0000

Random replies:

–If the Yankees miss out on the playoffs by one game, I for one am not going to blame the Joba Rules. I’ll blame a 21-29 start in April and May.

–I think a big reason pitchers get injured more often these days is because they have to put more stress on their arms and shoulders in order to keep up with the hitters, who, since the 1980s, have all gotten bigger, stronger, and more powerful.

–Every year Rivera goes into a swoon, and every year people say it’s because he’s finished.

By: mel

mel — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:32:36 +0000

randy l,

Agreed that Joba is needed, but to say Mo’s last 3 games (the only part of August where he has “swooned”) are the cause of his ERA is ridiculous. Shame on you! lol.

Mariano had an ERA of 10+ for the month of April.
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/indiv.....statType=2

Baltimore just has Mariano’s number.

By: E-ROC

E-ROC — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:23:38 +0000

I just think Rivera can’t go two innings often anymore. He’s not getting any younger. It does or would help to have somebody with a closer’s mentality to pick up the slack in case Rivera doesn’t close. Torre already said Joba won’t be closing any games. I don’t understand why he would say that though.

By: randy l

randy l — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:11:41 +0000

when was the last time mariano had an august swoon that resulted in a 3.5 seasonal era? something is different this time and it’s probably age and mileage.as has been pointed out, if you take two games out of the equation he’s been pretty good. the problem is that those games are in the equation. he’s not lights out this year. he should be used carefully and in the right spots.
joba couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

By: mel

mel — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:54:19 +0000

Stuart,

I thought it was very difficult to get a job at the Stadium, even janitorial ones.

By: dan

dan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:49:01 +0000

joba pitched 118 in his first season at nebraska

By: Peter Abraham

Peter Abraham — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:36:18 +0000

Kat:

Not for a second is Mariano Rivera concerned about a kid who has thrown 6 innings. Not for a second.

The guy has 4 rings and will could be a unanimous Hall of Famer.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:32:11 +0000

SJ great posts.. You are correct if the yankeed starters are just decent this is a playoff team…it the Yanks starters keep things to 3 or 4(on occasion) runs for 6 or 7 runs they are going to win a ton of games. If they simply can have low to mid 4 ERA’s they will win a ton of games.

Having Joba has reduced Viz’s work load a bit and in the long run that should help.. Kyle is the mop up guy, and to be honest that brings a smile to my face….

Starters go a decent 6 and they win a ton of games………………………………..

By: SJ44

SJ44 — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:23:17 +0000

They had to pitch Joba yesterday, IMO. He needs the work as he adjusts to his role in the bullpen. Too much time between outings isn’t good. He ends up having to do a bullpen to get his work in and you lose him for a day or so without getting him into a game.

I like the one inning of work as opposed to two innings because you hate to lose him for two days.

I also like the fact, regardless of the score, they put him out there against the middle of the Tigers order. It was fun to see him go right after Sheffield-Ordonez-Guillen-Pudge. He won’t face 4 tougher hitters in a row the rest of the season and he came through it nicely.

The game threads, sadly, have turned into muck. Maybe when school starts again, they will improve as the kiddies will be away from the computer more often.

FYI, Daniel McCutcheon (another excellent prospect who won 1-0 last night for Trenton) taught Joba his changeup this year while they were both at Tampa.

Next to Edwar, McCutcheon has the best changeup in the organization, IMO.