Comments on: Why is this so hard to understand?

By: bodhisattva

bodhisattva — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:55:20 +0000

Conspicuously absent from the Cashman Joba Debate was the mention of Melancon or Sanchez, or Cox. It makes sense that Cash wouldn’t bring them up - especially not Melancon and Cox - because he doesn’t want the expectation that Melancon could be this year’s Joba to be a public one, since he’s coming off TJS and has logged so few innings.

They don’t want any pressure put on him, nor on Sanchez, also on the comeback trail from TJS and also, Cox.

But if M&MD had done their HOMEWORK; they might say, are you less concerned about Joba repeating his 8th-inning role because of Melancon waiting in wings to assume setup? But they have no idea who they are. This would have made for a much more well-rounded, interesting discussion. It also would have been enlightening to hear Cashman’s public remarks on this.

Because they could have quoted Yanks pitching coordinator/guru Nardi Contreras, who has not been shy at all about predicting Melancon’s meteoric rise to the Yanks bullpen this summer. A missed opportunity because they didn’t do their homework.

Russo didn’t even know Cano’s old man pitched for the Astros. He asked him “Does your father play ball?”

By: Kill-Schill(ing)

Kill-Schill(ing) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:42:58 +0000

Agreed Pete. I can’t understand why these two guys are so willing to adopt dogmatic opinions about subjects upon they’re often so ill-informed.

By: Bronx Cheer

Bronx Cheer — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:39:34 +0000

“I am of course open to finding out, but if last year was any indication, the alternative is to go into the latter part of the game with a decent lead that our lineup has worked so hard to post, only to have Krazy Kyle blow it in the eighth…”

And how the heck do we get a lead in through the seventh with the likes of Mussina throwing 5 barely league average innings? Desalvo? Karstens? Wright? Pavano?

Rivera, best in the game, was worthless last April and May cuz our starters sucked. Joba+Mo would have been just as worthless.

By: Doug Niman

Doug Niman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:16:49 +0000

I am of course open to finding out, but if last year was any indication, the alternative is to go into the latter part of the game with a decent lead that our lineup has worked so hard to post, only to have Krazy Kyle blow it in the eighth…

I think that is the essense of the bullpen argument. The thinking is we let our offense do their thing and then protect their efforts by having Joba in the pen…

Doug

By: Jonah

Jonah — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:34:13 +0000

My favorite part of the Mike and the Mad Dog “logic” is they discount his work as a starter in the minors by saying things like “How can you be sure if he has only pitched 81 innings as a starter?” and then go on to say something like “Don’t you think you have something here? his 24 innings last year were MAGICAL!”

I’m just surprised they didn’t go down to the locker room and offer to pack Mo’s bags for him since they are so eager to push him out the door. I couldn’t believe it when I heard one of those two knuckleheads say Mo could be done this year! The season hasn’t even started yet.

While I agree with Cash in being protective over prospect’s arms (just look at what happened to Liriano in Minn) I don’t really understand what their plan is outside the inning limits for their staters. Jeff Karstens? Good grief!

By: Will

Will — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:58:17 +0000

“He doesn’t have 3 great pitches - probably 1 and a 2nd very good pitch. That gets watered down as a starting pitcher because everything has to be used. Joba, in my opinion, could be a great reliever but only a good starter. Just my opinion.”

Did you follow him threw the minors last year when he was a starter? Did you get a chance to see him pitch yourself? If not, what are you basing this analysis on? Why would you not take the opinion of someone like SJ’s who actually saw him pitch as a starter and was there to see the scouts responses to how insanely good the guy was through 6 innings of work?

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:35:29 +0000

According to Riveraveblues, Cash also said that the Twins’ final offer to the Yanks for Santana was either Hughes, Melky plus two prospects or Wang, Kennedy, Melky plus one. Both of those proposals were unreal, especially judging by what the Mets actually paid for Santana. Frankly, and taking econoimics into consideration, I wouldn’t have traded Wang (several years at below free agent $ plus more durability) even up for Santana at $20M per. Nor would I have traded Hughes at 21 even up for Santana at 29.

One other thought that nobody seems to have noticed. Perhaps Cash may be hedging his bets on a trade for a bullpen upgrade over Farnsworth/Hawkins but isn’t going to overpay if he can help it. We won’t know unless it happens, because Cash is a pretty good poker player. If he does that, then he wants to have Joba ready to start.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:10:41 +0000

OMG Pete…M and MD have been driving me and everyone else I know nuts with their discussions about Joba. They are so unknowledgable and unathletic. They don’t know squat.

By: Annie Savoy

Annie Savoy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:43:29 +0000

A follow up to my previous post. I believe the reason that Mike and Chris are so out of it is that neither of them knows how to use a computer. Perhaps WFAN needs to have some computer training for its’ hosts.

By: Mr. Stats

Mr. Stats — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:30:32 +0000

Hey Rich,

If you spending an hour arguing with an old man about Yankees pitchers. Then I think it’s time to move out of your dad’s basement and get your place.