“Andy Pettitte made his 400th career start, joining teammate Mike Mussina and Atlanta’s Tom Glavine and John Smoltz as the only active pitchers to reach that plateau”

According to baseball-reference.com, you missed Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Kenny Rogers, Curt Schilling and Steve Trachsel.

Joba’s pitch selection is too predictable. Joba used too many pitches.

Huh? Self-contradiction much?

Joba shouldn’t shake off Molina…where was this complaint when he’s striking people out.

The reason the walks came was not because he shook off Molina, the reason was:
*shocker* those pitches missed the strike zone! Wow, who would’ve thought! Are you folks honestly trying to “rationalize” that if he had not shook off Molina, then his pitches would guaranteed to be strikes?

Assuming Kennedy recalibrates his mindset against the marshmallows he’ll pitch against in Scranton, he could carry it back to the Yanks. This is why I thought it wasn’t a bad thing that he said he was aware his confidence wasn’t there. Once he proves to himself that he has it at the big league level, he’ll be fine.

Still not worried about Joba. If you look at CB’s post about ERAs for various starters, Joba could give up 4 runs a game as a starter and help the team a lot. Even Nolan Ryan and Pedro Martinez gave up a few 3-run HRs in their prime. Maybe the whole situation will get Joba all pi**ed off (whether in general or at himself) and next time he’ll come out throwing 103mph heaters and a slider that looks like it takes a 90 degree turn right in front of the plate.

It’s matter of what either guy sees when he looks down in the shower. (unless it’s the top of Manny Ramirez’ head they see, but that’s not the point) What I really mean is, the adversity they face could make them tougher and therefore better.

Of course some people will over analyze and over criticize every time they give up a run or two. Watch - sometime in August when either one has a tough inning but their line through 7 innings ends up being 2 or 3 runs on 6 or 7 hits, people will say in the inning they’re scored upon that Ian’s not ready for the big leagues or that Joba should be in the bullpen. Even if they both have 4 straight quality starts leading up to that game (actually, that IS a quality start) chicken little and company will come out en force.

Hmm, makes sense that an average #3 would essentially have league average era; also makes me appreciate era+ above 100 more now.

Yes.

Last year:

#1 starter 3.47 #2 4.01 #3 4.45 #4 4.88 #5 - 6.02

For teams that made the playoffs:

#1 - 3.22 #2 - 3.88 #3 - 4.12 #4 - 4.5 #5 - 5.67

Let me also state clearly, i like ipk’s abilities. i want him to stay on this team because i’d rather see him grow into a 4th starter then pay carlos silva types to be it. My contension is only that i believe some over value his abilities thus apply too much expectation.

Look around the AL. Forget Boston and Anaheim for a moment. Those are two very good teams and if they stay healthy, they are most likely making the playoffs.

When you think about how good the Angels are playing without their top TWO starters and Vlad and Garret Anderson struggling, its pretty scary.

Detroit and Cleveland? Sorry but, those are not good teams.

The Yankees were shorthanded and gave two games away to the Tigers. You look at the Tigers and you see the Yankees of a few years ago. Old, no range defensively, no pitching and competely relient on scoring a ton of runs.

When you play half your games at Comerica Park, you have to be able to defend. Especially in the OF. Now, they have Sheffield in LF and Ordonez, playing with a sore knee, in RF.

Curtis Granderson is going to be in the sprinters start position all year to cover that OF.

They drained their farm system in the Renteria and Cabrera/Willis trades.

They shut Willis down because he couldn’t find the plate during his rehab work in Florida. He’s now back in Detroit getting treatment. Their infield defense, aside from Polanco, has zero range.

Leyland is losing his mind and that team is a mess.

Cleveland? Marginally better. They still can’t hit.

The questions with the Indians are, can Sabathia recapture the mojo and is Cliff Lee for real?

Seattle is also not very good. They have no offense.

Oakland? I’m not sure they have the horses to stay in the race all season.

You look around the WC contenders and the Yankees, when healthy, are head and shoulders above those teams. Even with their issues, they are right in the race.

Its about staying close until they get healthy. If they do, they will be right in the playoff hunt all season.

A 70 pitch is considered a plus-plus pitch. Not just a good one but a fantastic one that will be an out pitch.

To put this in context - there are very few pitchers on the yankees staff that throw any 70 rated pitches. There aren’t many pitchers in baseball who throw a 70 rated pitch.

So Joba’s curve (his third pitch) is better than the vast majority of major league pitchers best pitches.

Joba’s change up is generally considered to be at least a major league average pitch that will become a plus pitch once he gets back into the rotation and throws it more.

You have to look at any pitch in the context of a pither’s arsenal.

When a pitcher can start generating differences in velocity of around 20 mph he becomes very, very difficult to hit.

Joba’s fastball as a starter will sit 95-98. His curve ball is 76-80. His change up 80-83. His slider 85-90.

The differences in velocity alone will make all of those pitches very difficult to hit.

A league average change up is one thing. But if you also have a 97 mph fastball that league average change up becomes a much, much better pitch.